One resident of the neighborhood around Cowherd Middle School in Aurora is working to beautify the area, and has drawn middle school students into the effort.
Alex Perez, who works for the city and lives in the area, is looking to kick off the effort by cleaning up trash and putting a mural, designed by a Cowherd student, at a neighborhood business.
“It just really kills me because I grew up in that neighborhood myself,” Perez, 25, said. “It’s always been somewhat trashy, and it’s just become normalized.”
Part of his effort included a mural contest at Cowherd, which seventh-grader Arturo Morales won with a sketch of a cougar, Cowherd’s mascot. His drawing will go up at the Oxie Valley Electric Supply building on Liberty Street.
Arturo submitted three drawings into the contest, two cougars and a sketch of downtown Aurora, and students voted on the entries, said his teacher, Jenna Hogg. Arturo’s win was announced over the school speaker and he was recognized at a faculty and staff meeting, she said.
“Having something good come from Cowherd, and for the rest of the community to share, too, is just, it’s really exciting,” Hogg said.
Arturo’s strength is in drawing faces and cartoons, Hogg said. He enjoys drawing characters from the Dagedar game, trolls and portraits of members of the Latin American pop band CNCO.
Arturo said he was happy that his sketch would be seen.
Perez hopes the mural brings pride and attention to the community.
Perez said he sought a grant several years ago to cover beautification efforts, but didn’t receive it. Instead, he decided to scale down the project, cut costs, and see what he could accomplish.
He reached out to Oxie Valley Electric, solicited material donations and set up an online fundraiser.
He said he intends to match a portion of the money raised, which is set to cover the cost of an artist to blow up and digitize Arturo’s sketch, graffiti-proof laminate for the panels and other supplies. He is also working with an Aurora church, he said.
Perez proposed an annual competition with Cowherd and a nearby elementary school, swapping out the mural each year. The mural this year is set to be printed on panels.
Raymond Gunderman, owner of Oxie Valley Electric, said the mural “sounds like an excellent idea.” He said the area behind the building is often tagged, and there isn’t much back there anyway. The mural could help brighten the area.
“I’d be tickled to have them put it on the back of the building,” he said.
Perez said he would like to get the trash cleaned up in June, and have funding raised by July. The mural could go up at the beginning of August, though the time line isn’t concrete, he said.
Perez said he is hoping to replicate the neighborhood cleanup and murals throughout the community. One person can make a difference, he said, and he wants to be that person.
“I felt like I was disrespecting my community by enjoying the life that I have without contributing and giving back,” he said.
