Nancy Bray, FAN Equity Action Team honored at ‘State of the City’

Presenter: A neighborhood equity committee is honored at the 2025 ‘State of the City’ event. Eugene Mayor Kaarin Knudson:

Mayor Kaarin Knudson: Every year, the Community Service Awards recognize individuals and organizations who demonstrate excellence and leadership, a focus on building partnerships, and outstanding initiative and service to this community… And now I’m pleased to present Nancy Bray and the Friendly Area Neighbors Equity Action Team, who truly went above and beyond to help move us forward through some challenging, urgent, and community-defining issues.

[00:00:33] Nancy is a founding member for the Friendly Area Neighbors Equity Action Team, a group formed in the fall of 2017 in response to increasing hate crimes and graffiti incidents in the Friendly Area Neighborhood (FAN). The team is dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, safe, and welcoming neighborhood environment.

[00:00:52] Through her work with Friendly Area Neighbors, Nancy has coordinated several mural projects that celebrate local history and community values. These projects include the murals at Dr. Edwin Coleman Jr. Community Center, the Willamette Wetlands of the Kalapuya mural, and the Washington Park Earthly Reverence mural.

[00:01:10] These thoughtfully creative works have not only beautified the area, but also serve as a reminder of the importance of cultural preservation and community pride. The Washington Park mural in particular includes many local designs contributed by elementary students highlighting the community’s collaborative spirit. And I would encourage you to visit them all. They are beautiful and wonderful additions to our community.

[00:01:32] In honor of their commitment to diversity and community service, I’m proud to present Nancy Bray and the Friendly Area Neighbors Equity Action Team this certificate of appreciation that reads: ‘In recognition for your outstanding contributions to education, community engagement, and cultural preservation, your work has enriched the lives of many and fostered a more inclusive and supportive community.’

[00:01:56] Congratulations, Nancy and the Friendly Area Neighbors Equity Action Team. (Applause.)

[00:02:11] Nancy Bray (Friendly Area Neighbors Equity Action Team): On behalf of our team, thank you for this award. Our goal has been to create murals with a message, and we appreciate the city for its support.

[00:02:23] Our mural project started in 2018 after the City Council renamed the community center in Westmoreland Park for Dr. Edwin Coleman, Jr. I knew Dr. Coleman, and it was a privilege to work with Charmaine Coleman on this project. The first mural on the south wall features Dr. Coleman and was created by Jessilyn Brinkerhoff. A signboard by this mural tells about his life and legacy.

[00:02:50] The second mural on the west wall and created by Esteban Camacho Steffensen features Dr. Coleman’s passions: social justice and music. It shows both Ed and Charmaine Coleman with civil rights leaders, some of whom they met, and musicians with whom he performed.

[00:03:10] Middle school students at Boys and Girls Club, working with Jessilyn Brinkerhoff, made designs for the third mural, ‘Building a better, more just and equitable world.’ They learned about Dr. Coleman and brought what they learned into their present and future with their designs.

[00:03:29] We would like to dedicate these three murals in memory of Ed and Charmaine Coleman, longtime advocates for civil and human rights. The fourth mural on the Coleman Center, Willamette Wetlands of the Kalapuya, was a collaboration with Beyond Toxics and Parks and Open Space. Susan Applegate and Esther Stutzman were the creative team.

[00:03:54] The wetlands to the east and west of the center are remnants of the wet prairies that used to cover this area before development and have protected status due to native plants of significance to the Kalapuya.

[00:04:08] We have ongoing work parties in these wetlands to reduce invasive plants, to help the native plants to flourish. Our next work party is this Saturday, Jan. 18, in the wetland by Polk Street, and we welcome more volunteers.

[00:04:27] Our newest mural is ‘Earthly Reverence, Every Living Thing is Our Relation,’ on Washington Park Community Center. Two hundred elementary students from Adams Elementary, Cesar Chavez Elementary, 4J Natives Program, Boys and Girls Club, and Eugene ArteLatino contributed designs that were incorporated into the mural by Mural Mice Universal.

[00:04:53] The Kalapuya and Earthly Reverence murals helped us build strong relationships with several members of the Native American community. Without them, these murals wouldn’t have happened.

[00:05:06] We would like to thank City of Eugene Office of Equity and Community Engagement for the neighborhood matching grants, and the many, many FAN neighbors and community members who helped us raise the matching funds.

[00:05:20] For our Earthly Reverence mural, we would also like to thank City of Eugene Cultural Services, Lane County Cultural Coalition, and Oregon Cultural Trust.

[00:05:31] You can find more information about Friendly Area Neighbors and our Equity Action Team on FAN’s website, FriendlyAreaNeighbors.org. You can request a tour of the murals or get information about our work parties by emailing FriendlyAreaNeighbors@gmail.com. Thank you to the City of Eugene for supporting our murals and public art.

[00:06:07] Presenter: Nancy Bray and the Friendly Area Neighbors Equity Action Team accept the Community Service Award. To learn more about supporting equity in Eugene, contact Nancy or another friendly neighborhood association.