Workers on Wednesday (5/11) will install the new 100-foot Social Justice LEGENDS mural in the Jeffrey Plaza of the Washington Gladden Social Justice Park in downtown Columbus.

The mural is composed of more than 160 names of past social justice leaders from central Ohio and includes more than 50 terms or slogans identifying various social justice issues or causes. Formation Studio of Columbus created the unique design that weaves designated names and words to form the letters J-U-S-T-I-C-E that can be seen from a block away. Attached is a jpg file with an illustration of the mural prepared by Formation Studio.

The installation work will take place beginning approximately 10 a.m. and likely will continue at least through early afternoon. The social justice park is located at East Broad Street and Cleveland Avenue.

Contact information:

The Rev. Dr. Timothy Ahrens, senior minister of First Congregational Church, is available to respond to requests for interviews about the new mural and the park. His mobile phone number is (614) 886-6765 and his email address is tahrens@first-church.org.

Additional information about the mural:

Park volunteers with initial support from the staff of the Columbus Metropolitan Library conducted the research to identify a representative sample of social justice trailblazers from central Ohio whose notable community service spans more than 200 years.

Those honored include Amos Lynch, Sr., editor and publisher of Black newspapers; business leaders such Mel Schottenstein, co-founder of the Community Shelter Board, and Dave Thomas, an adoption advocate; and neighborhood activists, such as Dorothy Cromartie of Weinland Park. To view the full list, visit https://www.socialjusticepark.org/mural-names.

The mural will be displayed through 2023 and is sponsored in part by Orange Barrel Media.

A study guide, Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story?, is in development to complement this major artwork. The public is invited to propose additional names to be included in the study guide that will create a historical record of past social justice leaders in central Ohio.

Information on the park:

The Washington Gladden Social Justice Park was dedicated in 2018 as the first social justice park in the nation. The park is located in the heart of the city’s Discovery District and serves as a gateway to the growing arts scene in the vicinity of Cleveland and Broad. The official sponsor of the park is the First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, of Columbus, Ohio. For more information on the park, visit https://www.socialjusticepark.org