Youth workers assigned to the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) this summer learned what it means to be a DPW worker, collaborating with a local artist to create community-based artwork highlighting how the department serves the City of Baltimore every day.  These young summer  employees worked side-by-side with YH20 water mentoring program participants to create a nine-panel mural representing nearly every facet of DPW’s Solid Waste and Water and Wastewater operations.

The mural project, “DPW Everyday,” was led by local teaching artist and muralist Gary Mullen, with assistance from 14 young people employed through YouthWorks, a program operated by the Mayor's Office of Employment Development (MOED), and DPW’s YH20, a mentoring program for young adults interested in careers in the water industry. The mural is located across the street from DPW’s Park Terminal Utility Maintenance Facility at 2331 N. Fulton Ave. (Druid Hill and N. Fulton Avenues).

“Thanks to our collaboration and partnership with Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts and MOED, we were able to provide young City residents with hands-on employment to stimulate their creativity and educate them about the value of Public Works and beautifying communities,” said DPW Director Rudolph S. Chow, P.E., during a ceremony today to highlight the young workers’ hard work and to dedicate the mural.

This summer DPW employed 100 YouthWorks participants who were assigned to work in almost every division of the department. The youth workers who worked on the mural project learned about the various aspects of the department’s work across the city and took behind-the-scenes field trips to DPW facilities. 

Joining Director Chow at the mural dedication were BOPA Chief Executive Officer Donna Drew Sawyer and Paul Taylor, Director, Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business. Baltimore City Councilmembers John Bullock, Ph.D., Mary Pat Clarke, and Robert Stokes also joined the Director. The mural was made possible by DPW in collaboration with Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts’ “Percent for Public Art” program and YouthWorks, with additional support from the Baltimore City Department of Recreation & Parks and the New Auchentoroly Terrace Association.  

“This project is about the power of collaboration and transformation, two things BOPA and our partners at DPW feel very passionate about,” said Sawyer, Chief Executive Officer, Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts. “The city of Baltimore’s rich legacy of employing mural artists to transform our city with art dates back to the Beautiful Walls for Baltimore program started in 1975. We are thrilled to carry on the legacy and paint the future of this program through projects that enhance the beauty of our city and sing the praises of the hard working employees at the Department of Public Works and their important services that contribute to the health and vitality of Baltimore.”

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The Baltimore City Department of Public Works supports the health, environment, and economy of our City and region by cleaning our neighborhoods and waterways and providing its customers with safe drinking water and sustainable energy practices. For more information, visit www.publicworks.baltimorecity.gov. 

Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization which serves as Baltimore City’s arts council, film office, and events agency. By producing large-scale events such as Light City, Artscape and the Baltimore Book Festival, and providing funding and support to artists, arts programs and organizations across the city, BOPA’s goal is to make Baltimore a more vibrant and creative city. For more information, visit www.promotionandarts.org.