MS447 The Exploratory School
The mural at MS 447 – The Exploratory School is the result of a months-long collaboration between the school and The Dear Neighbor Project, sparked in October 2024 when educator Cheryl Grau became the project’s first interviewee. During that conversation, she shared a vision of connecting student creativity with public art in the neighborhood—a vision that naturally aligned with the school’s Art for Social Change curriculum. Artist Tiffany Baker developed a custom video lesson for students, which was facilitated in the classroom by Cheryl Grau and Davielle Morton. Over the course of the 30-day unit, students created hundreds of personal symbols and recorded more than 180 audio reflections on life in Gowanus, touching on themes like flooding, friendship, family, and neighborhood change. Baker then incorporated these student-created symbols into her mural design for the school.
Dear Neighbor,
what does 'community' mean to you?
Cheryl Grau
I think a school is a part of a community. What they learn in school goes back out into the community. And I like to think that my job as a teacher is as a community activist.
Dear Neighbor,
what would you want someone to know about flood awareness based on your experience?
Cheryl Grau
Every time we have the floods in this area, it impacts so many families. I mean, kids definitely lose time in school because of the flooding. Its a big problem for sure.
Dear Neighbor,
how has flooding in Gowanus affected you?
MS447 Student
I had my umbrella... when I tell you that was not helping me at all. Dude, I was cooked.
MS447 Student
When I finally got to my class, everybody was upset over their shoes being ruined, their hair, and their clothes being absolutely soaked.
MS447 Student
So, I ended up walking, on a Friday, two hours back home from school because all my methods of transportation were shut down. And now, I always wear comfortable waterproof shoes when it rains – just in case.
MS447 Student
So I was like going home right? And right when I was doing that, you already know it hit me bro. The rain was starting to pour. And I did not like it. And when I don't like it, that means I don't liiiiiike it.
Hear all the interviews that inspired this mural
"The Day the Streets Went Wet" by MS447 student
Cheryl Grau, Educator at MS447 The Exploratory School
Conducted 2024-10-19 by:
- Crystal-Angelee Burrell
"Stuck In A Flooded Pickle" by MS447 student
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