City of Oxnard Mayor John Zaragoza, City Manager Alex Nguyen, City Council Member Oscar Madrigal, and Ventura County Board Supervisor Carmen Ramirez were in attendance at Terraza De Las Cortes in Oxnard on June 11, 2022 to unveil and dedicate of The Mental Health Awareness Mural of Oxnard, a new public art installation designed and created by local youth from two community-based programs. The project was created in partnership and with the vision of youth from Future Leaders of America, and the award-winning La Colonia Youth Mural Program, under the direction of Ana Carrillo, co-founder of Our Town. Our Children. A Social Awareness Art Project.

The youth were celebrated and presented with certificates of recognition for their dedication, hard work and courage in addressing the topic of mental health. The unveiling and celebration included entertainment from Inlakech Cultural Arts Center hosted by Javier Gomez, free food, and a community resource fair.

Youth and other local volunteer artists dedicated over 2,000 hours over several months to develop the 79 ft. long mural, which is located near 201 Carmelita Court next to Del Sol Park, and includes imagery promoting mental wellness, as well as information about Ventura County Behavioral Health’s resource/crisis hotline and the National Suicide Hotline.

The mural was developed with the combined support of Terraza de Las Cortes, the Ventura County Arts Council, Our Town. Our Children. A Social Awareness Art Project., DJC Services and Installations, Vista Paints, Oxnard Housing Authority Resident Services Department, and the La Colonia Village Tenant Association.