Tou Yia was commissioned by the City of Saint Paul to create a mural for the Rec Check room in the newly rebuilt Frogtown Community Center, formerly known as the Scheffer Community Center.
Before the original building was torn down, Tou Yia visited the space to meet with staff and the children who regularly used it. Understanding the spirit of the old community center—and the people it served—was a crucial part of the creative process.
To learn more, Tou Yia held an art session with the kids, asking questions like:
• What do you love about the Scheffer Community Center?
• What do you use the Rec Check room for?
• What animal best represents you, and why?
• What do you want to be when you grow up?
• What do you love about Frogtown?
• Ten years from now, what does a vibrant Frogtown look like to you?
• What do you love about the Scheffer Community Center?
• What do you use the Rec Check room for?
• What animal best represents you, and why?
• What do you want to be when you grow up?
• What do you love about Frogtown?
• Ten years from now, what does a vibrant Frogtown look like to you?
Each child chose one answer to illustrate. After sharing their paintings and stories, they had the option to take their work home or gift it to Tou Yia. A few generous kids donated their pieces—small treasures that became the emotional foundation of the mural.
This artwork celebrates their voices, dreams, and love for their neighborhood. Tou Yia’s goal was to reflect their energy, hopes, and imagination in the final mural. As the Frogtown Community Center reopens during a time of pandemic and social unrest, one child’s words continue to resonate:
"I want to see a better town and people being better friends."
It’s a simple wish, but a powerful reminder. Spaces like Frogtown Community Center give communities the chance to grow closer—and offer us all the opportunity to be better friends.