Park storywalk tells black history

NILES -- Niles City School District students contributed to the Stevens Park storywalk by creating various images and messages to promote Black History Month.

The storywalk, located in the northeastern section of the park, was opened last fall as a collaboration between the McKinley Memorial Library and the Niles Parks Department. The storywalk includes 18 panels that people can read like a book as they walk through the park.

The library reached out to the Niles schools to see if the district would contribute artwork to showcase on the storyboards to celebrate Black History Month.

Laurie DeLucia, high school art teacher, said she spoke with Michelle Alleman, director of the McKinley Memorial Library, who asked for students' art.

"At the time the students were working virtually from home. I had the students take an African American's name in history and illustrate that person's name for Black History Month. Someone did Mae Jemison, who was the first black woman who became an astronaut. The student did something with her name and also what she is famous for and her importance for black history," she said.

DeLucia said one student researched Thurgood Marshall, the first black Supreme Court justice, and used his name with a gavel.

"They could be creative in coming up with what the person is famous for. Some students did Jackie Robinson, who is famous for breaking the boundaries in baseball. One student did Kamala Harris, the first female and first African-American vice president," DeLucia said.

Artwork was completed for Martin Luther King, Frederick Douglass and Jessie Owens, among others. Twelves entries were submitted and used on the storywalk.

The high school students did pictures of people connected with black history, while second-grade students also submitted drawings and poems. A few high school students did poems as well.

Alleman found quotes from many of the historical people to add to the storyboards.

"It was nice to be able to do something with the community and the library. With all that everyone has been through with the pandemic, it is nice to have this connection of working together. It also was a challenge since the students were working from home and they used any materials they had. Some painted and some drew and some did a collage. The students photographed their work and put it on Google Classroom," DeLucia said.

Second-grade teacher Amanda Tricomi, who coordinated the effort at Niles Primary School, said the children made special poems using the words "friendship, peace and equality."

"They had to think what that word meant to them and how they would apply it to the real world. They drew what they felt was equality and peace. This was an introduction to black history for them and how everyone has a part to play in the world," Tricomi said.

"I was really excited when we were told we were going to do this. I did Kamala Harris for all she has achieved,'' Allison Lowe, a ninth-grader, said.

Brooklynn Galios, also a freshman, selected Jackie Robinson because of his unique story.

"It is nice to know all their stories will be shared with the public," she said.

Kellen Davis Hall, a junior, said he likes printing and grafitti street art and thought of artist Jean-Michel Basquiat.

"I am glad to be chosen and have my artwork displayed here," he said.

Niles park director Mark Pallante said it was nice to get the students involved with the project.

"We hope to get more student involvement with other community projects,'' he said.