Thrive Collective Unveils New "Stop Asian Hate" Mural on Lower East Side

To show solidarity in celebrating #AAPI heritage and raising awareness around #stopasianhate, Thrive Collective joined forces with New York Chinese Alliance Church, NYC First Lady Chirlane McCray, and the City’s Taskforce on Racial Inclusion and Equity to support the creation of a new mural, Spread Love: Stop Asian Hate by Bianca Romero.

The vibrant and gorgeous mural, which includes the well-known verse Micah 6:8, was unveiled in May during a special community celebration. All 1500 square feet, which is in a protected lot, was painted in under two weeks.

In speaking to various news outlets, Jeremy Del Rio, Executive Director of Thrive Collective, shared, "Art heals. Public art heals the public. In the midst of trauma and pain, projects like this help restore hope by reminding us that beauty flourishes in life’s valleys."

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Artist Bianca Romero, who's Korean and Latina, also shared, “I’m creating the representation I never saw growing up. Because everyone deserves to feel seen and heard. To have security and feel that they belong. The concept of the mural is to hold space for yourself, for your community. Each person in the mural is holding flowers to represent holding space for themselves and rightfully taking up space. To encourage speaking out, and speaking up, and step into the light, even when it’s been looked down upon within the culture to do so.”

Hope for New York is proud to #spreadlovenyc by providing a collaboration grant to Thrive Collective for this mural. Visit the mural on the northeast corner of Delancey and Eldridge Street on the Lower East Side!