“100 Years of Kindness” Mural Unveiled at Whitman Houses

Artolution, NYCHA, The Public Housing Community Fund, and Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA Diene Keita unveiled “100 Years of Kindness”, a new mural at Walt Whitman Houses in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. 

The mural sits on the New York site of Painting Our Futures, the newest collaboration between Artolution and UNFPA that brings together youth from five different communities across five different continents. The team is working with youth ages 18 to 25 in New York, Jordan, Colombia, Kenya, and Tokyo to establish a creative space for exploration of co-creative mural-making processes rooted in community dialogue about young people’s dreams for the future; their evolving ideas of family, healthy relationships; and what matters most to them as they plan for the future. The initiative will run in tandem with the UNFPA’s State of World Population 2026 Report, which examines the world young people face today and covers ideas like health, bodily autonomy, civic engagement, and human rights.

“‘100 Years of Kindness’ will be a vital piece of the Whitman Houses community for years to come, bringing new life and vibrancy for the residents to enjoy,” said Alex Zablocki, Executive Director of the Public Housing Community Fund. “Artolution and the United Nations Population Fund are investing in the young residents of Whitman Houses and giving them a chance to tell their own stories and history. PHCF is excited to be part of this groundbreaking collaboration, bringing creative outlets and inspiring art to this beautiful NYCHA community.” 

“Projects like ‘100 Years of Kindness’ demonstrate how public art can transform our developments into vibrant spaces of connection and pride,” said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. “Through the Painting Our Futures initiative, young Whitman Houses residents have a platform to share their hopes for the future and carry their message across generations. We are grateful to Artolution, UNFPA, and the Public Housing Community Fund for their partnership and for investing in resident voices.”

“’100 Years of Kindness’ is a mural that came to life with over 100 youth and seniors telling their stories about the dreams of youth for what the next 100 years will look like,” said Dr. Max Frieder, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Artolution. “The arts can become a lifeline, and being able to amplify the voices and stories of this community is [showcasing] how the arts can connect us in an interwoven tapestry of meaning across the world.”

The residents of Walt Whitman Houses joined together during sessions with Artolution and asked questions like: “How do we create a world with the next 100 years of love, peace, and kindness?” and “What does this look like?” Ultimately, they determined the need for older generations to pass the torch as they will also have to do in the future – passing responsibility, wisdom, and influence between generations of young people gives freedom to shape their own futures. The finished mural carries their shared message across Walt Whitman Houses and throughout the heart of Fort Greene. 

Photo credit: Samir Omary