Last summer, I started working with Family & Children’s Service, a local non-profit organization. I attended several of their summer kids programs to photograph them and then they used the photographs for various promotional materials.
Last fall, an artist named Katie Thompson began working with them to design a mural that runs the length of the 55 foot hallway in their Lake Street office. She came up with the design and sketched it on the wall so that volunteers could help paint it. One hundred and twenty volunteers, the youngest being four years old, worked on it and it took them over 400 hours. The most exciting part for me, though, is that the mural is based on the photos that I took over the summer. When I attended one of the volunteer days in the fall to photograph the mural in progress, I could immediately recognize some of the faces and yesterday when I attended the dedication of the finished product, I could recognize a few more. What a fun way to see bits and pieces of your own work!
The final work looks amazing! I have absolutely no ability to draw or paint so Katie’s talent boggles my mind. During the dedication speech, President and CEO Molly Greenman said that they used to feel that if you didn’t come into the building depressed, you’d leave depressed for sure because of the long, dreary hallway. Not anymore!
If you’re looking for a way to get involved in the Twin Cities area, check out Family and Children’s Service. They are looking for help in a variety of areas and they are very good to their volunteers. 
What an amazing project. Makes me want to get out and volunteer with an organization. If nothing else, doing a good thing while getting tons of practice with candids and available light portraits. Way to go!!!
I love that first shot of the little boy in the dirt. No worries in the world….great job of capturing the spirit of youth in these photos.
Mandy,
This is so great, Mandy! And, I love the photos of the mural. Thank you for using your artistic gifts to make a difference for children and families.
PS Matt, we are always looking for volunteers at Family & Children’s Service.
I am glad someone I know got this! I also applied for it, but between the FT job and portrait/fashion photography and being with my own kids, we kept missing each other.