On Friday, November 1st, members of the Trenton community gathered to celebrate the unveiling of the city’s 6th Increase the Peace mural. This project, which is spearheaded by Capital Health and Isles, is a public arts initiative designed to promote peace in neighborhoods throughout the community. To help celebrate the occasion, organizers were joined by a number of special guests, including Mayor Reed Gusciora, Council President Feliciano, Councilwoman Frisby, County Commissioner Samuel Frisby, and Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson. Also in attendance were several members of the McCall family, who helped to celebrate this moving and monumental afternoon.
While each Increase the Peace mural is tailored to the community in which it is placed, this recent work of art in the Wilbur Section of Trenton holds a particularly special place in the hearts of local residents. Featured front and center in the newly-unveiled mural is Mrs. Helen McCall and her husband, Mr. James McCall, upon whose home the mural was crafted. Mrs. McCall, a mother, mentor, and grandmother to over 90 grandchildren, touched the lives of countless “bonus grandkids” who grew up in the Wilbur section. From walking children to school to curating and hosting community groups for vulnerable residents, the McCall family found countless ways to show up in the lives of those most in need of their support. A beacon of peace in this special corner of town, the legacy of the McCall family will now live on for generations to come.
Beyond just a captivating centerpiece for our communities, the Increase the Peace murals play a vital role in beautifying neighborhoods, enhancing public spaces, and offering residents a constant reminder that peace can and will prevail in our streets. Each element of the mural was carefully designed to promote the values of love, peace, acceptance, and serenity. Discussing the creative process of how this mural came together, Leon Rainbow shared, “This was an interesting process. The most challenging part was to honor the McCall’s legacy, but still make it a peace mural and work within those guidelines. So we have the portraits of Mr. and Mrs. McCall, and the concept is love pouring out of the watering can and feeding the peace.”
True to the McCall’s message, this mural serves as a visual reminder of what beauty can grow when love is poured over the places we call home. Some of the inspiring ideals included in this peace include: love, respect, community, growth, balance, unity, serenity, growth, trust, and partnership. One by one, countless members of the community came up to the mic to share how Mrs. McCall’s devotion to Trenton’s youth played a transformative, lasting role in who they grew up to become. Now, as the torch is passed to the next generation, this mural will serve as a constant reminder that it is up to all of us to be a voice for the voiceless and share our gifts and talents for the betterment of our communities.
At the conclusion of the celebration, one by one, attendees were asked to come up to be a part of the mural’s handprint ceremony. This special tradition gives residents of the community a chance to see themselves reflected in this work of art, as well as pledge their personal commitments to increasing the peace in the places we call home. After members of the McCall family had a chance to make their mark on the mural, elected officials, community representatives, and other supporters lined up one by one to place their handprint on this important piece of art. A unifying and unforgettable experience for all, this mural speaks to the countless lives touched by the legacy of Mrs. McCall.
This mural would not be possible without the hard work and devotion of Capital Health and Isles. A special thanks is owed to Stacy Heading, who spearheaded this initiative, as well as Leon Rainbow, the artist behind these remarkable murals. A great deal of appreciation is also owed to the Isles Climate Corps, who helped lend a hand in preparing the space and prepping for the mural’s creation. If you would like to see the mural in-person, please visit 509 Monmouth St., Trenton, NJ, where this vibrant work of art is on-view. For more information about the programming behind this important initiative, please check out the Capital Health VICTORY program, which you can learn more about here: Capital Health – VICTORY. Trenton continues to strive for peace in our streets each and every day, and projects like these bring us one step closer to the vision Mrs. McCall held for all Trentonians.
