Unveiling the Beauty of Saffron Communities' Student Mural Project

How much energy can one person have? We asked Mark Pinsukanjana, the driving force behind Saffron Communities’ Inspired Students Mural Initiative. In addition to serving as our President, Mark juggles a full-time role as the Director and Co-owner of Themes + Projects, a thriving gallery in the Minnesota Street Project building. Despite his busy professional life, Mark remains devoted to his family, and has a deep passion for bringing art to children of all ages.

Is project-based learning and mentorship at the heart of the Inspired Students Mural Initiative?

Yes, project-based learning (PBL) and mentorship are at the core of the Inspired Students Mural Initiative. Project-based learning involves students designing, developing, and constructing hands-on solutions to a problem. The educational value of PBL lies in its ability to build students' creative capacity to work through difficult or ill-structured problems, often in small teams.

This community-based art project, in partnership with K-12 schools across California, focuses on PBL by providing students with the opportunity to collaborate with and be mentored by renowned mural artist Carlos García Walterbach, also known as Charlo. Through this initiative, students not only gain hands-on experience in mural creation but also learn the importance of community engagement and the intricacies of artistic techniques. The mentorship from Charlo enhances their artistic skills and fosters a deeper appreciation for public art and its impact on communities.

Where in California are you planning the next round of Student Murals?

Currently, we are working on projects in Marin and Alameda counties. For the next round, we continue our efforts in these areas while expanding to include schools in Sonoma, Merced, Santa Clara, and Contra Costa counties. Our vision for the next three to five years is to broaden the reach of this initiative even further. To make this possible, we are looking to grow our team of volunteers. If you are interested in being a part of this exciting journey, we would love to hear from you, mural@saffroncommunities.com.

Can you share some statistics about your mentoring impact? How many students have you mentored, and how many K-12 schools and students will Saffron reach in the 2024/25 school year?

When we first started testing this project, with my friend Catherine Nam, who is the Principal at Rancho Elementary School in Novato, we had a simple goal: to see what we could achieve with 400 students and one mural. From that initial effort in March 2024, where we engaged 400 students and created one mural, our project quickly gained momentum. By the end of the 2023/24 school year, we had expanded to 4 schools and completed 6 murals, reaching over 1200 students. These schools included Rancho and Lu Sutton in Novato, and Chabot and Vannoy in Castro Valley.

Looking ahead to the 2024/25 school year, we plan to continue our initiative with the Novato and Castro Valley Unified School Districts and expand our reach further. We already have 10 schools signed up and aim to complete projects in 30 schools, inspiring over 10,000 students in the process. Our goal is to continue growing and making a positive impact on students through art and mentorship.

How is Saffron funding this initiative, and how can I contribute?

Saffron Communities is a group of dedicated volunteers who rely entirely on donations. We do not get paid for bringing these initiatives to public schools. 

We are fortunate to have support from multiple funding sources, thanks in part to Proposition 28, which all Californians voted for in 2022. Proposition 28 is specifically earmarked for art education in California schools. For this project, we are funded by several streams: Prop 28, PTA (Parents Teachers Association), corporate sponsorships, and private and individual donations.

We are also partnered with Intersection for the Arts, a 501(c)(3) organization, which serves as our fiscal sponsor. This means all donations are 100% tax-deductible. For those interested in making a private or individual donation, contributions can be made through our Flipcause. 

We are grateful to have this support however we also rely on private contributions to help our initiative. Contributions help our initiative continue to bring art education and mentorship to more students across California. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and will make a significant impact on the lives of young artists.

How can people become volunteers for this initiative?

Volunteers can assist during the workshops and work with students when Charlo is creating the mural. Volunteer support is invaluable in guiding and mentoring the students. Part of the workshop involves students creating their own original artwork in Charlo's style, and having extra helping hands will greatly enhance their learning experience.

Where should I go to learn more?

Visit our initiative website, where you will not only see the amazing murals Charlo has created but also see photos of very happy children! 

At Saffron Communities we are thrilled to welcome enthusiastic volunteers for the 2024-25 school year. If you're excited about joining us in this incredibly fun and rewarding initiative, we would love to hear from you. Your involvement will make a lasting impact on young artists and their communities. Please contact us at mural@saffroncommunities.com to embark on this creative journey together. We will keep your name on a list and send details once we are ready to begin on the next mural.