Seattle’s Lake City Mural Project helps teens connect with community

The Lake City Mural Project started in 2016 and to date over 50 murals have been painted in the neighborhood.

SEATTLE – Mark Mendez, nicknamed “Lake City Mayor,” knows the history of the community.

“I’ve lived in Lake City all my life,” said Mendez. “Many people are not aware of how special and unique we are.”

Lake City, one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Seattle, is growing and in need of more services and support for its residents. So Mendez had an idea – to paint the neighborhood with murals.

“The murals are a way of saying, ‘Hey, we’re here, we need more services,'” Mendez said.

The Lake City Mural Project started in 2016 and to date over 50 murals have been painted in the neighborhood. The program supports a range of local artists and provides leadership skills to youth in Lake City.

One teenage leader was Diana Quintero-Perez, who painted a mural on the North Helpline Food Bank in 2017.

“It really made me know what I really want in life,” said Quintero-Perez.

Another teenager involved in the mural project was Ben Liu, who has painted five murals since 2018.

“As you make the community more beautiful, you will also meet the people who live here,” said Liu.

Both teenagers credit the program as well as Mendez for showing them what is possible through art.

The latest mural in Lake City was designed by Gabrielle Abbott and tells the story of the neighborhood from the Ice Age to the present day.

“It’s a great way for people to get together and put some paint on the wall and then come and say, ‘Hey, I did that,'” said Abbott.

Mendez is now planning a new mural. If you would like to donate to the Lake City Mural Project, click here and mention the project to ensure the donation is for the artists.