Covenant House Homeless Teen Shelter

41st Street and 10th Ave., New York City, 2011

This project was done in collaboration with some of the 360 homeless teens who lived at this shelter during the time of the project. Working with them and hearing their stories was incredibly eye opening to me. It was my first time working with a large group of teens in this specific type of crisis . . . many of these young people were fleeing abusive, violent situations within the broader context of poverty, and would find their way to CH at any time of the day or night, seeking safety and change. Some were victims of trafficking. Others were recent, undocumented immigrants who were alone and without support.

Learning about their vulnerabilities and their victories as we painted the wall opened something inside of me as I know it has done for so many of the CH employees who have devoted their lives to trying to help them, as one of their counselors put it, “find and follow their own North Star.” The huge building where this mural was painted was sold to developers and I wonder what became of the young people who found sanctuary there.