{"id":7045,"date":"2024-08-17T18:09:18","date_gmt":"2024-08-17T22:09:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/?p=7045"},"modified":"2024-08-18T12:03:11","modified_gmt":"2024-08-18T16:03:11","slug":"hamtramck-high-school-receives-fresh-coats-of-paint-to-inspire-learning-as-part-of-colorful-communities-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yemeniamerican.com\/en\/hamtramck-high-school-receives-fresh-coats-of-paint-to-inspire-learning-as-part-of-colorful-communities-project\/","title":{"rendered":"Hamtramck High School receives fresh coats of paint to inspire learning as part of Colorful Communities project"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Nargis Rahman\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on August 7 at the Hamtramck High School with PPG, General Motors, and <\/span>Heart of America<\/span><\/a>, a nonprofit focused on improving classrooms for the Colorful Communities project.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Amjad Farah is the commercial director for automotive coatings at PPG.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He says Colorful Communities is a global initiative to transform spaces such as classrooms.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe go really focusing on institutions of learning, schools to try to brighten up the space, bring in new energy into the space. We get volunteers, in this case, with partners like GM, to go into the schools, freshen it up and really pour love into the community,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

The groups have been working at Hamtramck High School for three years during the summer school breaks.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

Colorful Communities<\/span><\/a> provides volunteers and eco-friendly paint for schools to promote learning and development, through sustainability and the showcase of diversity. The initiative has impacted over 9.2 million people in 50 countries worldwide since 2015.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Farah told a group of volunteers that their work makes a difference.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn three years we’ve accomplished a lot. You guys see the physical changes that you’ve made. What you don’t see is the emotional changes that you’ve made in this community,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hamtramck High School Principal Lawrence Stroughter says it’s heartwarming to see volunteers spend time at the high school.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI’m so appreciative of it, and I thank you for it. I can’t wait for my students to get back to see the freshly painted walls where this old space, or once old and tattered space, is now looking fresh and live and vibrant,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stroughter says the freshly painted spaces will make a difference in the students\u2019 lives and inspire them to learn.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt says to them that they matter, that someone cares enough about us to give their time, their energy, their effort, their money, their dollars. It says to our kids, without saying a word, you matter, and by saying that to them, maybe it motivates them to study a little while longer,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Jim Larson-Shidler, Hamtramck Interim Superintendent, says he\u2019s appreciative of all the volunteers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s just amazing. Seeing the partnership. I mean, you know, I’ve got to thank everybody you know, part of America, PPG, GM,\u201d he says.<\/span><\/p>\n

This year PPG launched its <\/span>New Paint for a New Start<\/span><\/a>, providing fresh paint to beautifying schools throughout the summer months.<\/span><\/p>\n

Annie Clough manages Colorful Communities for the U.S. and Canada.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cWe try to get into as many educational spaces as possible. So to literally, you know, provide new paint for a new start when the kids are coming back to school,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She says the goal is to create spaces the students want to be in and take care of.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHopefully they’re going to treat the school a little bit better. They’ll start to treat themselves a little bit better. And that’s really, you know, how we get to a better world for everybody,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

PPG has been working in Hamtramck for the past three years, home to diverse immigrant communities in the densest populated city in Michigan.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Farah says he\u2019s happy to be a part of a larger effort to make students feel included and a part of the community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me personally, being a Muslim, being children of immigrants, I wanted the children of this community to know that they’re loved, they’re welcomed, and we want them to spread that where they go,\u201d Farah says.<\/span><\/p>\n

The current project involves repainting the hallways and creating a new mural this year with the theme \u201ctime to change.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

PPG researches the colors that best facilitate a learning environment such as neutral colors, while incorporating the school colors maroon and white.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you look in the classrooms, you would see that we actually selected strategic colors that will help facilitate the learning experience right now,\u201d he says. \u201cThere are three primary colors, green, blue, and yellow.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Farah says each year the team works with students to design a mural.<\/span><\/p>\n

The murals encompass different themes over the years: a science, technology, engineering, arts, and math or STEAM-themed mural; sustainability; and this year\u2019s \u201ctime to change\u201d mural.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you see this year’s mural, there’s a special little surprise for the community here. We made sure that there was an image of a hijab-wearing woman in that mural, so it could represent the community and the students that are here,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Farah says the projects are done over two or three days each summer, requiring the work to be spread over the years for completion.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re trying to do it in between summer school and regular school, so it’s a very short period and time window to get it in. So that’s why it’s taken us a couple of years to get it done,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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