Project Jericho is an outreach program funded by Clark State Community College and Clark County Job and Family Services. Clark State outreach and education specialist for Project Jericho Brandon Sipes said the mural would be one of the largest in the city, if not the largest.
“There’s energy through the roof,” Sipes said. “We know we have work to do.”
The work will be painted on a 90-by-30-foot wall, though it will not take up the whole space. Those working on the project will have their own small square to paint whatever they want within the color scheme. Words of peace and togetherness were themes of the project, and Sipes said one volunteer wrote positive messages such as “respect others” and “no bullying.”
“She gets it,” Sipes said.
The mural was first conceived when Project Jericho received a $50,000 federal grant. Sipes met Bergner last year when the artist was working on a project at the University of Dayton. He later called Bergner and asked him to lead the project.
“Joel works on murals all around the world,” Sipes said.
YMCA Chief Executive Officer Paul Weber said he was excited for another component of the project: an informational map of all of the murals in Springfield. Weber said one of their stipulations to the agreement was that Project Jericho partner with them to create a print tour and history of murals in the city.
“Not only was it a great project, but we thought it was a kick start to something even bigger,” Weber said.
Sipes said the kids working on the project would have something to be proud of for the rest of their lives.
“They’re going to walk away and be able to say, ‘That’s my square,’ ” Sipes said.
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