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CELEBRATING DIVERSITY

THROUGH ART ON THE RAILROAD

It’s no secret that murals make our neighborhoods beautiful! Green Star Movement and the Yale-Harvard Association engaged
They add color to building walls, streets, and Metra-owned the surrounding community near the Englewood underpass to
spaces that would otherwise go unnoticed. Murals also act as create this design. It focuses on the natural beauty of the area as
collective thought spaces. They can create dialogue around a well as infinite transformation. The circles symbolize the idea of

subject or community issue through what they depict. unity, infinity, and the beginning of new cycles.

Metra, through the Community Enhancement Program and Green Star hired teens from the neighborhood to assist with the
partnerships with organizations such as Green Star Move- creation of the mosaic as part of a summer art apprenticeship
ment, is doing just that. Green Star Movement, a nonprofit program designed to provide job-training opportunities in the

organization, is creating dialogue through art and, true to art sector. During the summer installation there will also be
their motto, is “changing the urban canvas.” Their latest Community Days, when members from the neighborhood
project is on the Metra underpass at 225 W. Marquette in are welcome to learn and participate in the mural process.
Englewood along the Rock Island Line this summer.
Metra’s Community Enhancement Program works with commu-
“Green Star has a long history partnering with Metra on nities and builds partnerships to create transformative results by
beautifying underpasses throughout the city and is thrilled using murals, painting, station enhancements and landscaping
to have been able to secure the funding for this project and gardening projects to foster a sense of pride and ownership
from one of Green Star Movement's supporters, Innovation for riders and neighbors living in each community we serve. For
80,” said Kamelia Hristeva, Founder and CEO of Green more details on the program, visit metra.com.
Star Movement.

STATION BREAK

The Van Buren Street Station on the Metra
Electric Line was built in 1897 by Illinois
Central Railroad, making it one of the
oldest stations in the system (Metra bought
the IC in 1987). With its subterranean
location and elegant waiting rooms, it’s
long been a hidden gem, even with the
addition of an Art Nouveau entrance in
2001 (a gift from Paris). Metra is currently
planning a major multimillion-dollar
renovation of the station.

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