The Envision Broadway Revitalization Committee is a group of businesses, employees, and community members focused on re-imagining Broadway. The Broadway corridor generates more sales tax revenue for the city than any other area in Chula Vista, yet, according to the Committee, it is one of the most forgotten commercial zones.
The purpose of Envision Broadway is to ensure that the area is a thriving, multi-cultural business district that serves as a gateway to the Chula Vista Bayfront. This committee is convened by the Institute for Public Strategies that supports economic revitalization’s contribution to the prevention of substance use disorders.
Envision Broadway is holding its Spring 2022 Art Walk: Youth Contest on Saturday, April 23 at the Chula Vista Center from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., and is looking for artists of all ages to participate.
For the Youth Contest, the theme of the event is preventing underage substance use in observance of Alcohol Awareness Month and invites students to create an art piece that reflects a safe and healthy Broadway community without the dangers of underage drinking, vaping, cannabis use, and methamphetamine use.
The contest is open to students enrolled in the Sweetwater Union High School District, Chula Vista Elementary School District, or South Bay Union School District. Participants must be referred or sponsored by an art teacher or mentor. The contest is divided into four groups. Elementary School (ages 5-10), Middle School (ages 11-13), High School (ages 14-18), and Adults, (ages 19 an up).
Institute for Public Strategies Program Manager Jovita Arellano said any other students in private or charter schools are available to enter the contest, and that this year’s art walk is more than a contest, and that anyone can participate at Envision Broadway Community Art Walk, with artwork, photography, dance, theater, and any type of art forms.
Arellano said most of the artwork will be displayed on the second level of the Chula Vista Center, with some artwork by the elevator downstairs.
“We are targeting the school districts, but all youth are invited,” she said. “Students that go to the private schools in the area and Southwestern College. The artwork can be from drawings, sketches, plays, music, dance, it does not matter.”
Arellano said it surveyed residents, business owners, and consumers of Broadway and asked what they would like to see on Broadway, and many said they wanted more cultural opportunities, and popup art shows.
“This is why we are doing this,” she said. “Because the vision is to have a thriving, multi-cultural business district that serves as a gateway to the Chula Vista Bayfront, where tourists and locals can enjoy the fine arts, walking, dining, shopping, and enjoy live entertainment.”
Arellano said this campaign started about two years ago, but due to the pandemic, it has had to postpone the event several times. She said that April is looking good, and for the event it already has performances lined up with ballet folklorico and mariachis, and that the Chula Vista Center fill be offering food specials at the mall.
“The idea of the Art Walk is to spark minds encouraging youth to think critically on what makes a community healthy and safe,” she said. “April is Alcohol Awareness Month, so we are tying it to that because in the work that IPS does, we are helping prevent youth access to alcohol and drugs. That can be a guide to their art piece. They can express their vision or their message through art. Bringing in substance abuse, community health, community safety, which is how we would like them to express their vision. We are giving kids many different options on how they can put their artwork together.”
Arellano said research shows that cities that emphasize art have more civic and social engagement, better child welfare, and even lower poverty rates.
“Art organizations stimulate businesses and economic growth in the community,” she said. “So, we really want to bring art to Broadway.”
Arellano said there will be prizes for each category, and a prize for the teacher who brings the most students.
Arellano said applications for the Art Walk are on the Envision Broadway website.
For questions about the art walk, or to receive updates and meeting dates for Envision Broadway, contact Jovita Arellano at Jarrellano@publicstrategies.org or visit www.envisionbroadway.com.
