Today, Culture of Health Advancing Together (CHAT) held a special celebration and ribbon cutting event to unveil the new Gulfton-area murals titled “Together We Play” and “All Hands In.” Event speakers included Council Member Edward Pollard, CHAT Executive Director Dr. Aisha Siddiqui, and Amer Kumar, Vice President of Ashford Communities, as well as artists Amy Malkan and Thaddaeus Arvie. All community members were invited to join this event, held at the sports courtyard of Ashford Crescent Oaks Apartments (6711 Hornwood, Houston, TX 77074).

CHAT is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering the health and well-being of immigrant and refugee communities through education, arts, advocacy, and access to care. Their services include after-school tutoring, summer camps, English as a second language classes, Social Emotional Learning workshops at local schools, computer literacy programs, health fairs, COVID vaccine education and administration, among many others.

“We are excited to unveil ‘Together We Play' and ‘All Hands In’ to add culturally representative artwork not only to the Gulfton area but also to the city's rich art scene," said Dr. Aisha Siddiqui, CHAT Executive Director. "We are grateful to our supporters for making it possible to engage the refugee children and give them a chance to tell their stories in ways that impact their communities."

“Together We Play” was created by Malkan, taking her inspiration from sports themes to complement the mural’s location near the adjacent sports courtyard. “All Hands In” is part of the beautification project for the sports courtyard, which will be completed by Arvie. Both murals were done in collaboration with CHAT Academy students; they were fun-filled, hands-on art projects for children from the community that will benefit from the vibrant artwork.

The murals are part of the “Gulfton Story Trail,” a collection of community-based murals that tell the story of Gulfton and its people by highlighting their diversity. All the “Gulfton Story Trail” murals have been created by local artists, taking inspiration from poetry and recommendations from Gulfton-area community members, and this mural is no different. CHAT summer camp students collaborated in the design and painting of “Together We Play” and “All Hands In.”

“This mural project is special because it is the children's design and they are the ones who painted it, so overall it is their mural while I facilitated the experience,” said Malkan. “This mural is more than just about the arts, it is to inspire these kids to dream big and not allow their circumstance or situation to pre-determine their success. I really enjoyed working with everyone!”

“As we continue to grow as a melting pot, learning from one another despite our differences is key to a better future. This very logic is what makes a successful organization in team sports, like basketball and soccer. Before each game, the entire team physically puts all of their hands together in congregation. This gesture symbolizes unity and provides spiritual momentum for the upcoming challenge,” said Alvie.

“Together We Play” and “All Hands In” were funded by a grant from LISC Houston, a local office of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, the nation’s largest community development support organization. The murals also were funded by a donation from 1st Choice Accident & Injury. H-E-B and Sweets by Belen generously donated the refreshments for the celebration. Special thanks are extended to Council Member Edward Pollard for his support of the project.

“We are excited to bring this job fair to District J so that residents in this area of Houston can find opportunities right in their own backyard. It is my hope that by holding this event, we will help our constituents as well as local employers come together in a way that will help maintain a healthy economy for our city,” said Pollard.

For more information about “Gulfton Story Trail” murals and CHAT programs, please visit chattx.org.