"A Fostered Future," a mural by CIA senior Painting major Ashton Burton, will honor and illuminate the oft-overlooked impact of the Black diaspora during and after The Great Migration, specifically focusing on Black Americans’ place in shaping, building and revolutionizing cities like Cleveland.

Despite facing harsh residential segregation and systemic discrimination, Black individuals and families persevered, creating new opportunities not only for themselves but also for future generations. Their hard work and determination laid the foundation for the thriving, diverse urban landscape present in Cleveland today.

The unveiling of “A Fostered Future” will take place at 1:30pm Saturday, September 27 at Shaker Historical Society Museum (16740 South Park Blvd., Shaker Heights). It will occur during the historical society’s annual AppleFest, which lasts from noon to 4pm.

The composition of the mural will commemorate the past, acknowledge the present and look toward the future with hope and pride. It will serve as a tribute to the legacies built by everyday people, celebrating their strength, resilience and contributions to the city's cultural and economic fabric.

Though this project has deep personal significance to Burton, he firmly believes its importance extends far beyond himself.

It represents a shared history—not just Black American history, but Ohioan and American history. By visually marking this pivotal chapter, the mural invites reflection, recognition and celebration of those who, in migrating from the oppressive conditions of the South, actively resisted racial injustice and helped build vibrant, resilient communities in the North.

In telling their stories, this mural becomes more than public art, transforming into a community monument that honors the past while inspiring a more inclusive and aware future for Cleveland and beyond.

"A Fostered Future" was organized through CIA's Creativity Works program, which is made possible by the generous support of the Fenn Educational Fund and the G.R. Lincoln Family Foundation. Creativity Works is a self-initiated internship program with the goal of supporting a student's professional development. Participating students create proposals that align with their long-term professional goals.

Image: "A Fostered Future" (detail) by Ashton Burton

Partner

Sponsors