We Did It!

We did it! The first two large panels of our San Lorenzo Riverfront mural are complete — and we celebrated them together at our Mural on the River event. Thank you to everyone who picked up a brush, gathered by the water, and helped bring this community artwork to life.

The original vision for the San Lorenzo Riverfront mural was sparked in early 2024 by a conversation with elder George Ow, whose family are Chinese immigrants. As part of Santa Cruz’s last Chinatown, George’s grandmother’s garden was located on the grounds that are now The 418 Project. George suggested a mural that would honor The 418 Project’s mission and community of communities, even as it uplifted ‘the ghosts of our ancestors’.

We at The 418 Project are committed to diversity of representation and depth of community participation. Our goal is to engage people across generations and identities—including youth, seniors, disabled individuals, and immigrant communities. The mural’s greatest impact is emotional and cultural: a sense of belonging, pride, and shared ownership in a public artwork that truly reflects the people and histories of Santa Cruz.