Courtesy photo by Cameron Latimer. he mural, entitled “Diversity without Divide,” is the third mural installment by the Port Towns Youth Mural Program and spans the entire length of the Decatur Street Bridge.

Published on: Wednesday, December 09, 2009

By Ron Stein, Special to The Sentinel

The first snow of the season fell on Saturday, Dec. 5, as over 30 people stood on the Decatur Street Bridge for the dedication of a new mural by the Port Towns Youth Mural Program.

The mural, entitled “Diversity without Divide,” is the third mural installment by the group and spans the entire length of the bridge.

According to a press release, it illustrates the area’s racially and ethnically diverse community, which benefits from the enrichment brought by a blend of experiences, customs, points of view and lifestyles.

Courtesy photo by Cameron Latimer.

The mural contains four irregularly shaped walls that depict scenes about Edmonston, according to Melissa Glasser Bruzera, a fine artist who began working with Port Towns in 2005.

The first wall contains a rendition of the inner workings of the Archimedes Screw Pump, a pumping station that was built to help the town overcome flooding and represents the culmination of the townspeople’s efforts as they came together to better their circumstance, said Glasser Bruzera.

The second wall depicts Decatur Street as a “Green Street,” with new bio retention planting beds designed to help keep rain waters from going into the river and polluting it.

The third shows children of various cultural backgrounds playing soccer, which is very popular in Edmonston. The last wall shows children at a park, enchanted by a small plant, symbolizing the growth of the community.

“It was a perfect opportunity to put a spread on diversity,” said Sadara Barrow, Executive Director of Port Towns Community Development Corporation.

Port Towns DCD leads and engages in strategic collaborative economic development for the Port Towns of Bladensburg, Colmar Manor, Cottage City, and Edmonston, and has ongoing service and volunteer opportunities, according to a press release.

Glasser Bruzera, along with Idalia Rivas and nearly 50 volunteers worked on the “Diversity without Divide” mural this past summer.

“The kids were tough because it was so hot in the summer months,” said Glasser Bruzera, “they were also a diverse group, coming from all different backgrounds.”

As work was being done on the project, it was evident that people were appreciative of what was being done to the bridge.

“It was uplifting to see so many people engaged,” said Edmonston Mayor Adam Ortiz. “I was very moved by the dozens of people who would stop by and congratulate the kids on beautifying the community.”

The project was partially funded by the Maryland Heritage Areas Authority through the Anacostia Trails Heritage Area, Inc.

Alta Morton, chairperson for ATHA, thinks that projects like this are a good way of reaching out to the community.

“It’s great to see the kids get involved in the community and show their talents,” said Morton. “Hopefully it spurs more involvement.”

One of the purposes of painting the mural on the bridge was to cover up space that has been the target of gang graffiti in the past.

“Before the mural was there, we were constantly cleaning up gang graffiti,” said Mayor Ortiz. “Since the project began, there has been no graffiti on the bridge.”

After seeing the hard work that has been put into this project, the mayor appreciates what the mural has done for the town.

“The mural creates a scene of place and highlights our identity as a community to the world around us.”