This year the Oakdale Multicultural club has begun a new project to celebrate diversity: a set of diversity themed murals within the cafeteria on either side of the giant main street window. The mural is expected to be finished during the second semester.

The multicultural club is a club made up of a multitude of different Oakdale students of all cultures. The club is a chance for students to share and bring awareness to different aspects of their own heritage. The club meets on Tuesdays during SET and is advised by Mrs. Dixon and Mrs. McGraw.  

Planning for the mural itself has already begun. Although students interested in participating in any part of the mural creation process, including both planning and creation, can scan the QR code on any of the flyers throughout the school. The QR code will lead students to fill out a google form, in order to sign up. 

Oakdale Junior, and one of the club leaders, Josef Miller encourages students to contribute to the creation of the diversity mural. “Students should contribute to make sure that all of OHS students are represented in this piece of art,” explained Miller.

The mural is estimated to be fully planned out near the end of the first semester. Once the second semester begins, club members and other artists will begin the process of painting it onto the front wall in the cafeteria. The overall creation of the mural is set to take the entire school year. “This is gonna be a year long project. We’re going to be constantly adding and making additions to it,” says Miller and other Junior Oluwafisayomi Oyolola.

Within the mural itself students should expect to see a multitude of different ways of showing heritage and individualism. The art is planned to show the Oakdale society coming together to celebrate the school’s diverse student body and their heritage. Different symbols and flags of a multitude of countries will be displayed within the flag. 

Another multicultural club member, Junior Madilyn Tribbitt, comments on the importance of the mural: “Just like representation in media, it allows for once quiet voices to be heard (or shown artistically). To know that no student is alone, all ideas, beliefs, and values are accepted through the multicultural club.”The mural is a chance for future students and current students of Oakdale to be seen, and display the culture Oakdale has cultivated over the years. 

The Multicultural club diversity mural is expected to become an important and rich part of Oakdale; A place where students can come together and appreciate themselves and their classmates.