A community-based art project that seeks to connect communities through pulling up a chair and sharing stories of positivity about Strong Women of Toledo.

Artwork by Aly Krajewski

Story from Mary Morales

Mary’s story of her childhood school experiences leading her to become a teacher was as poignant as it was simple and sweet. She came into her education not knowing English, and even though she faced this seemingly daunting trial, she overcame it, and credits the help of her teachers for this. I wanted to evoke Mary’s Hispanic roots with my design, but I also wanted to honor her scholastic achievements, too. I created motifs based on traditional Spanish tile patterns and drew them to resemble a chalky texture on a blackboard background. The little girl at the bottom is meant to represent Mary, but it’s also meant to represent a larger majority of young students who have to assimilate into the American education system while still holding on to their heritage. Overall, I hoped to evoke Mary’s roots in her family, while also illustrating her role as a student and an educator.

- Aly Krajewski, Artist

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