MADISON, Wis. — The City of Madison unveiled a new mural honoring five community leaders from the city’s south side.
The four-story-tall mural, titled “Colorful Characters,” adorns a newly constructed parking garage at Village on Park Street, next to the Urban League’s Black Business Hub.
One wall of the mural features a vibrant, abstract design made using the letters that spell out “South Madison,” while the second wall displays the portraits of five community leaders, including:
- Wayne Strong, who worked to improve opportunities for Madison’s youth through mentorship programs, coaching, including the Southside Raiders Youth Football and Cheerleading program, and through his work with the Madison Police Department.
- Lori Mann Carey, an education advocate who helped create the Mann Educational Opportunity Fund and Mann Scholars Program.
- Earsie Green, who cooked thousands of meals for children at the Boys & Girls Club over her 25 years with the organization.
- Ilda Thomas, who founded Centro Hispano in 1983, which provides a wide range of programs serving Madison’s Hispanic community.
- Alfonso (Al) Studesville, Jr., who was active in several community organizations, including the NAACP, the Urban League, and Madison College. He was also the program director for the South Madison Neighborhood Center, which is now the Boys and Girls Club.
The mural was created by Micheal Ford, a Detroit architect known as the “Hip-Hop Architect” because of how he blends hip-hop culture with his designs…