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SOS Berks held a dedication ceremony to celebrate the completion of its new recovery-themed mural, Mi Recuperación, Mi Familia (My Recovery, My Family), on Friday, September 29. About 60 people attended the event, which took place at the mural location at 9th & Oley Streets and featured speeches from Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera, former SOS Berks Co-Chair Kevin Barnhardt, Lead Artist Leslie Ramos, Mural Coordinator Mike Miller and Council on Chemical Abuse Community Program Specialist Yvonne Stroman. The mural is based on the recovery story of Jose Lugo, who also gave a moving speech about the role his family played in his recover. “We do recover,” he reminded the audience.
The mural was designed by artist Leslie Ramos and coordinated by Mike Miller of Berks Community Murals through the Albright College Total Experience Learning program. The mural was painted off-site on 60 five-foot long panels that engaged an estimated 1,000 community members who participated in various painting sessions from February through June 2023. The work was installed in August 2023. Click here to learn more about the SOS Berks Mural Project.
Watch this Berks Weekly video of the dedication ceremony.
Photos (Top to bottom): The crowd gathered despite the threat of rain; Berks County Commissioner & SOS Berks Co-Chair Michael Rivera spoke about the significance of a recovery-themed mural; Berks County COO & Former SOS Berks Co-Chair Kevin Barnhardt explained that the inspiration for the mural grew out of another Reading mural, the HOPE mural; Council on Chemical Abuse Community Programs Specialist Yvonne Stroman served as the emcee for the event; Jose Lugo gave a moving speech about the importance of his family in his recovery; Artist Leslie Ramos & Mural Coordinator Mike Miller spoke about the process of creating the mural; Final Photo: Speakers pose in front of the mural after the dedication.