By Terri Lynn, SouthFloridaReporter.com, Managing Editor–July 15, 2015–After four months of suspense, OneUnited Bank and the Miami Children’s Initiative (MCI) unveiled “Thunder & Enlightening,” a 550 square foot thought-provoking mural by Miami artist, Addonis Parker.
The massive public art project was erected on the façade of the Miami branch of OneUnited Bank,(79th Street Corridor) the nation’s largest black-owned bank.
The mural in its entirety touches on racism, bigotry, protest, the confederate flag, the massacre in South Carolina, Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown to name a few.
The unveiling concluded the OneUnited Mural Project – an apprenticeship-based program using public art works, youth development and a community beautification program providing arts enrichment through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) education.
Before the unveiling, the inside of the bank served as an art gallery to display individual paintings from the 21 teen apprentices who assisted Parker during the project. In addition to participating in an in-depth art program, the teens, also, had extensive financial literacy training sponsored by OneUnited Bank.
Teri Williams, President & COO of OneUnited Bank, expressed her gratitude to the sea of people and partners for supporting the idea of using the bank as a canvas to add art to Liberty City. “The OneUnited Mural Project and the unveiling of the mural, Thunder & Enlightening, helps us bridge the divide between the banking industry and urban communities by recognizing their struggles and hopes for the future,” said Williams.
“It is important for us to speak in our authentic voices so that OneUnited Bank can better share financial literacy, attract the unbanked or under-banked customers and help develop the communities we serve,” she added.
During the program, Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) Vice Chair Larry Feldman awarded Teri Williams; Addonis Parker, creator of Thunder & Enlightening; Cecelia Gutierrez, President & CEO of MCI; Carla Rowe, Mural Program Director; Hopi Morton, Center for Social Justice; and Suzan McDowell, President & CEO of Circle of One Marketing with medallions as a token of appreciation for their noble accomplishments in the community.
Encouraging words about Liberty City’s future, youth and education were spoken by District 5 Commissioner Keon Hardemon, MDCPS Board Member Dr. Dorothy Bendross-Mindingall and MDCPS Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.
ONEUNITED BANK:
OneUnited Bank Is the premiere bank for urban communities with offices in California, Florida, and Massachusetts. Its mission is to provide affordable financial services to support economic development in urban communities and maintain superior financial performance to maximize shareholder value.
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