(Youth from around Watsonville take part in Community Mural Day at Hazelwood Park in Watsonville Saturday. More than 110 people showed for the event that was headed up by mural artists Jaime Sanchez and Paul De Worken. Photo by Paul De Worken)
WATSONVILLE — Despite a few spells of blasting rain, Community Mural Day unfolded in Watsonville Saturday with more than 100 people showing up to help brighten up Hazelwood Park and blanket over graffiti with fresh colorful murals.
“It was a good day and it felt good to have these people show up,” said Paul De Worken of Monterey Bay Murals, who helped head up the event. “We even had kids show up from area elementary schools including H.A. Hyde, Starlight and Landmark.”
Adding to the numbers was a group of more than 20 Alternative Spring Break students from UC Santa Cruz who choose to partake in community events to gain further credit during their school break.
“I loved participating in the event,” said UCSC student Estela Carreon. “Some of the murals are amazing. Since I am from a farm working community and my parents work in the fields I feel very strongly about the murals that depict field workers and the labor issues they face. Many of them are paid below minimum wage. These are the people that put food on our tables. It felt good to be part of a community effort and that this event brought people together.”
UC Santa Cruz Service Learning Coordinator Abbey Asher, who helped head up the Alternative Spring Break group, said it was “exciting” to be part of the community event.
“The students and the community working together is what we want,” she said.
