Corona, CA-Students at Auburndale Intermediate School, in collaboration with the Riverside County District Attorney's Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN) program, L2 Specialties and the Riverside Arts Council, have been working together to create and paint a welcome mural. The mural workshop is designed to give students training in basic design, color and interactive collaboration. They have been working since May 5th and should finish the project on May 16th. A ceremony is scheduled for May 28th at 9:00 a.m.

In January of 2005, the Riverside County District Attorney's Office and the San Jacinto Police Department implemented the Riverside County District Attorney's Project Safe Neighborhood program based on recommendations from Riverside County District Attorney Rod Pacheco. Riverside County Deputy District Attorney Gerry Lopez, Chairperson of PSN, coordinated resources and provided a focus on gang intervention to pilot the program. PSN calls for a multifaceted response involving county, city, school districts and community groups. The program focuses on prevention and intervention strategies such as parent, community and school staff education, service projects, mentoring, student extracurricular activities, and life skills classroom education.

According to Deputy District Attorney Gerry Lopez, "One of the most powerful and effective formulas to lead young people towards the path of success is to connect them with positive, inspiring adults, involve them in fun and rewarding activities, teach them to overcome their insecurities, and help them discover their talents and abilities. The Riverside Arts Council does masterful job of executing this formula. The Riverside County District Attorney's Office and participating school districts are very impressed with, and extremely grateful for the Riverside Arts Council's partnership with Project Safe Neighborhoods and their commitment towards helping at-risk youth."

Utilizing the California State Visual and Performing Arts Standards, the Riverside Arts Council fulfills the extracurricular activities component with its arts enrichment program. "Using the arts as an empowerment and skill-building tool, the project goal is to help at-risk youth to continue their education and gain respect for others and themselves," says Patrick Brien, the Riverside Arts Council's Executive Director. "In addition, the collaborative and communicative elements built into the specific disciplines selected for each unit offer the opportunity to teach workplace skills such as communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. The resulting sense of self-esteem will reduce the need to find a sense of belonging through gang activity."

Local artist and Riverside Arts Council artist-in-residence Joel Kolb has been working with the students at Auburndale, which is in the Corona-Norco Unified School District. He has a long list of visual arts and mural credits to go along with his teaching experience. Also, Auburndale art teacher, Paula Baker has be generously donating her time to be a part of the project. She and Kolb have been working together with students to develop the design and execution.

Over the past week, students have been stenciling, painting and learning basics and techniques of visual art. Recognition of students, Kolb and Baker is scheduled for June. Each component of the workshop helps to emphasize creative thinking, problem solving and self esteem.

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