Hillview youth paint mural on YWCA ceiling

LEWISTON — Lewiston Housing Authority and the Lewiston YWCA partnered with AmeriCorps of Goodwill Industries of Northern New England and the Harward Center for Community Outreach of Bates College to bring a ceiling mural to the Lewiston-Auburn YWCA.

The artwork was completed by the youth living at the Hillview family site of Lewiston Housing Authority under the direction of Colin Korlesky of AmeriCorps.

In his position, Korlesky serves as a positive mentor to the Hillview youth and coordinates youth Aspirations programming. Specifically, he connects Hillview with the surrounding community to bring educational activities to the youth while supporting their personal growth and future achievement.

The mural is best seen by those using the YWCA’s swimming pool, and is meant to embody the mission of the YWCA — eliminating racism and empowering women.

This is explicitly stated with the phrases, “ONE WORLD” and “ONE FUTURE,” found at the top and bottom of the mural, respectively.

By depicting the world as one color and omitting all national boundaries, the youth successfully depicted the world as a unified whole. In this way, the mural encompasses the diverse population of both the YWCA and the Lewiston/Auburn communities.

Colin Korlesky of AmeriCorps works on a mural at YWCA of Central Maine on East Avenue in Lewiston. The addition is the result of Lewiston Housing Authority and the Lewiston YWCA partnering with AmeriCorps, Goodwill Industries of Northern New England and the Harward Center for Community Outreach of Bates College in Lewiston. Korlesky oversaw Hillview Youth, who created the mural.