Mural at Boys & Girls Club Allentown Inspires Belonging, Creativity and Connection
At United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, we know what’s possible when community partnerships center youth voice and potential. That belief was brought to life on the walls of the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown’s Teen Center, where a new youth-led mural now stretches across the space.
“This mural is more than a piece of art, it’s a reflection of what’s possible when we center youth voice and work together as partners to build strong, connected communities,” said Marci Lesko, Chief Executive Officer of United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley.
The mural was created through a collaboration between the Club’s teen members and muralist Kyle L. Edwards, a proud Allentown native and former Club kid himself. With support from United Way and other partners, including JOSHWAY, which sponsored one teen’s continued pursuit of the arts, this project helped transform not only the physical space but also how the teens see themselves within it.
“What I love most isn’t just the painting—it’s the fellowship. The way it brings people together,” said Kyle. “Each mural is unique to the students. This space is more important now than ever, because kids today are facing a lot more than I did growing up. It’s so important for them to have a space where they can come and be themselves.”
That sense of ownership and connection was exactly what teen members like Isaiah experienced throughout the project.
“I know when I come here, I’m safe, and I can always have someone to talk to or just have fun,” Isaiah shared. “When we talked about what we wanted on the mural, it brought us all together.”
Kathryn Best, Development Director at the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown, said the mural was born from listening to what young people wanted. “We’ve been asking our members what they’re passionate about, and one answer we kept hearing was the arts,” she said. “This isn’t just about giving them a place to go, it’s about giving them a place that feels like it belongs to them. A space they help shape.”
“This mural reflects their voices and their creativity,” said Katarah Jordan, Chief Executive Officer of the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown. “And we’re only getting started.”