Heart 4 Minds Raises Hope With New Mural at Inspire to Rise Community Center
Unveiling takes place Saturday, April 8 during Community Block Party
JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA – To celebrate the fifth anniversary of Inspire to Rise Community Center, Heart 4 Minds Inc., a non-profit dedicated to saving lives by breaking the stigma of mental health and facilitating early identification and connections to resources for the treatment of mental illness, is unveiling its newest mural at the center, located at 5927 Old Timuquana Road on Saturday, April 8.
The 440-square foot, double mural depicts a pink lotus flower against a bright yellow background surrounded by a mandala in shades of purple, red, pink, blue and green on one side and a larger dragonfly design with the words “Hope, Healing and Change” on the other. Its organic and colorful design was a collaboration between Hearts 4 Minds, Inspire to Rise and artists from Heartspace Art with the goal of representing the organizations and their missions while conveying a sense of hope to the community.
Heart 4 Minds founder Sheryl Johnson said the partnership was inherently beneficial, as the organizations have similar missions. “Inspire to Rise helps support community members facing a variety of challenges, including mental health issues, while Hearts 4 Minds works in the community to destigmatize mental illness, promote education and mental health literacy, encourage early identification and facilitation to resources,” she said. “Art itself is a powerful tool and can be used to help instill a sense of calm, as well as provide opportunities to spark compelling discussion or social change.”
The collaborative piece also incorporates dragonflies, the Hearts 4 Minds symbol of courage, strength and change, which Johnson said are a key element to any mural they sponsor. The mandala featured in the mural is a symbol used by Inspire to Rise and typically used as a tool or symbol of healing. Each Hearts 4 Minds Mural also includes a QR code for the organization’s website with information about mental health and community resources.
“Today we manage mental illnesses at a crisis level—most often seeking treatment when the disorder reaches a ‘stage 4.’ Couple the delay in getting services with the fact that less than 40% actually get services, it’s no wonder mental health issues are at a crisis level,” Johnson said. “We hope the installation of murals throughout our community will help bring awareness and get people the help they need at a time when the likelihood of a positive treatment outcome is greater.”
The free, family-friendly community block party takes place at the Inspire to Rise Center from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. with music, food and information on community partner resources.
About Hearts 4 Minds
Hearts 4 Minds is leading the charge to break down the stigma of mental illness and alter how people look at mental health. They are driven by a single goal: to leverage an ounce of prevention to raise awareness, provide tools to recognize the signs of mental illness and facilitate early identification and treatment. They aim to be a helping hand before, as well as during, a mental health crisis. For more information, please visit www.hearts4minds.org.
