"The Beloved Community." by Nero and Souls NYC 2021

ro and Souls NYC celebrate the concept of the "Beloved Community," a term coined by philosopher-theologian Josiah Royce in the early 20th century. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. popularized and gave deeper meaning to the term, envisioning it as an attainable goal through nonviolence. In the Beloved Community, poverty, hunger, and homelessness are unacceptable, as international standards of decency prevail. Racism, discrimination, bigotry, and prejudice are replaced by inclusive sisterhood and brotherhood. International conflicts are resolved peacefully, through reconciliation rather than military power. Love, trust, peace with justice triumph over fear, hatred, war, and military conflicts. This mural was partially painted using the GoodSpace Method of community-engaged mural making. Learn more about GoodSpace Murals here.

NERO: Nero's passion for exploring his own artistic talents began as a pre-teen in New York when he was inspired by the city's vibrant street art. He began painting walls in 1994 and working as a tattoo artist in 2006. In Springfield, he painted Flowers in 2019, collaborated on the Say Their Names mural in 2020, and a mural for the MLK Social Justice Charter School in 2021. IG: @uncle_ro

SOULS NYC: Born and raised in the South Bronx, Souls NYC mentors youth and leads art workshops in NYC. A dedicated spray paint artist, Souls integrates spray paint methods and history into his murals. IG: @soulsnyc

This mural is located at 3 Rutland St.