This month's CAP grantee spotlight is Hugo Medina and the Ithaca Welcomes Refugees mural project. Ithaca Welcomes Refugees (IWR) is an organization that partners with newly arrived refugees and immigrants as they rebuild their lives in Tompkins County. It is based in Ithaca, and has a small staff, and an established network of volunteers. IWR operates three core programs; Welcome Home, helping newcomers secure housing and set up living arrangements; Response Projects, providing needs-based resettlement assistance; and Global Roots Play School, offering play-based, trauma-informed care for preschool aged children and a community for their families.

They were awarded our GAP Grant (Grants for Arts Programs) to create a mural that engaged the community, their organization, and spoke to the experience of IWR. GAP exists to give arts programs and organizations the chance to broaden their reach, cover operating costs, and participate...  Read more