Appleton muralist partners with police to build community through art

APPLETON (NBC 26) — Appleton is no stranger to art, but the city’s newest mural has a deeper meaning.

• Local muralist Neo Medina worked with Appleton Police to create a mural
• Medina drew on his ethnic identity and upbringing as inspiration
• The mural is located along Elm Street in the police parking garage

(Below is a transcript of the entire broadcast report with additional details for the Internet.)

Appleton’s newest mural is located on Elm Street. Its message, written in bold white letters, reads: “It takes all of us.”

The man who created the mural, Neo Medina, says it was a calculated decision to paint it on the wall of the Appleton Police Department parking garage.

“I’ve been creating murals with community members for some time and so she reached out to me and asked if I would be interested in partnering with the (Appleton Police Department), which of course I would be,” he said.

It was press secretary Lieutenant Megan Cash who contacted Medina.

Medina says that while working with Lt. Cash and the police department, he drew inspiration for the mural from his ethnic identity and how it influenced his interactions with police.

“It’s all up to all of us. It’s like a call to law enforcement, but also to the different communities, to come together,” he said.

The painting process took a week and was assisted by children from the Boys & Girls Club of Fox Valley and some of Appleton’s top students.

Appleton Police Chief Polly Olson says she is grateful the project came to fruition.

“I hope we have this here for many years to come. It definitely brings a lot of color to a room that previously had no color.”

Today it reminds us of the power people have when they come together.

Work together.

Neo Medina says his next big project is “Paint the City 3,” which runs August 6-14.

He is working with 20 children on what he says will be the largest mural in Appleton.

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