Lynn’s Raw Art Works Secures $100,000 Bloomberg Grant to Transform Central Square Through Youth-Led Street Art

Lynn’s Raw Art Works Secures $100,000 Bloomberg Grant to Transform Central Square Through Youth-Led Street Art

Historic safety initiative combines creative youth development with proven traffic calming design

Lynn, Massachusetts – Raw Art Works (RAW), a creative youth development organization rooted in the Lynn community for 37 years, has secured a $100,000 grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Initiative to design and install a large street mural in Central Square. The project will transform public space while improving street safety, continuing RAW’s legacy of youth-led community art.

Art as Infrastructure: Proven Safety Results

The initiative goes far beyond beautification. Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Asphalt Art Safety Study, conducted with Sam Schwartz Consulting in 2022, documented substantial safety improvements across 22 U.S. project sites after incorporating art into roadway designs:

• 50% drop in crashes involving pedestrians or cyclists
• 37% drop in crashes with injuries
• 27% increase in drivers yielding to pedestrians with the right-of-way
• 25% drop in the rate of conflicts between drivers and pedestrians

These statistics demonstrate that artistic street interventions create measurable safety benefits, making the Central Square project both a cultural investment and a public safety initiative.

Building on a Legacy of Youth-Led Public Art

Since 2005, RAW has hired hundreds of youth to complete dozens of public art installations throughout Lynn. The organization’s previous large-scale community projects include “Faces of Lynn” in Central Square, establishing a proven track record for delivering impactful public artwork that reflects the community’s character.

This new mural project will employ RAW teens to beautify the city while building workforce and leadership skills, creating opportunities that extend beyond the artistic realm into professional development.

Joining an Elite International Cohort

RAW and the City of Lynn join an exclusive international cohort of just 10 cities selected for the 2025 Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative. The program provides both funding and technical support to cities using art and design to improve street safety, revitalize public spaces, and engage communities.

Planning efforts will begin in Central Square this fall, with RAW managing the design and installation process in close partnership with Lynn municipal partners.

Community Impact at the Heart of the Mission

Rosario Ubiera-Minaya, RAW’s Executive Director, emphasized the project’s significance: “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this generous $100,000 grant in partnership with the City of Lynn in support of these efforts in Central Square, a critical center of culture, arts, and community in our city. This funding not only validates the power of public art to bring people together, but also empowers us to create a vibrant, inclusive space that reflects the spirit and diversity of our community. We can’t wait to see this vision come to life, and we’re deeply grateful for the opportunity to make a lasting impact.”

Youth Development Through Creative Employment

The project aligns with RAW’s broader mission of supporting young people through paid employment opportunities. RAW’s Talent and Purpose (TAP) programs provide teens with workforce and leadership skills while creating meaningful community connections through five distinct groups focused on various artistic disciplines.

About Raw Art Works

Raw Art Works operates at the intersection of creative youth development, art therapy, and social justice. Grounded in its four-pillar model—I Am, I Create, We Connect, and Catalyze—RAW uses the power of the arts to support healing, amplify youth voices, and foster connection and change.

The organization believes all kids should be seen and heard and that everyone has a story to tell. Through free programs in visual arts, filmmaking, and leadership development for youth in grades 4–12, RAW gives young people the tools to explore their experiences, imagine new possibilities, and confidently shape their futures.

Central Square: A Cultural Hub Transformed

Central Square serves as a critical center of culture, arts, and community in Lynn. This Bloomberg-funded project will enhance the square’s role as a gathering place while demonstrating how creative placemaking can address practical urban challenges like pedestrian safety.

For more information about RAW’s Talent and Purpose programs, visit www.rawartworks.org/talent-purpose-programs. To learn more about supporting RAW’s mission, visit www.rawartworks.org.

Media Contact:
Callan Small
Design + Marketing Manager
callan@rawartworks.org

Raw Art Works is a Lynn, Massachusetts-based nonprofit dedicated to creative youth development, art therapy, and social justice, serving young people in grades 4–12 through free visual arts, filmmaking, and leadership programs.