United Way of Rock River Valley (UWRRV) is pleased to sponsor a mural that promotes its work tackling our community’s childhood literacy crisis. The mural was brought to life as part of the Rockford Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s CRE8IV Music and Arts Festival, which celebrated the end of their transformational art initiative that began five years ago. According to UWRRV President and CEO Julie Bosma, the mural aims to spark discussion and motivate families to prioritize reading together. She said she hopes the mural will inspire the community for years to come.
The mural, designed and painted by local artist Dustin Eckhardt, is located at 3502 East State Street in Rockford, on the northeast corner of East State and Fairview Blvd. The mural features a child reading a book in their mother’s lap and illustrates the world of potential, opportunity, and wonder surrounding them.
“From left to right, you’ll see biology, architecture, engineering, music and art, science, technology, and research themes. All of this is coupled with staircases, bridges, and connecting forces that leap and weave between open books to give a feeling of having a journey with literacy,” Eckhardt said.
“We understand that this is not a challenge we can overcome alone,” Bosma concluded. “By sponsoring this mural, we are positioning ourselves at the forefront of the collective movement and inspiring others to join the cause.”
As the United for Literacy initiative gains momentum, our vision is for Winnebago County to recognize the significance of reading with their child. Research demonstrates that early literacy efforts significantly enhance a child’s learning ability, enabling them to excel in school and even predict higher career readiness, reducing their likelihood of living in poverty. By showcasing the joy and opportunity that reading together brings, we believe our mural has the power to inspire and motivate our community to take action in their own lives.