Climate Action Mural Unveiled in the Bronx
The Public Housing Community Fund (PHCF), The New York Climate Exchange (The Exchange), NYCHA, and Artolution joined residents on May 12 to unveil a Clay Avenue community mural (entitled “Unity in Our Community”) at Claremont Consolidated in the Bronx’s Morrisania neighborhood.
Over the past several weeks, residents, artists, youth, and community members came together to help design and paint a vibrant mural that transformed 1,500 square feet of the exterior of the Clay Avenue Resident Association community space into a powerful reflection of creativity, resilience, climate awareness, and hope for the future. Themes highlight connections to climate change, environmental justice, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals while elevating the voices and stories of the community. This is the first mural unveiled as part of the 2026 NYCHA Resident Climate Action Grants program.
“’Unity in Our Community’ reflects the spirit and creativity of NYCHA residents and highlights the importance of building more sustainable communities,” said Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of the Public Housing Community Fund. “Over 100 residents came together to paint this mural and add their own creativity to the artwork. As part of our Resident Climate Action Grants program, this mural reflects on public housing resident lives impacted by the climate change crisis and encourages them to take an active role in driving environmental change in their neighborhoods and advancing the fight against climate change. We’re grateful to The New York Climate Exchange and Artolution for amplifying NYCHA voices through this mural.”
“Some of the most meaningful public art on our NYCHA campuses has been developed alongside residents, and that’s why we are so excited to see ‘Unity in Our Community’ unveiled,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “Thank you to the Public Housing Community Fund, The New York Climate Exchange, and Artolution for reimagining this space and bringing it to life in partnership with Ms. Forbes and the Claremont community.”
“This mural is a beautiful reflection of the strength, creativity, and unity of our community,” said Maria Forbes, President of the Claremont Consolidated Resident Association. “Residents of all ages came together to help bring ‘Unity in Our Community’ to life, and every brushstroke tells a story about hope, resilience, and pride in where we live. Through art, we are not only beautifying our neighborhood but also raising awareness about climate change and the importance of working together to create a healthier, more sustainable future for the next generation.”
“’Unity in Our Community,’ a mural envisioned and painted by the residents of Claremont Consolidated, reflects the high ambition of Bronx residents working toward a sustainable future,” said Vicki Cerullo, Director of Urban Engagement at The New York Climate Exchange. “Research shows that while most Americans believe that climate change is happening and support policy, only a third discuss it with family and friends. This mural project creates space for important dialogue about climate change, helps us imagine new possibilities, and brings us together to address the climate crisis. We invite every person walking by this mural — from neighbors to elected officials — to join the conversation and take part in community-driven solutions for a more resilient and equitable city.”
“The community was incredible in their support of the mural, with over 100 participants telling their stories, all the way from 2-year-olds to people in their 80s,” said Dr. Max Frieder, Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Artolution. “’Unity in Our Community’ features an incredible variety of powerful images, depicting what this community used to look like, residents’ dreams of the future, and even environmental goals. There’s something happening here that’s the closest thing to magic possible, which is the arts — it’s the creativity, and seeing it flourish out of these folks. This mural shows that NYCHA has so much talent and they just need the opportunity to bring it to life.”
“Unity in Our Community” advances the mission of PHCF and The Exchange’s 2026 NYCHA Resident Climate Action Grants program, announced in April, which awarded grants to 35 winners across NYCHA communities to support resident-led climate action and sustainability initiatives, including at Claremont Consolidated. As part of the program, the collective is sponsoring five citywide climate action murals created in collaboration with NYCHA residents, artists, and community art partners.
With a mural in each borough, these efforts represent what climate change and climate impact mean to communities on the front lines of the climate crisis. Additional partners in the citywide mural project include Thrive Collective (which is leading mural installation at South Beach Houses in Staten Island, Hammel Houses in Queens, and Bracetti Plaza, Manhattan) and Beauty At The Surface In Honor Of CarolLee Cephas, Inc. (BATS) (which is leading mural installation at Carey Gardens in Brooklyn).
Learn more about the NYCHA Climate Action Grants Program here.
Photos courtesy of Tameek Williams
