As new murals continue to appear across the territory, the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority’s “Preserving Paradise” initiative continues to blend art, education, and community engagement in its mission to inspire environmental stewardship from the classroom to the wider community.
The latest mural, created for the Lew Muckle Elementary School, celebrates both local beauty and the shared responsibility of keeping the islands clean. Leading the project are Na’Zirah Armstrong, environmental educator and project coordinator, and Alex Krall, beautification coordinator and artist.
“This is part of our ‘Preserving Paradise’ mural series,” explained Armstrong. “We want to engage everyone in the idea that preserving paradise is something the entire community has to take ownership of. Starting with our youngest learners helps that message grow into the larger community.”
The series, which also takes place on St. Thomas, now includes murals at several schools across the territory.
Principal of Lew Muckle Elementary School, Lili D. Cornelius, expressed her appreciation for the project. “We are very grateful that our school was chosen for this mural; it is absolutely stunning,” she said. “We teach our children to take pride in their environment and to care for our property, so the ‘Preserving Paradise’ theme is a perfect fit. It reminds us all of the importance of keeping our island beautiful,” she said.
“At Lew Muckle PreK – 6 School, our motto is ROAR — Respecting everyone, Owning your actions, Acting responsibly, and Responding wisely. That message isn’t just for our students; it’s for the entire community, because we are a community school,” Cornelius continued. “I am truly in awe of this mural. It’s beautiful, and the artists did an amazing job.”
Krall shared that while the design process itself only takes a few hours, the collaboration and painting are what bring the project to life.
“The design usually takes an hour or two, but we work closely with each school’s principal to include their input and ensure it fits their vision,” she said. “Once everything’s approved, the painting takes about three or four long days — around eight to 10 hours each day — but it’s always rewarding. The weather can sometimes delay us, but this last one went really smoothly.”
For Armstrong, murals are more than art; they are interactive learning tools that bring environmental concepts to life.
“When we teach about things like wastewater or recycling, people get to step into the shoes of our staff,” she said. “We make everything interactive so that students and community members can see how their actions, like what they throw away or flush and how it impacts the environment and what they can do to help.”
She added that one of the goals is to highlight the territory’s long tradition of reusing and repurposing materials.
“Our culture has always been one of resilience and resourcefulness,” said Armstrong. “We want to remind people that sustainability isn’t something new because it’s part of who we are.”
For Krall, the growing visibility of the murals across the territory is deeply meaningful.
“It’s exciting to see these murals popping up everywhere because they serve as beautiful visual reminders of the islands’ natural beauty and the importance of caring for it,” she said. “Waste Management often gets viewed in negative terms, but these projects show the positive side — the beauty, the pride, and the education.”
Each mural incorporates elements of local flora and fauna, serving as a teaching tool for students and the public alike.
“We include local plants, flowers, and even caterpillars that turn into monarch butterflies,” Krall said, noting that one of the murals was inspired by a student who shared her love for monarchs. “It’s a way to connect art, science, and pride in place.”
When asked about her own artistic role, Armstrong said, “Being creative in as many ways as possible helps us connect with people. Walls are open spaces that we pass every day but might not notice. Turning them into art gives people a moment to stop, reflect, and think about how they can make a positive change.”
Both Armstrong and Krall emphasized that the murals are just the beginning.
“Our goal is to expand into as many community spaces as we can — schools, community centers, and public areas,” said Krall. “When people see beauty in their surroundings, it inspires pride and responsibility.”
For those interested in supporting the Preserving Paradise initiative or partnering with VIWMA, Armstrong encourages the public to reach out via email at narmstrong@viwma.org or contact the communications team at communications@viwma.org.
St. Croix Source
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