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Update from Amanda Johnston: Railroad Street funded part of my trip to Peru through YOB (youth operational board)!

Here I am with the group of four year olds that I taught english to while in the city of Chiclayo, Peru. They were a wonderful group, very well behaved! I taught them the words for vegetables, colors, and numbers through song and fun art projects. Thanks to railroad street for making this wonderful experience possible :]

While in Peru I went to a festival in the rural mountains in a town called Huambos. It was a festival for their patron saint, San Juan Bautista. There was lots of dancing, food, music, and culture galore! I saw everything from really old people who had lived in the town their whole lives, to little girls dancing like professionals. Lots of things I will remember forever!

Youth create coat of arts in Castle Street tunnel

Click photo to enlarge

Laurel Zukowski, left, Eric Danforth, center, and Nawontah… (Ben Garver / Berkshire Eagle Staff)

Wednesday July 20, 2011

GREAT BARRINGTON — A crew of teenagers and several 20-somethings gathered together in the Castle Street tunnel on Tuesday.

They were neither loiterers nor vandals.

They had come to work.

Armed with paint scrapers, a ladder, paper towels and a bottle of Windex, the crew of young people were busy refreshing the tunnel with a new mural painting project.

The effort was voted on and is supported by the Youth Operational Board of the Railroad Street Youth Project (RSYP), and is a shared and serendipitous vision between 24-year-old South County native Laurel Zukowski and Great Barrington Town Manager Kevin O’Donnell.

“It’s for everybody,” Zukowski said. “Murals are a medium for people to work on, for the people.”

When finished, the work will combine African-American art and heritage, Berkshire County history, landmarks, and people, and words by activist Marcus Garvey, Sufi Poet Hafiz and Cummington native and poet William Cullen Bryant.

“I’ve learned that you have to not be scared of trying things and that you can do what you want to do if the good intention is there,” Zukowski said.

Two years ago, O’Donnell approached former RSYP Executive Director Lannie Moore about town youths getting involved in cleaning up and painting the tunnel. The project began, but was never finished.

“People tagged it and it looked bedraggled,” said Isabel Currie, 13, who worked on cleaning the tunnel glass on with friend

Hannah Handel, who is also 13.

Seven months ago, Zukowski, who studied painting at the Maryland Institute College of Art, returned to Great Barrington and approached the Youth Operational Board about making a mural.

“It was perfect. She has the creativity and vision for it,” said Brenda Barlow, who officially became RSYP’s new executive director this month.

“This is a partnership we wanted to see, and if the kids can take care of it themselves, it’s perfect.” said O’Donnell.

The work officially began Tuesday with a small crew of about eight young people and a couple of parents stopping by the tunnel throughout the day.

“I didn’t realize how many people from all age groups and all classes go through here,” said mural volunteer Nawontah Waters, 18. “I hope people see how we are committed enough to make things more beautiful here,” he said.

There will be another community “mural painting party” from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, July 26. For more information, call (413) 528-2475.

To reach Jenn Smith:
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(413) 496-6239