A Vibrant Work of Community

A blank wall on the side of a community space at 409 Woodbury Avenue in Altadena, is being transformed into a vibrant mural, thanks to a community-wide effort led by The Goodness Tour, an international nonprofit that brings music, art, and film to people facing adversity.

The large-scale artwork, designed collaboratively with local residents, was spearheaded by The Goodness Tour’s co-founders, Luke Reynaud and Benjamin Swatez, and brought together local organizations, businesses, and volunteers throughout Altadena and beyond, for an immersive, week-long creative effort.

“We travel all over the world to disaster zones, refugee camps, any place where humans have experienced a crisis, and we instigate creativity,” explained Reynaud Saturday. “We’ve seen firsthand the healing power of art, and we wanted to bring that same spirit of resilience here to Altadena.”

The mural came to life after an unexpected connection between The Goodness Tour and local organizer Emily Phelps. Phelps, who had recently helped coordinate a community event at a nearby Grocery Outlet, through her own non-profit, Folk Comunal, met The Goodness Tour at the gathering and quickly saw where she could step in.

“They told me what they do, and said they needed a building,” Phelps said. She reached out to Samera Arkel, who owns the building, and she was on board right away. 

“Instead of a grand opening or a groundbreaking moment, we decided to create a piece of artwork instead.”

With the location secured, the next challenge was gathering resources. Phelps worked quickly to secure key materials, including paint, a scissor lift, and food for volunteers. 

“I don’t think I knew what a scissor lift looked like,” laughed Phelps. “I just had to get one.”

The scissor lift was donated by Lezco Communications, a security camera installation company, said Phelps, while Ace Hardware contributed $1,400 worth of paint supplies, charging only $400 for them. 

Meanwhile, World Central Kitchen provided meals to the volunteers, continuing its long partnership with The Goodness Tour, as well as its Altadena presence, since the start of the Eaton Fire.

“The generosity of these businesses and organizations has been incredible,” said Phelps. “The support we received proves that when a community comes together, amazing things can happen.”

The design process was rooted in community collaboration, said Swatez, as the team held conversations with Altadena residents, many of whom had experienced the loss of their homes.

“The key was to listen,” Swatez said. “We wanted to understand what imagery and symbolism represented Altadena, what themes could express resilience, hope, and transformation. The ideas came directly from the community, especially from those who had endured losses.”

Rather than dictating the artistic direction, Swatez and the team allowed locals to shape the vision. The result was a mural filled with powerful images reflecting themes of community, strength, and renewal.

“It’s not just about painting something beautiful—it’s about capturing the essence of what the community wants to express,” said Swatez. “The wall itself has its own texture and personality, and the design organically evolved as we worked.”

Even nature played a role in shaping the artwork. Swatez recounted a moment when a flock of parrots flew overhead, inspiring artists to incorporate them into the mural’s final composition.

The mural, though completed within a week, is part of a longer-lasting initiative. The Goodness Tour has been working with Odyssey Charter School, which lost its campus in a fire, to engage students in the creative process. The children are expected to contribute phrases that resonate with them, adding another layer of meaning to the artwork.

“The intention is to create something that truly belongs to the community,” Phelps said. “This mural will stand as a testament to our resilience and our ability to come together.”

The Goodness Tour, which has brought similar art projects to locations as far as Ukraine, Puerto Rico, and the Middle East, sees this mural as part of its broader mission of using creativity as a tool for healing.

“The arts have a way of reactivating that genius inside of us,” said Swatez. “When times get tough, they remind us that we have the power to transform hardship into something beautiful.”

The Goodness Tour will continue its work in California, with plans to bring another community mural to the Palisades next. Phelps is already working to secure additional paint sponsorships to ensure the momentum continues.

“This is more than a mural,” said Reynaud. “It’s a symbol of what happens when a community comes together with a shared vision. And that’s something worth celebrating.”

Following our interviews, Reynaud and Swatez took turns sharing music with the workers and guests, from Reynaud’s guitar, and Swatez’ flute. 

It sounded like community.