Our Story
Hi, I’m Marcus!
This is the story of how and why I started Color for a Cause.
Outdoor Mural
. I’m a member of the First in Flight chapter of the Young Men’s Service League, a national organization of teenage sons and their moms who volunteer together to serve their communities during the four years of high school.
During my freshman year, I designed and painted an outdoor mural with my mom at Fox Road Elementary, a Title I school in Raleigh, NC, as part of our chapter’s annual Ultimate Gift service project. This was a special piece as we were able to incorporate birdhouses painted by the students.
Supportive Spaces
. In my sophomore year, our chapter’s Ultimate Gift project focused on supporting teen parents at H.E.A.R.T.S. and teens aging out of the foster care system through The Hope Center at Pullen. My volunteering efforts included renovating the Parenting Specialist Office to create a play area for children accompanying their teen parents and creating a Mother’s Room for young moms to nurse and take care of their babies. Our chapter’s Ultimate Gift won first place this year (out of 199 chapters across the US)!
Building Community Through Art
. Our Ultimate Gift during my junior year benefited the Salvation Army of Wake County, again taking first place among all YMSL chapters nationally. While our chapter members worked on cleaning, organizing and revamping different community and living areas of the shelter, I focused on creating a large mural in the central gathering space (with my mom and younger brother’s help).
The response to this mural was overwhelming and really impacted me and how I view the power of art in space. In particular, the Shelter Director’s feedback (see our Ultimate Gift video starting at the 3:00 minute mark) and a thank you note from a resident (pictured below) really drove home for me how a “simple” mural can support and uplift others.
