14' x 44' Mural titled- 'Believing'

Believing in Belonging: How We Helped Bring Color, Representation, and Possibility to Sac State

Project Overview

Sacramento State has always been more than just a campus — it’s a community. But like any community, there’s always room to grow, connect, and better reflect the diversity and stories of the people who walk through its doors every day. So, when Sac State partnered with Wide Open Walls for a multi-year mural project, they weren’t just looking to decorate; they were making a statement.

The goal? To transform plain, empty walls into powerful visuals that align with the University’s Antiracism and Inclusive Campus Plan (AICP). Their audience included students, alumni, faculty, staff, and visitors — all of whom deserved to feel seen and represented. Before this project, those campus walls? Pretty dull. But the school knew that public art could make the environment more welcoming, alive, and inspiring.

Approach:

This project kicked off with the theme of “Believing,” the first step in a three-year series that would later cover “Becoming” and “Being.” The idea was to visually represent the belief that a more equitable and inclusive campus is possible, and that everyone — no matter their background — belongs in that vision.

Sac State brought on muralists who could embody this theme through their work. Six artists were chosen and assigned wall panels, but due to a last-minute emergency, the largest panel (14-by-44 feet!) was handed off to Beth Consetta Rubel. Beth quickly assembled a trusted team — including me, Brooke Correa, and Walter Anderson — to pull this project together in just one week. We were all familiar with working together from previous projects, so we knew how to hit the ground running.

Creative Process

The design had already been thoughtfully created by Beth and approved by Wide Open Walls and Sac State leadership. So, when I joined, it was all hands on deck. The mural concept featured faces and hands from a wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds, set against a galaxy background symbolizing limitless possibility.

The challenge? We had five days to complete a massive piece of art — and it was mostly just the two of us (Beth and me) grinding it out late into the night. Luckily, we had already built trust as a team from the Northgate "Victory & Rhythm" mural project, so we knew how to move in sync. Despite the tight timeline and pressure, we pushed through and made it happen — brushes in hand, music playing, and lots of late-night caffeine breaks.

The Outcome

The finished mural was everything we hoped it would be: inclusive, vibrant, and meaningful. We wanted every student, staff member, and visitor to look at that wall and see themselves reflected — and from the reactions we got, I think we did just that.

People stopped by to tell us how much they loved it. Some said they never used to walk down that side of campus, but now they go out of their way to see the art. Faculty and students shared how refreshing it was to have color and representation in a space that used to feel bland and forgotten. Visitors stopped to take photos — and honestly, those moments made all the hard work and late nights so worth it. Sure, if we had more time, I would’ve added a few more details, but the positive energy from the community told us we nailed it.

The Impact

This mural didn’t just add beauty — it contributed to Sac State’s mission of becoming a more antiracist and inclusive campus. It gave visibility to stories that needed to be told and reminded everyone that belonging isn’t just a word — it’s something you can see and feel.

For me, it opened new doors and opportunities, both as an artist and as someone who cares about community connection. While the mural stayed up for two years before making way for the next team of artists, it helped set the stage for future collaborations. In year two, Sac State partnered with Blue Line Arts to continue this work with a new design — and I love that this project keeps evolving. It’s proof that the work of building belonging doesn’t end; it keeps going, one brushstroke at a time.

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