OneUnited Bank and Miami Children’s Initiative (MCI) To Unveil “Thunder & Enlightening” By Muralist Addonis Parker

A revolutionary public art mural project on the façade of OneUnited Bank in Liberty City

MIAMI – OneUnited Bank and the Miami Children’s Initiative (MCI) in conjunction with Liberty City Renaissance will unveil the final product of the OneUnited Mural Project – a public art works piece by Miami Muralist Addonis Parker on the façade of OneUnited Bank’s Miami branch.  Themed, Thunder & Enlightening.  “The Unveiling” of the 10 feet by 55 feet thought-provoking mural will take place on July 11, 2015 at 5p.m., at OneUnited Bank (3275 NW 79th St, Miami, FL 33147).

The OneUnited Mural Project was an apprenticeship-based program catered to the youth of Liberty City, the community adopted by the Miami Children’s Initiative’s cradle-to-college to-career strategy.  In its entirety, the Mural Project was a public art works, youth development, community beautification program providing arts enrichment through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) education.

During the program, 21 inner-city youth from 9 South Florida high schools worked under the guidance of Parker to research, design and create a public work of art utilizing the OneUnited Bank’s building as its canvas. During the apprenticeship, the teens received a $250 stipend, opened a bank account at OneUnited Bank, and participated in a “Day-at-the Bank,” where they learned financial literacy skills.

After 4 months of collaboration among the apprentices and Parker, Thunder & Enlightening is ready to be unveiled. Parker’s transcendent work of art will convey a controversial message of freedom and hope by expounding on today’s social and economic unrest – using media icons like Trayvon Martin, Christina-Taylor Green, Michael Brown, local and national law enforcement and the 343 firefighter heroes from the aftermath of 9/11. It will serve as a global bipartisan exchange to unite the world on a plateau of peace.

Thunder and Enlightening will achieve the ambitious goal of being the artistic blueprint for the documentation of truth and a more sincere approach for equal justice. The mural will celebrate the passing journey of racism, bigotry, fear and historical falsehood; and embrace the birthing of a more unified nation in the spirit of equal justice and love.

Teri Williams, President and Chief Operating Officer of OneUnited Bank, recognizes the power art has played in Miami-Dade County, especially in Wynwood. By recognizing how art can incite development, she hopes to do the same for Liberty City through the OneUnited Mural Project.  To provoke this creative process, Williams trusted Parker because of the quality and authenticity of his body of work, his previous work with children and his ability to serve as an important role model.

As a former athlete and acclaimed artist, Mr. Parker challenges stereotypes placed upon his identity as an African American male, just as his work challenges the status quo of American race relations.

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