Concourse House Mothers Art Crew, Dignity, crochet mural, 2751 Grand Concourse (2024).

Dignity, is the latest crochet mural created by families of Concourse House, Home for Women and Their Children. This artwork is inspired by a former resident of the shelter, Francesca, who drew a beautiful drawing of the word Dignity, with stick figure portraits of herself and her son standing tall beside the word.

 

Concourse House Mothers Art Crew have transformed Francesca’s sketch into a mural message for the front of our building on the Grand Concourse. The team brought together many hands from our community to crochet, assemble and sew the letters D-i-g-n-i-t-y onto our fences. The result is a beautiful mural made with bright color, courage and hope.

 

Alongside the project, Concourse House offered spoken word and poetry workshops to our community members to explore what the word Dignity means to them? Poets and members of our art team, Justine and Alanna share their written responses below:

 

"When you feel like you’re spiraling and the walls are closing in, when you start to hear the whispers and start to lose your “friends” pick up your chin and realize that you need to throw away your pride. Because when you see the bigger picture you’ll see the bigger prize. Even when they make you feel like you lost your amenity and you’re running low on divinity, there’s one thing they can’t take from you and that’s your dignity."

- Justine Warren

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Decide what is worth your energy 

Introduce yourself to a different perspective 

Give yourself grace, time and time again 

Notice what your body is telling you 

Imagine, create, and reflect 

Take your time 

You will be okay, you are exactly where you need to be

- Alanna Mia Cordero

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Photo credit: Jess Rolls (2024)