VIRGINIA BEACH, VA \u2013 August 31, 2021 \u2013 Lawson, Samaritan House, and Hope House Foundation are proud to participate in the fourth annual ViBe Mural Festival with a new mural at Seaside Harbor Apartments, one of ten new murals added to the Virginia Beach ViBe District for the festival. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marly McFly, a Northern Virginia-based artist with roots in\u00a0Hampton Roads,\u00a0developed the pop art inspired\u00a0mural.\u00a0With a theme of inclusiveness, the design\u00a0features\u00a0bold\u00a0patterns and\u00a0pieces of disability icons\u00a0with\u00a0abstract pop art faces\u00a0in bright, unnatural skin tones\u00a0representing\u00a0the likeness of\u00a0all\u00a0people\u00a0despite\u00a0differences\u00a0in\u00a0color or ability. In further support of an inclusive environment,\u00a0McFly invited\u00a0Seaside Harbor residents,\u00a0Lawson team members, and\u00a0business\u00a0partners to paint with him\u00a0\u2013 many of whom accepted the invitation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe appreciate the opportunity for residents of Seaside, including people with developmental disabilities, to participate in this project. Seaside represents what\u2019s possible in the creation of truly inclusive and accessible housing. This incredible project represents the opportunities and outcomes that occur when all people are invited to participate in inclusive and accessible communities.\u201d, said Hope House Foundation Community Outreach and Legislative Liaison, Grey Persons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seaside Harbor, a 100% affordable workforce housing community in the Virginia Beach resort area, has been nationally recognized as an inclusive community and for unique partnerships with local nonprofits Samaritan House and Hope House Foundation. Twenty-five percent of the apartments at Seaside Harbor meet fully, permanently-accessible unit requirements as set by the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standard (USAF) for residents with mobility impairments, and 15 percent of the apartments are reserved for residents with developmental disabilities who have chosen to live independently with support. Hope House Foundation provides supportive services to Seaside Harbor residents with developmental disabilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe couldn\u2019t be prouder of our partnership with Samaritan House (Lawson\u2019s co-General Partner) and our team for what we\u2019ve created together \u2013 a truly affordable inclusive community three blocks from the oceanfront in an area of town that needs affordable housing so much. The result is stunning, and Marly is here making it even more beautiful with the help of our residents.\u201d, said Lawson Chairman, Steve Lawson. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year\u2019s ViBe Mural Festival brings 10 new murals to the district\u2019s impressive collection of public art projects which are free and open to the public. An online map and mural guide<\/a> is available to tour ViBe District art installations. \u201cThis community-building project is our largest and most popular event each year,\u201d said Kate Pittman, Executive Director of the ViBe Creative District nonprofit. \u201cCreative ventures like this elevate our great city and offer new opportunities for local businesses to grow or expand locally.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n