Fordham Bronx Advocates paint
community mural at Boys and Girls Club
Project Manager Lisa Preti, artist Lovie Pignata and student volunteer Isabella Iazzetta in front of the mural. Photos by Jason Cohen
BRONX TIMES REPORTER, M BTR AY 21-27, 2021 25
BY JASON COHEN
In September 2020 Fordham Professor
Mark Naison formed the Fordham
Bronx Advocates with a goal of getting
students involved with the surrounding
neighborhood.
Naison teamed up with Lisa Preti,
who works at the college and they eventually
decided their fi rst project would
be a community mural. In scouting a location
for the artwork, Preti found the
perfect place, the Madison Square Boys
and Girls Club, 543 E 189 Street.
The Boys and Girls Club was eager to
participate in the initiative. Next, Preti
contacted Bronx artist/activist/small
business owner Lovie Pignata, who designed
and painted the mural with Fordham
students, Boys and Girls Club children
and Senator Alessandra Biaggi.
On May 17, the mural, which depicts
fruits and vegetables, was unveiled for
the public.
“This is the fi rst of what we hope
will be many collaborations between
Fordham staff, students and community
leaders in the Bronx,” Naison said.
“This is a model for what we see ourselves
doing.”
The mural is symbolic of food insecurities
people faced during the pandemic
and the food pantries the Boy and Girls
Club held during the past year.
Preti praised the students for their
hard work and thanked the Boys and
Girls Club for letting Fordham use
its space.
Yolanda Roberson, director of the
Clubhouse at the Madison Square
Boys and Girls Club, said the artwork
is special. She went to the club as a
child and understands the impact the
facility can have on the youth.
“We’ve never had anything like
this,” she stated. “It brings a lot
of color. One of our priorities is a
healthy lifestyle, so this is right on
target with what we’re trying to
showcase our kids.”
Among those who participated
was Fordham student Isabella Iazzetta.
Iazzetta, who doesn’t describe
herself as artistic, thought it would
be a good way to give back to the community.
“I enjoyed doing it and it was really
fun and relaxing,” she said.
The next phase of the project will entail
creation and maintenance of a community
garden on the same property.
What should you EXPECT when
you get a COVID-19 VACCINE?
NYC,
YOU’RE
RIGHT,
YOU SHOULD
KNOW!
Learn more at nyc.gov/covidvaccine. Health
THIS IS WHAT:
YOU MIGHT NEED TWO DOSES
Depending on the vaccine, you may have to get a second dose 3-4 weeks
#1
YOU MAY HAVE SIDE EFFECTS
You may get short-term side effects like arm soreness, headaches, body
#2
YOU WILL STILL NEED TO BE SAFE
Keep wearing your face covering, washing your hands, physically distancing
#3
YOU WILL BUILD IMMUNITY
!"#$
#4
NYCDOH_YoureRight_CNGPubs_8.75x5.6_V1_EN.indd 1 5/13/21 3:24 PM
/covidvaccine