Our Workers
Virtually all of our first time MuralWorkers come enthusiastically prepared for a recreational adventure. Within the first hour the process of forging a competent, capable and committed worker is initiated. MuralWorkers are startled to discover that they are held responsible for their hydration, nutrition, and safety. They are disavowed of their perception of art as being a whimsical free-form playtime and instructed in the reality of disciplines that require interlacing subordination and cooperation. Mural painting is not play – it is work. Very quickly MuralWorkers discover that working together is both physically and mentally challenging. In very short order, young MuralWorkers comment that they didn’t know how hard this work is. For many, there is real fear in their own capabilities to meet the challenges of the project. We are delighted to be honored to witness the moment of realization that the MuralWorker has mastered the challenge.
The challenges the young worker discovers are diverse and multi-faceted and encompass their entire existence. Leadership roles are not given – they are earned. And once earned, they are in jeopardy of being lost through failure to meet the challenge. MuralWorkers paint if it rains. They have to adapt to design changes when community members ask for them.
MuralWorkers are exposed to the universal structure of all businesses. There is a singular project boss who builds the leadership team and in turn leadership team members build their own departments focused on a specific specialty, and all workers are responsible for the performance of duties in this structure. They are intimately required to perform to their peers’ expectations. See chart. Observers from corporations are startled to see in youth mature corporate soft skills practiced with grace and effectiveness.
Meet the Team
Organizational Chart
Biographies
My name is Mikoto Dyer. I am currently 15 and will be attending Washburn High School in the fall, where I will be taking 3 average classes, 3 AP classes and 1 IB class. Also I will be participating in student council, cheerleading during the fall and winter and track for my spring sport. I have yet to decide exactly what profession I would like to pursue in what is quickly becoming the near future. Although I do know that at the very least I would like to have obtained enough college credits by the time I graduate high school to have a year of all basic college courses done. Over the years I have learned that hard work, determination, and networking will aid you in accomplishing your goals and reaching your dreams. This is one of the many reasons I like to work as the project boss at Mentoring Peace Through Art, because those are only some of the skills that help the MuralWorkers® to attain.
Hi, my name is Aanis Hashi and I am from Boston, Massachusetts. I moved to Minneapolis 3 years ago. I am 15 years old and I am going to become a sophomore next year at South High School. I work for Mentoring Peace Through Art and I am the safety lead. My job is to keep my fellow workers safe from cars, make sure that they have their water bottles to keep hydrated and have glasses for when they are painting. My dream job would become an engineer. For me to become an engineer I must go to college and I would like to go to the University of Minnesota. After I graduate I will look for a job will a good salary and look for my future home.
Hi, my name is Hector and I am the assistant project boss at Mentoring Peace Through Art. I make sure everything is running as it is supposed to be, and make sure everyone else is doing their job. What I like about this job is that I get to experience different job sections. I get to paint, design, organize, represent the organization, meet new people, and help tour our awesome volunteers!
My name is Quinn Siebers and I am 15 years old. I work at Mentoring Peace Through Art as the Communications Lead. My Job is to post pictures and information to various social media sites and to delegate tasks to my team of media specialists. I was born in Robbinsdale and grew up in Minneapolis. The career pathway I want to take is in the sound engineering field. I would like to be able to record a band and set up live shows.
My name is Enrique Perez, I’m 14 years old and I’m from Minneapolis, Minnesota. I am going to go to Roosevelt High School. I work for Mentoring Peace Through Art as the safety assistance and a painter. I keep people safe by yelling car when there is a car coming down the alleyway and make sure they have protective glasses on when the MuralWorkers® work with paint. In the future I’m not sure what I want to do yet but I want to go to Augsburg College.
My name is Tessa Marie Keefe. I am originally from Long Beach, New York, but I moved to Minneapolis, MN when I was seven. When I grow up, I want to be involved in musical theatre, the performing side of it. I’m also a bit interested in psychology, and why people act the way they do. Mentoring Peace Through Art helps me learn what a job setting will be like in the future. Also, since I am the Materials Manager, Mentoring Peace Through Art helps me stay organized and focused on more than one thing.
My name is Kiara Durham and I am 15 years old. I am the paint boss and I make sure the paint is properly distributed and handled. When I grow up I hope to own my own business in midwifery.
I’m James Lowmaster, I’m 17 years old, and I’m the lead painter for Mentoring Peace Through Art. Since I’m 17, I can go on a ladder and do the painting that nobody can reach. I want to be a counselor when I grow up and help children with addiction disease. I do demolition work with my brother in the Twin Cities. I go to summer school and I will be in 12th grade.
My name is Fanta Tuti Keita. I am 15 years old. I am a junior at Southwest High School. I was born and raised in Guinea, Conakry. I have been in Minnesota for 10 years. My favorite sports are badminton and basketball. I am currently working at Mentoring Peace Through Art. I am a painter and I work with children. When I grow up I would like to be a nurse and also work with children because I love children.
My name is Isaiah Smith. I am 16 years old and go to South High in Minneapolis. I love photography and drawing, and wish to be in animation some day.
I am 15 years old. I’m from Minneapolis, MN. I am the videographer for Mentoring Peace Through Art. I take videos on daily progress. In the future, I want to be a pediatrician.
Hi, I’m Lecia. I’m 15 years old. I got to South High School. I’m assistant material manager, which means I’m in charge of keeping all of our materials organized and ready for use at anytime. I enjoy playing volleyball and softball. In the future I’m hoping to go to the U of M to double major in Theater and Veterinary medicines.
My name is Darrell Lett, and I work through Mentoring Peace Through Art. I’m the Assistant Lead Painter, which means that I am responsible for all of the painters. I give them instructions on what to paint and how to paint it. In the future, I want to be a pediatrician. I will achieve this by getting a college education.
I am Lauryn McKenzie, I am 14 years old. I live in Minneapolis, MN and I work for Mentoring Peace Through Art as a painter. When I get older I want to be an artist, botonist or work in an insane asylum.
Hi, my name is Yengchu Vang and I am 15 years old. I work at Mentoring Peace Through Art and I like it so far. My role is a painter and what I do is paint. As for the things I like to do, I like drawing, biking, playing on my computer and making things. Lastly, my long-term goal is to maybe become a construction worker or an architect.