Across the Bay Area, a new kind of environmental movement is taking shape; one built not on lectures or lab reports, but on paint, storytelling, and public walls. Brushstrokes for the Bay, founded earlier this year as a sister initiative under Eco Innovate, has rapidly grown from a small summer offshoot into a multi-city coalition focused on using public art to inspire climate awareness and community storytelling.
“We wanted to expand student involvement in climate advocacy but through a more artistic lens,” explains Pooja Verma (12), founder and co-president. “Public art gives people the freedom to interpret, reflect, and connect; even on issues that are hard to talk about.” The team has since brought together students from across counties to design, paint, and share environmental messages through accessible, visually impactful murals.
Their early murals at LEAF, a sustainable agriculture garden, focused on pollinators and biodiversity. But, according to Verma, the group’s most meaningful project so far is their recent installation in Oakland Chinatown, created for the Mid-Autumn Festival. The piece depicted a lively Chinatown street during a dragon dance, populated by whimsical bird-people families sharing mooncakes and gazing up at Chang’e in the moon. The design drew on local imagery and festival traditions to create a piece that felt both playful and deeply rooted in the community, while still conveying environmental themes. During the Chinatown Street Festival, Brushstrokes invited passersby to help paint a color-mapped panel of the mural, allowing children, elders, and visors to leave a literal mark on the piece — an experience Luna Yang (12), the Design Department Head, describes as transformative for the team.
As Brushstrokes continues to grow, so does its reach. A new chapter has opened in Newark, and interest is expanding to Union City, San Jose, and Oakland. This winter, the team is preparing for several large events that reflect its mission of accessible, youth-centered advocacy. On December 13, Brushstrokes will lead a community collage-style mural at the Youth Visioning Summit, a gathering of students, activists, and local partners dedicated to imagining a more sustainable future for Oakland neighborhoods. Then, in early 2026, the team will return to Oakland Chinatown for the Lunar New Year Festival, hosting another public session where families, festival visitors, and community members can paint directly alongside the design team.
Getting involved is simple. Students can join by attending local painting sessions, even with no experience. Designs are created to be accessible to beginners, and the team provides color-mapping, sketches, and step-by-step guidance. Volunteers can paint, help prep walls, support outreach, contribute to design brainstorming, or assist with event logistics. Leadership opportunities open toward the end of each school year for those who remain active and committed.
Looking ahead, Verma envisions a future where “every Bay Area city has its own Brushstrokes team. A place where any student who cares, whether it’s about art, the climate, or community, can find a voice.” With each mural, Brushstrokes brings one vision forward: a Bay Area where young people transform public spaces into symbols of environmental hope.
