At the age of 15, Jordynn Perry can confidently say that the District played a pivotal role in her outlook on the value of community.
The native Washingtonian reflected on a shy childhood shaped by the versatility of D.C.’s arts and culture, which fostered her own creative outlet and a deeper connection to the city that raised her.
Now, when guests enter CareFirst Arena in Southeast, a piece of that story tops the Ward 8 stadium, as part of a new student-created mural installation featuring Garnet-Patterson S.T.A.Y Opportunity Academy, Anacostia High School, and Coolidge High School youth artists, including Jordynn.
“I feel like when it comes from the youth, it can inspire more. Like, they could probably change a lot of people’s points of view, and they could probably change things for the better here in D.C.,” Jordynn told The Informer. “[Working on this mural] meant that I could show everybody that this is what D.C. is about; it’s a deeper meaning to it. It made me feel like I could inspire or put change in the world.”
In partnership with Events DC and D.C. Public Schools (DCPS), CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield recently unveiled a new public canvas at the building that the Washington Mystics and Capital City Go-Go call home.
Boasting historic landmarks, bold colors, and empowerment, the mural installation fuses art and storytelling to tease the prompt: where youth see themselves in D.C.’s future and how evolution finds strength.
“Seeing your artwork displayed in a public space sends a powerful message: Your voice matters, and your ideas can help shape the community around you,” said Mack McGee, chief marketing officer at CareFirst. “We’re proud to support students while also creating opportunities in the areas around CareFirst Arena that make St. Elizabeths campus a destination.”
Created through Transform DC, DCPS’ annual public art initiative celebrating its 10th year, the collaborative artwork took shape with the theme: “We are the Builders, Our City, Our Blueprint,” and was officially unveiled June 30.
The three murals work to capture various legacies of the formerly known “Chocolate City,” all in all conveying a common thread that it, truthfully, never left. Even more, it highlights the historic value of the past, present, and community in the District, which some say holds the foundation to help youth build the future.
“Five or 10 years from now, success will mean young people can see and feel that they have a place in the city’s future. They will have safe spaces where they belong, trusted adults and institutions that listen to them and meaningful opportunities to contribute to their communities,” CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield wrote in a statement to The Informer. “The Oak Drive mural reflects that commitment by showing young people that their creativity, ideas and experiences matter.”
Their City, Their Stories
Garnet-Patterson S.T.A.Y Opportunity Academy scholars created “U Street: Then, Now and Next” to honor the rich cultural legacy of the Northwest corridor once home to “Black Broadway.” Blending vibrancy and history, the piece encapsulates the breadth of one of D.C.’s most prominent historically Black neighborhoods – from the first Black YMCA at 12th and U Street to modern movements like “Long-Live Go-Go” and Moechella.
It also pays tribute to Liff’s Market’s Love DC Go-Go mural in Southeast and D.C. dancer Crazylegz, known as the “King of Beat Ya Feet.”
Also hailing from Northwest: Calvin Coolidge High School, where student artists leveraged their artwork to visualize time and the power of cultural memory.
“That piece really represents the community D.C. has, our music, culture, art, and the people here,” Jordynn said. “Looking at [it], different people can get different meanings from it, and…to be a part of that was really great.”
Using puzzle pieces, fingerprints, and blueprints symbolic of identity, the mural – titled “A Piece of Time, Our Time” – echoed some of the heart of D.C., celebrating the sounds of go-go and local culture, while highlighting how shared experiences ultimately form a united whole.
Meanwhile, Anacostia High School put the theme to work, and the artwork’s name, in a blueprint-style depiction of some of the cultural landmarks in the Southeast neighborhood. Spotlights include the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, the Anacostia Metro sign, the Big Chair, and the high school itself, capturing the heart of the arts district that illuminates the nation’s capital.
“These pieces are thoughtful, bold and rooted in how our scholars see their communities,” said DCPS interim Chancellor Dr. Kim Jackson. “Through art, they are adding to the creative energy and vibrant culture of Ward 8 in a way that only young people can.”
Behind the scenes, the benefit of the experience was bonding with classmates and creating memories, Jordynn said, but also moving towards a version of tomorrow that includes the young minds drawing the blueprint.
“Growing up in D.C., you get a different side of everything, and I feel like it shaped me in many different ways, growing my character, courage and just becoming a better person,” she continued. “I want people to know that everyone has value and that they contribute to different things, and then I want them to feel confident and better within themselves. And if I can help them with art…that will just be really good to do.”
She also touted the value of more opportunities for youth to have a say in how their city looks, from the infrastructure and policies to other avenues of communal betterment. Similarly, according to CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, prioritizing intentional, long-term collaboration — particularly among schools, organizations and city leaders — is essential to driving community progress in the District and beyond.
“We should also see measurable improvements in the conditions that shape their well-being,” read the company’s statement, “including better access to care, reduced food insecurity and stronger educational and economic opportunities.”
As for those looking to attend graduations, sports games or simply passing by the Ward 8 arena, Jordynn extends an invitation to reimagine what matters most in the future of the nation’s capital.
“Everyone has their own identity as individuals, and [when we] come together…we make [D.C.] what it is,” she continued. “I hope that they talk about that. Everybody here has an important role in the community…and I want them to know that we create our future, and together, we can be a lot.”
