The Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida announced a vibrant and hopeful transformation within its walls, thanks to an incredible collaboration with local artist Alex Bustamante. This initiative was designed to provide new energy and spark hope within the children who visit the agency, as the Center’s mission is to provide a supportive and nurturing environment for children who have experienced trauma.
Alex Bustamante, the proud founder of Brandbug, a creative haven where art, design, and strategic branding converge to make your visions come to life, has painted two murals thus far, with plans to design a series of beautiful murals throughout CAC’s facility. These captivating murals are designed to brighten the space, foster healing and inspire hope among the children and families served by CAC.
“The power of art to heal and uplift cannot be overstated,” said Alicia Shannon, CEO of the Children’s Advocacy Center. “Alex’s incredible talent has brought a new dimension of warmth and optimism to our environment. These murals will play a crucial role in creating a more welcoming and comforting space for the children we support.”
The murals, which feature vibrant colors and enchanting playful images, were thoughtfully designed to connect with the experiences and emotions of the children who visit the CAC. The first mural, an image of a little girl holding a pinwheel, was created to remind the community of the national symbol for child abuse prevention. The pinwheel represents the carefree, joyful experiences that should characterize childhood and the nurturing environments we strive to create for children. While the agency sees between 100 and 150 cases of child physical and sexual abuse and neglect each month, CAC aims to improve the lives of at-risk children & their families through prevention services.
The second mural, a larger-than-life set of lovely sea turtles, gives the agency’s lobby a fresh new energy while maintaining the calming ocean theme designed by CAC’s founder and former CEO, Jill Turner. Each mural reflects resilience, hope and renewal themes, offering a visual representation of the positive change and recovery that the CAC strives to foster. At least three more murals are being discussed and designed to complete the initiative. Local businesses can sponsor one of the new murals by contributing funds or materials, thereby enhancing community engagement and showcasing their commitment to the mission and initiative.
“I am deeply honored to contribute to such a meaningful project,” said Alex Bustamante. “My hope is that these murals will serve as a source of comfort and inspiration for the children and families who walk through these doors.”
To see these murals and learn more about the Children’s Advocacy Center, community members can tour the agency and experience the impact of this project firsthand. The Children’s Advocacy Center invites the community to celebrate this new chapter and witness the positive impact that creative expression can have on the healing process. To set up a tour, contact Sahara Hines at shines@cac-swfl.org.
