Students at Paw Paw High School are preparing to take part in the painting of a mural near the building’s entryway to spread a message about mental health.
The project is the brainchild of art teacher Sarah Bentley, who tells us during this Mental Health Awareness Month, she wanted to find a way to engage students and get them talking about the issue creatively. She says the kids have been receptive.
“In the fall, my son lost his life with his mental health struggle, and I know that in our community, I’m not the only one who’s been affected by this issue,” Bentley said. “So we found an amazing artist to create something that’s really special and meaningful for our students.”
Detroit-based muralist Marlo Broughton, also known as MARLO BRO, has been hired to help create the new mural. English teacher Sean Kubik tells us he went to high school with Broughton. The new mural will be a combination of Broughton’s design and ideas from the students.
“It’s going to be a landscape incorporating our mascot, the Wolves, but also a lot of students in there, like depictions of various students that could be our students,” Kubik said. “Then what I have is a bunch of really great writing from students, and that’s going to be intertwined.”
The goal is to create a positive, inspiring message that not only welcomes students but also sparks real conversations about mental health struggles, something Bentley says everyone in the community understands.
The artist has already done some preliminary work on the mural, while students will do their part next week. Bentley says everything is scheduled to be completed next Tuesday.
Meanwhile, donations are being collected to help pay for the artwork. You can contribute right here.
