Alice Street Legacy Mural

This massive two-storey mural, located in the library of Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Surrey campus, is two stories. It illustrates the history of Oakland, California, a neighbourhood that housed many marginalized communities and sparked several world-changing movements. It also honours long-time Vancouver advocate, Kat Norris, having her on the face of what that change looks like there.

Sometimes, murals end up telling the stories of many places at once. Commissioned by Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and housed in its Surrey campus library, the Alice Street Legacy Mural spans two stories upward, and tells two stories across the continent. One story is that from Alice Street in Oakland, California to draw attention to a neighbourhood of importance to all our lives which has been resisting gentrification for decades. Another story is of Kat Norris, legendary Indigenous rights advocate who passed away in 2022.

Home to many Black, Indigenous and Hispanic communities, several movements were founded and central in Oakland, California on Alice Street. The Black Panthers and Civil Rights Movement occurred there: Malcolm X delivered his first speeches and Martin Luther King Jr. organized his first rallies. It continues to be a bustling arts community that’s historically housed and supported of the nation’s Black jazz musicians, painters, poets, gospel singers, r&b and Motown. Alice Street also supported the community with grassroots programming, housing, education, and breakfast programs.

Under wave upon wave of gentrification, several historical landmarks and organizations have rallied support and awareness against encroachment. The Alice Street Mural was a part of this rallying, tasked by Desi Mundo and Poncho Pescador and in collaboration with Brandon Gabriel of Octopus Spirit Enterprises.

Grounding that movement with the advocacy of the present area in the lower mainland, this project was conceived around the time a renowned activist passed away. Kat Norris was an outstanding Indigenous rights front-line activist and advocate for the city’s homeless people, those recovering from trauma, addictions and mental health issues. She left an amazing legacy for the people. She passed away in 2022.