On Friday, May 17, 2019, Dolores Huerta, iconic civil rights activist and labor leader, was honored at a ceremony renaming Fairmount Elementary School as Dolores Huerta Elementary. SFUSD an city leaders, students and families, and community members were in attendance. During the ceremony, the students sang their hearts outs and the ribbon was cut. Dolores Huerta inspired the enthusiastic crowd with her powerful and beautiful words. I feel so fortunate to have been there to witness it all.
Below are photos of the joyous occasion. Included are images of a mural I had the privilege of creating to commemorate the event. I will post more photos of the final version soon.
I have a long list of people to thank:
Thank you to Maria Clayton. Maria invited me to work on this epic project. She held my hand each step of the way-rain or shine. There was a lot of rain. Her assistance included solving all the challenging equations that enabled me to recreate the 8 x 20 mural from a page in my sketch book. Her emotional support was essential. As was her creative and technical mural painting skills.
Thank you to Tyler Ford for dealing with me over the last seven months or so (well last 13 years:). You’ve been listening to me, comforting me post freak outs, doodling, and being the sweetest and most supportive husband. Also, he took some beautiful photos at the ceremony.
Thank you to Wolfie Ford for all the hours of painting, cuddling, cracking me up, sketching, and beyblading by the mural.
Thank you to the students and staff of Dolores Huerta Elementary School. Thank you for your encouragement, feedback, patience, and spirit!
Thank you to Dolores Huerta for prioritizing the helping of others and being the role model that future female (male as well) leaders really need right now, in this current political atmosphere. Also, thank you for signing my mural.
Thank you to Maritza Refuerzo (and the rest of the Name Change Committee) for all the encouragement, faith in us, and kind words along the way. In addition, she connected me to the amazing 4th Graders.
Thank you 4th Graders for sharing and contributing sketches of their future goals. I wish I could have included every part of everyone’s incredible drawings.
Thank you to Luis Rodríguez, Director, for believing in us, green lighting the project, and giving us the freedom to create without any boundaries.
Thank you to Yuri Sanchez for all her patience and assistance with ordering supplies, and returning supplies. And for allowing us to raid and borrow her supplies and space.
Thank you to Marina Sullivan for letting us borrow the projector several times.
Thank you to Reina Mira for all her help with painting.