When the SODO Business Association wanted to eradicate trash and graffiti in Seattle's industrial zone some 20 years ago, private and public partners put their heads together for a solution. The result was Urban ArtWorks, a program that would create murals to replace the graffiti and help rehabilitate teens in the juvenile justice system.
In that time the teens, primarily mid-level offenders who are dealing with issues such as drug abuse and anger management, have created more than 400 murals at Seattle schools, parks, along roadways and at construction sites and businesses.
The program seems largely to be accomplishing its original goals: 70 percent of the participants don’t reoffend and they are able to move forward with their lives as productive members of society, Urban ArtWorks reports.
Find an installation near you at urbanartworks.org
