“If art is to nourish the roots of our culture, society must set the artist free to follow his vision wherever it takes him…” ~ John F. Kennedy

Since 1997, Milagro Center has planted the seeds of creativity in the lives of underserved children and teens and now the entire community will be able to blossom through the organization’s newly renovated and re-conceived Milagro Center Community Art Garden 2.0, a shared outdoor art space for our local community.

Located between Milagro Center’s Junior Teen Leadership (Middle School) and Teen Leadership (High School) Centers in the heart of Delray Beach’s “The Set” neighborhood, the Community Art Garden, initially funded in 2019 through a Community Revitalization Grant by the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, features vibrant murals and rotating art exhibits.  Serving as a cultural arts exhibit venue for both Milagro Center’s students and community artists alike, this beautiful outdoor art gallery is a celebration of their work.   And now, with extraordinary gratitude to DPR Construction, the Community Art Garden 2.0 has been fully renovated with beautiful ground pavers and donation bricks, along with new colorful wall-to-wall murals reflecting the vision and talents of the Milagro Center students.

“Our goals for this project are to help revitalize this community, engage its members, and offer at-risk children and adults the opportunity to create art and build self-esteem,” said Barbara Stark, President and CEO of Milagro Center. “Through the Community Art Garden, local artists will finally have a venue to exhibit their works, and community residents of all ages will be invited to participate and create ‘art on the spot!”

Under the artistic guidance of our Teen Art Specialist Mr. Mono, students learned and applied both spray paint and traditional painting techniques, working collaboratively to bring a shared vision to life. The mural spans two connected walls, each representing a distinct yet deeply connected phase of the Milagro journey. One wall features a vibrant garden, symbolizing the nurturing environment provided to our middle school students. This garden represents the care, attention, and foundational support they receive as they begin to grow, explore their identities, and build the confidence needed to thrive. The mural then transitions to a galaxy-themed wall, signifying the next stage—high school students stepping into a universe of endless possibilities. The symbolic act of passing the star from the garden to the cosmos illustrates how our older students carry forward the lessons, values, and leadership learned through the program. It serves as a visual reminder that they are not only recipients of care but also role models and torchbearers for those who follow. This collaborative project was not only an artistic achievement but also a meaningful expression of Milagro’s mission—to prepare our youth for bright futures by grounding them in community, support, and vision. The students’ passion and creativity are now immortalized on the walls, leaving behind a legacy that will inspire for years to come.