Antidote Inc. and Taproots Inc. brought the Austin community together to create a transformative mural at A.C.T. Yoga, turning a blank wall into a canvas for healing, storytelling and youth empowerment.
The project is powered by Austin-based leaders including Courtney Gipson of Antidote Inc., Ruby Taylor of Taproots Inc., Alexandra Auguste and Jermaine Harris of the Community Leadership Fellows, Chris Thomas of YourPassion1st and Mercedes Pickett of Earth’s Remedies, who together bring expertise in restorative justice, intergenerational storytelling, youth leadership, mentorship and holistic community wellness.
Guided by lead artist Dwight White II, the project was shaped by local residents, youth, and stakeholders through community listening sessions, ensuring their voices and experiences were reflected. The initiative combines art, intergenerational dialogue and restorative practices to foster connection, pride and healing in a neighborhood long impacted by systemic inequities.
“Community members added their own personal touch to the wall, giving them the opportunity to create murals that will be here for years to come and to express their creativity,” White said.
Taylor previously collaborated on a community project that brought together block clubs for peace circles and community-building sessions, where residents shared their visions for their neighborhood. Antidote captured these ideas visually, creating block club signs that reflected the community’s input. When the Together We Heal Creative Place Program opportunity arose, they reunited to collaborate again.
When asked how Taylor had been involved in shaping the project from the beginning, she explained they had previously collaborated on a similar initiative led by the Community Leadership Fellows, including Alexandra Auguste and Jermaine Harris.
“We worked with a group of block clubs to bring community members together to discuss their neighborhood and share what they wanted to see in it. We held a series of peace circles and community-building sessions where block club leaders, members, and other residents could participate. Antidote’s role was to capture the ideas and visions shared, and those images were then portrayed on the signs for each participating block,” Taylor said.
The project ties into ongoing work in youth empowerment by ensuring young people are included in listening sessions and given a voice in shaping their community. It emphasizes that youth perspectives matter, highlighting their role in identifying needs and contributing to solutions, while also fostering unity across generations.
Marshawn Feltus, owner of A.C.T. Yoga was eager to join the project and fully supported its vision. Through collaboration, he felt excited about the final work, believing it will bring energy and community interest and hoped it would help raise awareness for his business. The yoga studio, the first such facility in Austin, is at 5457 W. Madison St.
“Marshawn is the one who allowed us to use the wall for the mural on his building and there’s space out there where people can gather and I hope that it will inspire people to use the safe spaces and the available spaces in the community to come together,” Taylor said.
“When I heard about it, I was ecstatic,” Feltus said. “The mural creates an opportunity to bring more exposure. Now that we have the mural and the lot adjacent to the building, we’ll be able to host more outdoor events as the weather permits. That will definitely bring more attention to both the business and the building,” Feltus said.
The outdoor yoga sessions, weather permitting, will take place near the mural, using it either as a backdrop or a central feature of the space, according to Feltus. The mural is expected to be a highlighted element, adding visual interest to the activities.
Alvin Poon, an AmeriCorps VISTA with Territory, moved to Chicago from Michigan and is focused on building community programs and improving efficiency. He’s involved in local projects like the mural to connect with the Austin neighborhood and create shared experiences through art.
“I hope the mural provides something nice to look at every day. I would say it’s a community bonding experience, where people come together and enjoy art. It’s absolutely beautiful and another treasure to be enjoyed by everybody,” Poon said.
White was drawn to the project because he’s been creating murals in the area for several years and sees it as part of the neighborhood’s beautification. The “Together We Heal” theme aligns with his personal mission of fostering healing in the community and placing it on a West Side yoga studio made it a meaningful opportunity for him.
“I would hope that this is something that won’t stop. Just because this project has come to an end, but that people will continue to look forward to having such projects and making it an ongoing idea,” Taylor said.
