Press
Amplifying youth voices for community transformation.
Groundswell is a social justice organization that uses the arts as a vehicle to promote youth development and empowerment. The nonprofit was founded in 1996 by a group of New York City artists, educators, and activists with the belief that art creates community, and community creates change.
For more information about Groundswell's programs, events, or projects, reach out to info@groundswell.nyc or 718-254-9782.
In the News
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October 14, 2020
RAUL AYALA: HOUSTON BOWERY WALL AS A PORTAL
BSA (Brooklyn Street Art) - "Steering away from potentially inflammatory political content or street beef of the past on this high-profile wall with a New York street art/graffiti history, the current occupants of the Houston Bowery Wall are more focuses on allegory, and community. Featuring a fleet of volunteers and a mural full of history and aspiration, Raul Ayala thinks of this wall as a teachable moment. The artist employed many of the 21 days that this mural took to complete to do just that: teach."
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October 7, 2020
Artist Raúl Ayala and Students Paint Empowering Mural on Iconic Houston Bowery Wall
HYPEBEAST - "Anyone venturing to Lower Manhattan in New York City will come across a sprawling, vivid new mural at the historic Houston Bowery Wall. Goldman Properties and Goldman Global Arts connected with NY-based organization Groundswell to plan the collaborative mural led by teaching artist Raúl Ayala. Founded in 1996, Groundswell brings together youth, artists, and community organizations to use art as a tool for social change."
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October 7, 2020
Bowery Graffiti Wall Presents New Mural by Raul Ayala for 2020
untapped new york - "On the Bowery graffiti wall, Groundswell is nearing completion of the newest mural the street art site has seen in a year designed by artist Raul Ayala with a team of ten youth artists The last piece, by Japanese artist Tomokazu Matsuyama “Matzu” was completed in September of last year. The mural for 2020 coincides with the 25th anniversary of Groundswell, an organization that uses art for change."
Press Releases
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July 30, 2018
Art Meets Social Change at Groundswell
Summer was coming, and Kevin Rijo was looking for a job. He knew that he could find one through the Summer Youth Employment Program, but there was a problem. “All the regular jobs — caretakers, counselors, retail — were all taken,” said Rijo, “so I thought I was going to be broke the entire summer. However, I was passed a paper with ‘Groundswell’ printed on it, and decided that I had nothing to lose trying something different. The rest is history.”
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July 24, 2018
New mural coming to Sunset Park's Bush Terminal
Angel Garcia, the Groundswell lead artist and a Sunset Park resident, will spearhead the design of the mural, whose theme will be accessing the waterfront, both the working waterfront and also its natural beauty.
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July 23, 2018
Art in the Face of Gentrification
How organizations are using art and artists to empower and engage New York City residents in the wake of change.
