The healing power of art is hard at work on the streets of Uvalde, Texas. Last year, the South Texas community was the site of one of the nation’s deadliest mass shootings when a gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School, taking the lives of 19 students and 2 teachers, on May 24, 2022. Healing Uvalde is an outdoor mural project honoring the 21 victims with large and vibrant paintings, the result of a collaboration between Monica Maldonado of MAS Cultura, Uvalde resident Abel Ortiz and Dr. George Meza.
“I know, from my own experience, that art has the power to help these families heal from the monumental pain that they’re going to experience for the rest of their lives,” says Ortiz, an associate professor of art at Southwest Texas Junior College whose children, now grown, attended the school where the mass shooting occurred. “This is a reason why the murals had to be monumental and why they had to be portraits so that we remember their faces and their names. Hopefully, they become voices for change as well, as we need change in this country. The murals hopefully will persuade the hearts of Americans to bring change.”
Nevaeh Bravo, 10
Nevaeh’s name spelled backwards is “heaven.” After her death, the girl’s aunt wrote on Facebook, “She is flying with the angels above. We love you Nevaeh very much princess!”
Jackie Cazares, 9
Jackie was killed with her cousin Annabell Rodriguez. After Jackie’s death, her father, Jacinto Cazares, wrote on Facebook that Jackie was “full of life and love” and added, “We’re devastated in ways I hope no one ever goes through. … It hurts us to our souls.”
Makenna Lee Elrod, 10
Makenna loved tumbling, a friend’s mother toldThe Dallas Morning News. “She had the biggest heart and loved her family and friends so much,” Makenna’s aunt wrote in a verified GoFundMe page set up for her family.
Jose Flores Jr., 10
Hours before he was killed, Jose was one of several star students who received a certificate for making the school honor roll. His father, Jose Flores Sr., told CNN, “He was always full of energy, ready to play till the night.” His favorite pastimes were baseball and video games.
Eliahna ‘Ellie’ Garcia, 9
Irma Garcia, 48
A teacher at Robb Elementary School, Garcia was remembered on a GoFundMe page set up in her honor as a loving wife and mother to four children. “Sweet, kind, loving. Fun with the greatest personality,” the page read. Garcia loved to barbecue with her husband of 24 years, Joe, and to listen to music. She had been a teacher at the school for 23 years.
Uziyah Garcia, 9
“Uziyah was the sweetest little boy that I’ve ever known,” Uziyah’s grandfather, Manny Renfro, told the AP, quickly clarifying: “I’m not just saying that because he’s my grandkid.” Uziyah was learning how to play football. “Such a fast little boy and he could catch a ball so good,” Renfro said. Uziyah left behind two sisters.
Amerie Jo Garza, 10
Amerie loved nothing more than her family, especially her little brother, 3-year-old Zayne, her grandmother, Berlinda Arreola, 49, told PEOPLE. The day of the shooting, Amerie marked a major milestone for a 4th grader: She made the honor roll. She was shot to death while trying to call 911. “She was so protective,” her grandmother said. “She always wanted to help.”
Xavier Lopez, 10
Xavier Lopez was excited for summer to roll around so he could spend his days off swimming, his cousin, Lisa Garza, told the AP. “He was just a loving 10-year-old little boy, just enjoying life. He was very bubbly, loved to dance with his brothers, his mom.”
Jayce Luevanos, 10
On the morning of the shooting, Jayce asked his grandmother if he could go with her on another class’ trip to the San Antonio Zoo, his grandfather Carmelo Quiroz, told USA Today. His family told him that he couldn’t miss a day of classes so close to the end of the school year “He was so sad he couldn’t go,” Quiroz said. “Maybe if he would have gone, he’d be here.”
Tess Mata, 10
Maranda Mathis, 11
Maranda’s mother, Deanna Gornto,told KSATthat Maranda had a “kind heart.”
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Eva Mireles, 44
Mireles was one of two teachers killed at Robb Elementary School. According to her school district teacher bio, she was a fourth grade teacher who loved running and hiking. For five years, she had been co-teaching the grade with fellow instructor Irma Garcia, who was also killed. Mireles' daughter Adalynn paid tribute to her mother on Twitter, writing, “My sweet mommy, I will miss you forever.”
Alithia Ramirez, 10
Alithia’s aunt Rosemarie Ramirez told PEOPLE last year that her niece loved to draw. She showed a PEOPLE reporter a photo of a drawing of sunflowers Alithia had made for her, saying, “It’s the last thing she gave me.”
Annabell Rodriguez, 10
Annabell Rodriguez died alongside her cousin, Jackie Cazares, who was also 10. Annabell’s sister, Lidia Anthony Luna, wrote on Facebook that Annabell was looking forward to the upcoming summer vacation. “Now,” Luna wrote, the two cousins are “dancing up in the sky, watching over us.”
Maite Rodriguez, 10
Alexandria ‘Lexi’ Rubio, 10
Layla Salazar, 11
Jailah Silguero, 10
Eliahna Torres, 10
Rojelio Torres, 10
source: people.com
