The youth workers assigned to the Baltimore City Department of Public Works (DPW) this
summer learned what it means to be a DPW worker, collaborating with a local artist to create
community-based artwork highlighting how the department serves the City of Baltimore every
day. The YouthWorks participants worked side-by-side with YH20 water mentoring program
participants to create a nine-panel mural highlighting nearly every facet of DPW’s Solid Waste
and Water and Wastewater operations.
The mural project, “DPW Everyday,” was led by local teaching artist and muralist Gary Mullen,
with assistance from 14 young people employed through the Mayor’s Office of Employment
Development’s (MOED) YouthWorks program and DPW’s YH20, a mentoring program for young
adults interested in careers in the water industry. The mural is located across the street from
DPW’s Park Terminal Utility Maintenance Facility at 2331 N. Fulton Ave. (Druid Hill and N. Fulton
Avenues).
“Thanks to our collaboration and partnership with The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The Arts
and MOED, we were able to provide young City residents with a hands-on employment to
stimulate their creativity and educate them about the value of Public Works and beautifying
communities,” said DPW Director Rudolph S. Chow, P.E., during a ceremony today to highlight
the young workers’ hard work and to dedicate the mural.
This summer DPW employed 100 YouthWorks participants who were assigned to work in almost
every division of the department. The youth workers who worked on the mural project learned
about the various aspects of the department’s work across the city and took behind-the-scenes
field trips to DPW facilities.
Joining Director Chow at the mural dedication were BOPA Chief Executive Officer Donna Drew
Sawyer and Paul Taylor, Director, Mayor’s Office of Minority and Women-Owned Business. The
mural was made possible by DPW in collaboration with The Baltimore Office of Promotion & The
Arts’ “Percent for Public Art” program and YouthWorks, with additional support from the
Baltimore City Department of Recreation & Parks and the New Auchentoroly Terrace
Association.
“This project is about the power of collaboration and transformation, two things BOPA and our
partners at DPW feel very passionate about,” said Sawyer, Chief Executive Officer, Baltimore
Office of Promotion & The Arts. “The city of Baltimore’s rich legacy of employing mural artists to
transform our city with art dates back to the Beautiful Walls for Baltimore program started in
1975. We are thrilled to carry on the legacy and paint the future of this program through
projects that enhance the beauty of our city and sing the praises of the hard working
employees at the Department of Public Works and their important services that contribute to
the health and vitality of Baltimore.”
The Baltimore City Department of Public Works supports the health, environment, and economy
of our City and region by cleaning our neighborhoods and waterways and providing its
customers with safe drinking water and sustainable
