Alliance for Building Communities

Bridging Communities, Embracing Change is the Lehigh Valley Mural Project’s first mural, located at 6th & Chew Streets in Allentown.  The mural was done with oversight from artist Michelle Angela Ortiz, first assistant Matt Halm, and second assistant Alwing Lopez.  The project was funded by grants from the Harry C. Trexler Trust, an anonymous donor, the Lehigh Valley Community Foundation, the Century Fund, and Just Born, Inc.  Special thanks to Congregations United for Neighborhood Action (CUNA;) Safe Space, which proposed a mural after two houses at the site were demolished; the Lehigh Valley Community Mural Project Committee; the Allentown Housing Authority (owner of the site;) Safeway Services, Inc.; and Valley Wide Signs and Graphics.

Healing, located in the 100 block of North 8th Street in Allentown, is the second in a series of three murals done by the Lehigh Valley Community Mural Project, a collaboration between Alliance for Building Communities and the Hispanic American League of Artists (HALA.)  Artists Anita Wagenvoord and Matt Halm coordinated the effort and oversaw a “staff” of volunteer painters.  This mural was inspired by a Revolutionary War hospital once near the site, which treated wounded soldiers.  Like the previous mural, the subject matter for Healing was conceived through meetings with neighbors and collaboration partners.  The project was made possible by generous support from Harry C. Trexler Trust, City of Allentown, Old Allentown Preservation Association, Rodale Foundation, Wachovia Bank, Metropolis Management, Action Rental, All That Hair and Nail Salon, Mr. & Mrs. Fred B. Ball and an anonymous donor. Alliance for Building Communities and the Lehigh Valley Community Mural Project wish to thank all our partners for helping to make Healing become a reality!

Love Educates, depicted on the side of Vic’s Market, located at the corner of 4th and Gordon Streets in the City of Allentown, is the third in a series of three murals done by the Lehigh Valley Community Mural Project, a collaboration between Alliance for Building Communities and the Hispanic American League of Artists (HALA.)  Artist Russell Buckingham; First Assistant Muralist, Matt Halm; and Second Assistant Muralist, Amy Kelly coordinated the effort and oversaw a “staff” of volunteer painters.  This mural was inspired by the community’s desire to depict hope, love and education, images that were significant and reflected the
community surrounding the mural.  The project was made possible by generous support from the Harry C Trexler Trust, The Rodale Foundation, a private foundation that wishes to remain anonymous, The Wachovia Foundation, the City of Allentown’s Weed & Seed initiative, the Salvation Army and Sacred Heart Hospital.  Alliance for Building Communities and the Lehigh Valley Community Mural project wish to thank all our partners for helping to make Love Educates become a reality!