By Briana Mitchell, Program Communications Officer
The Michigan Justice Fund (MJF) and LINC UP were honored to be selected as participants in ArtPrize 2025, an international art and cultural festival in Grand Rapids that attracts thousands of art enthusiasts from across the globe. Together, the two organizations launched a project designed to spark dialogue and reflection on what community safety truly means. By centering the voices of those most directly impacted by the justice system, the initiative sought to transform public space into a canvas for collective imagination and hope.
As part of this vision, MJF invited directly impacted artists in Michigan to respond to the question, “What does a safe community look like?” From these submissions, Lansing-based artist Johnny Van Patten was chosen to design the mural that now lives on LINC UP’s community building. Known for his hyper-detailed pencil drawings, bold acrylics and unwavering advocacy for the role of arts in prison, Van Patten created Sowing Seeds of Community — a vibrant, permanent work of art that reflects resilience, solidarity and the possibility of new ways forward. On September 19, LINC UP hosted a community celebration that not only unveiled the mural but also marked its 25th anniversary, featuring remarks from Van Patten and Edwin Anderson, the muralist who collaborated with him to bring the vision to life.
“This project underscores our belief that safety cannot be built through punishment or incarceration, but through community, care and creative solutions. By uplifting the voices of directly impacted artists, we are reminded that those closest to the challenges also hold the deepest insight for meaningful change, says Ashley Carter, director of MJF. “Sowing Seeds of Community is more than a mural — it’s an artistic vision for what community can look like when it’s rooted in dignity and belonging.”
This project is part of MJF’s broader commitment to shifting narratives around incarceration, reentry and noncarceral forms of safety. By using art as tool to transform narratives, MJF aims to uplift stories that are often overlooked and challenge harmful assumptions about justice. Sowing Seeds of Community is a reminder of our collective responsibility to cultivate safer, healthier communities where everyone can thrive.