KCCI AND SABAL PALM ELEMENTARY ANNOUNCE “COMMUNITY IS FAMILY” MURAL
KCCI AND SABAL PALM ELEMENTARY ANNOUNCE “COMMUNITY IS FAMILY” MURAL
TALLAHASSEE, FLA (May 15, 2026) — The Knight Creative Communities Institute
(KCCI) and Sabal Palm Elementary School unveiled a vibrant public artwork themed,
“Community is Family,” that showcases the art of 138 fourth and fifth graders.
“Projects like this show our students that their voices matter and that creativity can bring
a community together,” Superintendent Rocky Hanna said. “When students see their
ideas reflected in their school and neighborhood, it builds pride, connection, and a
stronger sense of belonging for everyone involved.”
The Sabal Palm students each designed a picture of what “Community is Family” means
to them using Tempera paint, watercolors, oil pastels, colored pencils, crayons and/or
markers. Their individual drawings were digitized by KCCI’s team to create outdoor
mural fence banners totaling 100 feet long. Installed along the school’s front entrance,
the four vibrant 5-foot by 25-foot murals will welcome and inspire students, friends, and
family for years to come. The artwork reinforces Sabal Palm’s connection to the
surrounding Mabry Manor neighborhood and greater Tallahassee community.
“The murals strengthen the school’s identity, deepen connections to the community and
instill a sense of accomplishment and pride,” said Latoyer Hankerson, principal for Sabal
Palm Elementary School. “This community art installation lets the entire community see
the students’ potential.”
Sabal Palm Art Teacher Brenna Alonzo, who worked closely with the KCCI team to lead
this unique public art project, was thrilled at the opportunity to have concepts she is
teaching come to life by showcasing her students’ art in a meaningful way.
“This project allowed me to teach concepts through hands-on learning,” said Brenna
Alonzo. “In addition, to recognize students by displaying their artwork bolsters their
confidence and self-worth.”
The unveiling marked the culmination of several months of partnership between KCCI
Community Catalysts and Sabal Palm Elementary. KCCI met with Sabal Palm Principal
Hankerson and Art Teacher Alonzo to discuss what could be done to inspire students and
deepen connections with the surrounding community through art and placemaking as
part of KCCI’s 2026 placemaking initiatives. Art Teacher Alonzo came up with the
theme, “Community is Family,” with the support and approval of Principal
Hankerson. KCCI Catalysts then developed the project concept, and the students’
art brought the project to life.
KCCI Catalysts were invited to give a presentation to the Sabal Palm fourth and
fifth graders about the project and discuss the impacts of art in storytelling and
history. The students discussed how art can represent shared stories, captured moments, individual and group values, as well as the ability to express themselves and their interests.
KCCI donated all needed art materials, and the students began designing what “Community is Family” means to them.
This allowed students to express themselves creatively while sharing their own vision of community, belonging, and
connection.
Their artwork was digitized, thanks to KCCI Wall+A Sponsor The Blueprint Shop who scanned all 138 images to the
highest quality. KCCI Catalysts designed the banners, surrounding the students’ art around the theme of “Community is
Family.” Tena Pate and Associates sponsored fabricating the 100 feet of banners, bringing the artwork to life.
“These murals are more than just art, they represent a message of unity, hope and possibility when we all work together,
said Tena Pate, a 2026 KCCI Community Catalyst and sponsor. “I’m proud to be a sponsor and KCCI Community
Catalyst.”
About KCCI’s 2026 Placemaking Projects
KCCI’s 2026 Community Catalyst team’s creative placemaking initiative uses bold public art to turn Tallahassee’s
everyday spaces into vibrant community landmarks. By activating corridors and campuses, it strengthens
neighborhoods, celebrates local creativity, and invests in the places where people live, learn, and gather. In partnership
with the Southside CRA and SoMo Walls, The Stacks project is transforming South Monroe Street with eight large-scale
murals on stacked shipping containers, creating a striking Southside gateway that boosts pride, tourism, and community
investment. WALL+A — Walls for Art, Learning, and Local Activation — are the school-focused initiatives bringing
lasting art to eight school campuses, turning walls into creative spaces that inspire students and deepen connections
between schools and their surrounding neighborhoods. More information about KCCI’s 2026 Community Catalyst
project, visit https://kccitallahassee.com/project/wall-a/
About Sabal Palm Elementary School
The history of Sabal Palm Elementary starts with the history of the surrounding area. In 1928, the City of Tallahassee
acquired 200 acres of land to build its first municipal airport. In 1929, the airport was named for Army Captain Dale
Mabry, who died while commanding a semi-rigid airship in Virginia in 1922. Commercial flights began to come in and
out of Tallahassee at this time. In 1938, with the onset of World War II, the United States Air Force established a fighter
pilot training school at Dale Mabry and developed three runways. In 1941, the airport is established as an Army base for
training pilots for various airplanes. More than 5,000 pilots honed their skills at the air base during World War II. The
base was deactivated in 1945 and served as a commercial airport until 1961 when Tallahassee Regional Airport opened.
In 1962, an area of buildings and barracks south of the air strips was annexed and Sabal Palm Elementary opened. The
school began serving the educational needs of the students in the surrounding area and continues to do so today.