New Dream Center Mural Brings Youth Voices to Life in Downtown Bakersfield

Where once there was a blank stucco wall on the southwest side of the Dream Center, there is now a splash of vibrant color – a mural that tells a story of resilience, growth, and community, all brought to life by the very youth the center serves.

Local artist Jennifer Williams-Cordova, and current and former foster youth from the Dream Center collaborated to brainstorm, design, and paint the mural from start to finish. Through lunchtime “pizza chats,” Williams-Cordova worked with youth to sketch out ideas and settle on a theme.

“It was an effort on everybody’s part, but the general idea and the concept behind it definitely came from the youth themselves,” Williams-Cordova said.

The central theme of the piece is about life being a journey. The background transitions from darkness into light. Road signs and winding paths represent the challenges and detours young people face, especially in the foster care system. The monarch butterfly stands as a powerful symbol of change and transformation.

“The youth wanted to show that everyone’s on a different journey, and sometimes it’s not a straight path; it can be difficult,” Williams-Cordova said. “And they wanted it to be positive and show that there is healing in the community.”

For the Dream Center, which serves current and former foster youth up to age 25, the mural is a meaningful addition. The building has always been more than a resource center. It’s a safe place where current and former foster youth can find support, community, and a sense of belonging. Dream Center coordinator Bryanna Wood says it was important for the youth to be a part of the process, leaving their own mark on the mural, which will last long after they leave the Dream Center.

“They know it’s going to be there forever. That’s impactful to know that they’re going to be a part of something that’s going to last and be bigger than them,” Wood said. 

The mural was supported by the Arts Council of Kern, which provided about half of the funds used to create the piece. Jeanette Richardson, Executive Director of the Arts Council of Kern, says the council joined the project with the desire to beautify public spaces, and celebrate kids’ creativity, teamwork, and self-expression.

“Together, we celebrate youth, community, and the enduring power of the arts to inspire and uplift Bakersfield,” she said.

The Boys and Girls Club of Bakersfield, which also provided about half the funding, sent students in its art program to help Williams-Cordova block out the main colors, add roads and signs, and even mix colors to create an ombre effect. 

“They have very good artists at the Boys and Girls Club and a good art program, so they’re helping me paint some of the things, so they can also help contribute to it, too,” Williams-Cordova said.

Youth from the Dream Center also added a personal touch: stars to fill out the mural’s night sky.

“They’ll know that their star is there, and they’ll always have a piece that they contributed,” Williams-Cordova explained. 

Foster Youth make their mark on the mural.

Wood agrees, saying that by putting their own personal flair on the mural, they’re building a lasting connection with the Dream Center.

“They’re leaving their mark. They’re saying: ‘I was here, I’m important, I’m seen, I’m acknowledged, I’m a part of something,'” Wood said. 

Richardson says this project is so much more than a mural.

“For the youth it can build pride, confidence, and belonging,” she said. “The mural will stand as a permanent reminder that their creativity matters and that they are an essential part of the city’s story.” 

For KCSOS Chief of Staff Steve Sanders, who helped facilitate the partnership, the mural shows what we can accomplish when we collaborate as a community to benefit our youth.

“It’s exciting to see the Dream Center join other local downtown businesses in creating public art that helps improve our community’s image,” he said. “Jen’s artistic talents plus the vision and input of our youth have helped create another gem in Bakersfield!”

Located downtown, the mural adds to Bakersfield’s growing landscape of public art, allowing everyone to appreciate it, while also carrying deep personal significance for those who created it.

“Public art never really stays yours. The whole point is that it’s supposed to belong to the public,” Williams-Cordova explained. “The youth know that this is their mural, and this is the community’s mural; it belongs to all of us.”