Related Affordable Foundation, Related Midwest and After School Matters unveil art mural at South Shore on The Park in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood

CHICAGO (Oct. 15, 2024) — Related Midwest, The Related Affordable Foundation and After School Matters today unveiled a new public mural at South Shore on The Park, an affordable housing community in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood owned and managed by Related.

More than 100 guests, including elected officials, project partners, community stakeholders, and residents, attended the event, which showcased the mural designed and painted by local teens participating in After School Matters. The nonprofit organization provides paid opportunities for up to 19,000 teens across Chicago annually, helping them develop their talents while gaining critical life skills for work, college and beyond.

"As a proud and longtime supporter of After School Matters, I’ve seen firsthand the positive impact this incredible organization has on the lives of young Chicagoans, including some who live right here at South Shore on The Park,” said Curt Bailey, President of Related Midwest and After School Matters Board Member. “By offering experiences like this to showcase their creative talents, we’re not only helping these teens express themselves through art, but also teaching them essential skills, such as responsibility, collaboration and leadership. This program is an investment in the future of our city, and I’m honored to be part of it.”

Related Affordable Foundation, a charitable organization committed to enriching the lives of affordable housing residents, funded the After School Matter’s South Shore mural arts program, which incorporated the creativity and talent of 19 Chicago teens, eleven of whom are residents of South Shore on The Park. With a theme of “Love and Unity in the Community,” the mural showcases teens supporting one another, overcoming challenges and receiving love and support from adults. Over the course of six weeks, the teens worked with Mexican-American artist Erik “ROHO” Garcia to design and paint the mural installed this month. They also collaborated with South Shore on the Park residents, who had the opportunity to offer input and have a voice in shaping the mural’s theme and design.  

“Working on a mural like this and partnering with Related is important for teens because it brings the focus to the neighborhoods they live in,” said Garcia, After School Matters program instructor and artist. “The teens take ownership of all the hard work they have done. It's important to understand the long journey of coming up with ideas to realizing the finished product. Teens can recall what it takes to create something of this scale, creating magic." 

“Creating a piece of art that the entire neighborhood can see and enjoy has been an amazing experience that I am incredibly thankful for,” said Samantha Caraballo, a participant in the After School Matters program. “Not only did I get to express myself through art, but I also learned so much about working with others and seeing a project through from start to finish.”

The South Shore on The Park mural represents one of several collaborations between After School Matters, Related Midwest and the Related Affordable Foundation. Their most recent project was “Building Chicago Together,” a mural at HIRE360’s Development and Training Center, which opened last month.  

“The community-inspired artwork unveiled today is a testament to our shared commitment to providing young people with meaningful opportunities to learn, grow and showcase their talents while making a lasting impact on their community,” said Janell George Smith, Executive Director, Related Affordable Foundation. “South Shore residents contributed their voices and points of view to this beautiful piece of art that honors their experiences, their aspirations, and their neighborhood, and it’s inspiring to see such a rich and vibrant perspective come to life.”

The brightly colored mural was painted on the exterior of the property’s community center, whose recent renovation was completed in September. Related Midwest, in partnership with Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Wells Fargo, and Bank of America, undertook a $52 million renovation focused on enhancing energy efficiency and improving the quality of life for residents.