CIFAL Honolulu - Māpuna Lab Ocean of Reflection Mural Community Engagement
The "Community Mural Project" is a multifaceted initiative that extends beyond the creation of a mural. Spearheaded by the Māpuna Lab in partnership with the Department of Health/ADAD, this project focuses on public health and the social determinants of health (SDOH) for the Micronesian community in Hawai‘i. Through gathering community feedback, engaging multiple stakeholders, and running educational arts activities with elders and youth, the project aims to collect stories of trauma and healing. These stories will inform the collaborative creation of a mural that represents the community's mental and physical health struggles, resilience, and pathways to healing. By utilizing art as a conduit for processing grief, particularly the grief exacerbated by the pandemic, this project seeks to improve physical, mental, and behavioral health outcomes for Hawaii's Micronesian community. The project also includes an adaptable arts education curriculum designed to support other communities in Hawaii facing similar challenges. The mural, inspired by the 'Ulu Disaster Response Series and Ku‘u ‘Āina Aloha: Beloved Land, Beloved Country, will continue to serve as a tool for health equity and resilience.
talk story and art activity
The Community Mural Project aims to gather input from Micronesian community stakeholders in Hawaii to understand their perspectives on health and health equity. This valuable feedback will guide artists in creating the back-side of a two-sided traveling mural, which will serve as a learning tool for the Department of Health to enhance its services for the Micronesian community. Community Engagements and/or Educational Arts Activities involve talk-story sessions with the mural artists and incorporated arts activities. Each session lasts two -three hours, with available dates from August 19 to September 9. This initiative fosters community involvement and contributes to the creation of a mural that represents the health needs and aspirations of the Micronesian community in Hawai‘i.
Micronesian community