“When they see this mural, I want them to know that just because they made a mistake, they can come back from it,” 7th grader Kylie Braswell said as she pointed to artwork that she and other students at SOAR Academy created.
Kylie says she made some mistakes that led her to attend SOAR Academy for a short period of time and while it felt defeating at first, it taught her a lot. This path led her to being a part of something she never imagined.
“Projects like this allow our students to put their minds, hands, and hearts to work,” said Bibb County Schools Superintendent Dr. Dan Sims. “They allow other fans to come along and not just cheer for them, but to work with them.”
Thanks to a Macon Violence Prevention (MVP) grant the Communities in Schools of Central Georgia (CIS) received, they were able to hire Mama Hawk Draws to work with students to create an inspiring mural. For seven Fridays, Erin Hawkins, Mama Hawk Draws founder and artist, would come to SOAR Academy to work with about 10 students.
“Our students were really excited about this project and looked forward to Fridays when they got to work with Erin,” said Taryn Collinsworth, CEO of CIS . “She has taught them all about designing and painting, but most importantly, how to feel confident about the work they do.”
Students came up with different designs, developed a business plan, and then presented their pitches to Collinsworth, CAO Amanda Irons, and Empowerment Coach Vashun Tobler. The team picked one, and the students got to work.
“You see the sea creatures the students chose. Each one represents something powerful about who they are and what they’ve overcome: strength, resilience, calm, and the ability to regenerate and adapt. The mural is full of symbolism – and it’s full of them,” said Hawkins.
The sea creatures all surrounded a quote they wanted to use by one of their favorite rappers, Rod Wave – “You can literally come back from anything, it’s all about ya mindset.”
“I want kids to know they can make mistakes and come back from it,” said 7th grader Jaden Ray.
“Watching these students open up, share their ideas, and take ownership of the project has been an absolute honor,” said Hawkins. “I’m so proud of every single one of you — not just for what you created, but for how you showed up, supported each other, and saw the value in your own voice.”
CIS received a $30,000 grant from MVP to enhance academic success by providing holistic support that empowers students to envision and pursue promising futures. This project was funded with part of that grant money. CIS has also worked with U Create Macon to teach students bike maintenance skills and how to use a bike safely.
Macon Violence Prevention is an evidence-based, multifaceted program created to address public safety in Macon-Bibb County. Supported and funded by the consolidated government, MVP is a community-wide effort that brings together elected officials, community leaders and representatives from more than 20 agencies, organizations, and departments.
The MVP program operates under the guidance of the MVP Strategic Plan, whichh was created in June of 2021 by community stakeholders and violent crime experts. The plan combines data and research with community feedback to identify and implement proven solutions that reduce violent crime and strengthen the community over time.
Since its inception, more than $2.5 million has been granted to local nonprofit and community organizations. From 2022 to 2024, the Macon-Bibb homicide rate dropped by 45%, and the youth homicide rate fell by 87% between 2022 and 2024.