CapMetro honors Black History Month each February and this year’s national theme of Black Health and Wellness hits home particularly as we approach two years of living in a pandemic.
The national theme lets us focus our thoughts on an issue that’s important for the entire community. It also ensures the entire range of the Black experience is recognized and celebrated as the years go by.
This year, CapMetro is bringing our focus to Black History Month through a bus wrap featuring the work of local artist Dawn Okoro, whose paintings examine standards of beauty and the use of commercial imagery to influence what we desire. Okoro says that her work embodies space, movement, pattern, design, texture and color; and she’s also talked about how creating – doing the work of an artist – is an important part of her wellness journey.
The bus featuring her work will be on the streets throughout February. Check it out!
Our collaboration with Okoro was facilitated by our partnership with the George Washington Carver Museum, an Austin institution that has celebrated African American life in Austin for more than 40 years. The Carver Museum has art galleries, classrooms, a dance studio and theater. Its network of artists, creators of all types and community leaders makes it an indispensable force for good. Follow the Carver Museum on Instagram to view their programming throughout February to celebrate Black History Month.
Throughout the month we’ll highlight different aspects of Black life, Black history and Black health and wellness. We’ll point to those in our community doing good, like Okoro and the folks at the African American Youth Harvest Foundation, which provides community services for underserved kids and their families. The foundation focuses on mentoring programs and the effects of behavioral health issues on its community.
We also want to take the opportunity to share a new resource for Black Austin culture and news: the podcast Black Austin Matters from KUT. The first couple of episodes feature interviews with community leaders Chas Moore of the Austin Justice Coalition and Wilhelmina and Exalton Delco.
CapMetro is excited for you to see the bus featuring Okoro’s artwork in the community and what else we have in store for Black History Month 2022. Watch this space.