“Muted Voices” was designed by local independent BIPOC artist Devona Roy, and was a true community project.
The 30th Annual Communicator Awards winners were announced on May 7, and Making a Difference Foundation’s mural project, Muted Voices, was a Distinction 2024 winner in the General – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion category.
The Communicator Awards, presented by The Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts, “is dedicated to recognizing excellence, effectiveness, and innovation across all areas of communication. We are the leading international awards program honoring talent in this highly competitive field.” They honor work that transcends craft – work that made a lasting impact. The Award of Distinction is presented to projects that exceed industry standards in quality and achievement. Winners of the Award of Distinction can be found on the website at https://www.communicatorawards.com/winners/winners-gallery/?event=1077.
Ahndrea Blue, Making a Difference Foundation’s President/CEO, said of the award, “I am humbled and honored for our organization to be recognized for our Muted Voices project, and we are highlighted among so many other projects and people of excellence. I am very proud of how our mural project tuned out and is making a positive impact in our community.”
BEHIND THE COMMUNICATOR AWARDS
The Communicator Awards is sanctioned and reviewed by the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts, an invitation-only group consisting of top-tier professionals from acclaimed media, communications, advertising, creative and marketing firms. AIVA members include executives from organizations like Amazon, Big Spaceship, Chelsea Pictures, Conde Nast, Critical Mass, Disney, ESPN, GE Digital, IBM, The Nation of Artists, Nextdoor, Spotify, Time, Inc., the Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones, and Wired.
Making a Difference Foundation’s Muted Voices is the first mural to be designed and painted, with the community’s help, in the city of Tacoma by a black female artist. Meant to inspire everyone to speak out and let their voices be heard, the mural focuses on racial and cultural diversity and represents different people of the BIPOC community, a community that has been historically marginalized without a true voice due to systemic racism. This art piece is meant to improve, inspire, and beautify the local area while creating an open dialogue between neighbors and community leaders relating to cultural differences, diversity, equity, and inclusion. It also reminds everyone to speak out and let their voices be heard.
Ms. Blue says this project is a call to action where, “Every voice is valued. Speak! Listen! And Honor!”
The mural project saw dozens of community members coming together to complete it, building understanding and camaraderie. It also added a beautiful piece of art in an area that didn’t have any for people to enjoy and provided a bridge to discuss marginalized communities. The art was designed by local independent BIPOC artist Devona Roy, the video that showcased the mural project was created by Eric Perlman, and the Making a Difference Foundation received grant funding from the Tacoma Arts Commission to complete the project.