Murals That Inspire: Color, Creativity, and Healing in Our Schools

As reported by WWLP, two vibrant new murals were recently unveiled at Amherst-Pelham Regional High School and Summit Academy, bringing color, creativity, and a sense of healing into shared school spaces. These murals were part of the Imagined Worlds project, a youth-centered public art initiative that invites students to imagine and illustrate what a world looks like when they feel happy and safe.

We were proud to support this meaningful project as a sponsor, helping make space for student voices, creativity, and connection through art.

Imagined Worlds: Art Rooted in Student Experience

The Imagined Worlds project is led by The Color Collaborative, a nonprofit public art organization founded by mural designer and artistic director Sharon Leshner (Sharona Color). Using an art-therapy-informed, collaborative process, students worked together to design and paint murals that reflect their hopes, dreams, and visions of belonging.

As shared in the WWLP article, Leshner described the project as more than just painting murals - it was about ensuring young people felt seen, heard, and empowered to imagine better futures. The result was artwork that uplifted not only the students involved, but everyone who now passes through these spaces.

Students echoed that impact, sharing that the murals made their schools feel more welcoming, joyful, and supportive of creativity.

A Milestone for a Growing Movement

The murals at Amherst-Pelham and Summit Academy marked an important milestone in The Color Collaborative’s newly launched 10×2030 campaign, an effort to bring Imagined Worlds to ten schools by the end of the decade. With multiple projects already completed, the organization continues to expand its reach - partnering with schools, municipalities, and nonprofits to use public art as a tool for wellness and transformation.

These murals were co-designed and painted by Leshner and fellow artist Nellie Marshall-Torres, alongside students and community volunteers who helped bring each vision to life.

Why This Work Matters

Imagined Worlds asks a powerful question: What would a world look like where you feel happy and safe? By saying “yes” to students’ wild, imaginative ideas - from surreal landscapes to playful, dreamlike imagery - the project sends a clear message: your imagination matters.

We were honored to help support a project that celebrates creativity, nurtures emotional well-being, and strengthens community through shared spaces. Seeing art transform school environments - and affirm the voices of young people - was a reminder of the lasting impact creative collaboration can have.