Keyari Powell (bottom right) reacts to one of the banner artworks they were about to work on at Bayside MLK school in Marin City on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts" The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Dominican University student Noelle Mauricio and Performing Stars students Jane Mazariegos and Ananda Soler share a laugh while making banner art in Marin City on Wednesday. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
A sample banner in the "Marin City Counts" project. Students from Bayside MLK Academy and Dominican University collaborated on artwork over a 12-week span. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Performing Stars student Ananda Soler works on cutting out pieces for a banner artwork in Marin City on Wednesday. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, work with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
(Left to right) Camora Lewis and Barion Puertas help make a banner artwork in Marin City. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Camora Lewis, left, and Barion Puertas help make a banner artwork for the "Marin City Counts" civic art display. Students from Bayside MLK Academy and Dominican University collaborated on the project. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Jahai Jones helps make a banner in Marin City. Students from Bayside MLK Academy and Dominican University collaborated on census-themed art for "Marin City Counts." (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
(Left to right) Performing Starts student Mishell Puertas, and Gareth Usac from Dominican University make banner artwork in Marin City on Wednesday. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
(Left to right) Performing Stars student Mishell Puertas, and Gareth Usac and Isabel Sosa from Dominican University make banner artwork in Marin City on Wednesday. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Performing Stars student Keyari Powell helps make banner artwork in Marin City. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
(Left to right) Allen Macaspac, Cameron Lewis, and Abigail Tynan work together making banner artwork in Marin City, Calif. on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
(Left to right) Abigail Tynan reacts to Taniyah Leggett tearing up pieces of paper while working together making banner artwork in Marin City on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
(Left to right) Abigail Tynan and Taniyah Leggett pose for a photo taken by Dominican University associate professor of art Lynn Sondag while working together making banner artwork in Marin City, Calif. on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Dominican University student Jillian Natiwidad holds a "mood board" to help decide which colors to use for a banner in Marin City on Oct. 16, 2019. Students from Bayside MLK Academy and Dominican University worked to make banner artwork for "Marin City Counts." (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
(Lett to right) Sisters Antanasia and Jaliyah Cook work on a banner artwork in Marin City on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Jaliyah Cook works on a banner artwork in Marin City on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Performing Stars club executive director Felicia Gaston holds one of the photographs taken that will be turned into a banner artwork in Marin City on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Jaliyah Cook looks for colors for the banner artwork she was working on at Bayside MLK school in Marin City on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Keyari Powell (bottom right) reacts to one of the banner artworks they were about to work on at Bayside MLK school in Marin City on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts" The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Dominican University student Noelle Mauricio and Performing Stars students Jane Mazariegos and Ananda Soler share a laugh while making banner art in Marin City on Wednesday. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
A sample banner in the "Marin City Counts" project. Students from Bayside MLK Academy and Dominican University collaborated on artwork over a 12-week span. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Performing Stars student Ananda Soler works on cutting out pieces for a banner artwork in Marin City on Wednesday. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, work with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
(Left to right) Camora Lewis and Barion Puertas help make a banner artwork in Marin City. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Camora Lewis, left, and Barion Puertas help make a banner artwork for the "Marin City Counts" civic art display. Students from Bayside MLK Academy and Dominican University collaborated on the project. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Jahai Jones helps make a banner in Marin City. Students from Bayside MLK Academy and Dominican University collaborated on census-themed art for "Marin City Counts." (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
(Left to right) Performing Starts student Mishell Puertas, and Gareth Usac from Dominican University make banner artwork in Marin City on Wednesday. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
(Left to right) Performing Stars student Mishell Puertas, and Gareth Usac and Isabel Sosa from Dominican University make banner artwork in Marin City on Wednesday. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Performing Stars student Keyari Powell helps make banner artwork in Marin City. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
(Left to right) Allen Macaspac, Cameron Lewis, and Abigail Tynan work together making banner artwork in Marin City, Calif. on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
(Left to right) Abigail Tynan reacts to Taniyah Leggett tearing up pieces of paper while working together making banner artwork in Marin City on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
(Left to right) Abigail Tynan and Taniyah Leggett pose for a photo taken by Dominican University associate professor of art Lynn Sondag while working together making banner artwork in Marin City, Calif. on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Dominican University student Jillian Natiwidad holds a "mood board" to help decide which colors to use for a banner in Marin City on Oct. 16, 2019. Students from Bayside MLK Academy and Dominican University worked to make banner artwork for "Marin City Counts." (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
(Lett to right) Sisters Antanasia and Jaliyah Cook work on a banner artwork in Marin City on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Jaliyah Cook works on a banner artwork in Marin City on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Performing Stars club executive director Felicia Gaston holds one of the photographs taken that will be turned into a banner artwork in Marin City on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Jaliyah Cook looks for colors for the banner artwork she was working on at Bayside MLK school in Marin City on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
Keyari Powell (bottom right) reacts to one of the banner artworks they were about to work on at Bayside MLK school in Marin City on Oct. 16, 2019. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts" The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
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Dominican University student Noelle Mauricio and Performing Stars students Jane Mazariegos and Ananda Soler share a laugh while making banner art in Marin City on Wednesday. Bayside MLK students, part of the Performing Stars club, are working with Dominican University students to make banner artworks for "Marin City Counts." The finished artworks will be placed around the city to draw attention to the importance of participating in the 2020 U.S. Census. (Douglas Zimmerman/Special to Marin Independent Journal)
A sweeping effort to transform apathy about the 2020 U.S. Census into community pride is under way in Marin City with the help of school children, college students and local government.
Using the double entendre “Marin City Counts,” Dominican University of California students are working with kids at Bayside Martin Luther King Jr. Academy in Marin City to create portraits, banners and murals to catch people’s eye and wake them up.
The double meaning is “You matter, and you’re of value,” and “Each person is going to be counted in the census,” said Lynn Sondag, a Dominican associate art professor who is a partner in the project.
“Our class is called ‘community engaged art,'” Sondag said. “It refers to a form of public art that is with and for the community.” She said the public art approach is just one facet of the “Marin City Counts” project, which has been adopted by Dominican’s entire campus in San Rafael. Other classes are working on community awareness projects to launch before the census begins in April.
“I like how this project not only works with kids at Bayside MLK but also works with the community,” said Alexa Rios, 20, a Dominican University junior majoring in nursing. “A lot of the artwork is going to be put up for the community.”
Marin City is one of four areas in Marin identified by Marin County officials as “hard to count” based on the 2010 Census, according to Sondag. The other areas are the Canal neighborhood in San Rafael, West Marin and portions of Novato, Sondag said
“I felt the census count in 2010 for Marin City was very low, for different reasons,” said Felecia Gaston, CEO of the Marin City-based Performing Stars children’s enrichment program that is also a partner in the project. “People were fearful of government, or they felt it might affect their housing.”
The current effort is meant to dispel those worries, Gaston said. Instead, she hopes to encourage people to participate in the count “so we can get our fair share of resources such as police and fire, roads repair, utilities like water and sewer and school lunch programs.”
The Dominican class has already helped the children make self-portraits that they posted in the laundry rooms at Golden Gate Village housing complex in Marin City.
“It’s fun,” said Bairon Curinaupa Puertas, 10, a fifth-grader at Bayside MLK. “I feel happy. I get to talk to people don’t know.”
This month, the students will complete 50 or 60 vinyl banners that will be posted near the housing complex, the bus shelter and other community areas. The banners will include photos of the kids and also portraits of historical figures involved in social justice.
In November, they plan to paint murals that will be posted on the neighborhood garbage Dumpsters.
“If we get the kids excited, then that gets their parents excited,” Gaston added. “It can even go further than just the census in growing community pride. I’m hoping the banners will stay up forever.”
This is not the first time Gaston and Performing Stars are involved in a community social action awareness project. In the lead-up to the November 2018 elections, the group staged a voter registration event at the Bayside MLK multipurpose room. Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin are also partners in the current census project.
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