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Murals unveiled at MIX Center project an important message

May 4, 2023

Display part of McCain Institute campaign to raise awareness of child trafficking

Two artworks with a message of support and safety for young people were unveiled on Wednesday at the Media and Immersive eXperience (MIX) Center in downtown Mesa.

The pieces, a mixed-media collage and a digital mural in the MIX Center’s lobby, were part of a campaign by the McCain Institute at Arizona State University to prevent online exploitation of children and teens.

Both works were created through a collaboration of local artists and youth organizations in Mesa to incorporate the messaging of the R.E.A.L. Friends Don’t campaign by the Combatting Human Trafficking program in the McCain Institute.

The digital mural, titled “Restoring Our Energy,” (seen above) was created by two artists from the Xico Inc. art collective, Diana Calderon and Martin Moreno, working with young people from the one•n•ten center for LGBTQ youth.

The mixed-media canvas, called “I AM Online Safety Awesome,” was done by artist Tiesha Harrison in collaboration with young people from the Boys & Girls Club in Mesa.

Woman speaking behind lectern in front of mural she worked on

Artist Tiesha Harrison stands in front of the mixed-media piece she worked on titled "I AM Online Safety Awesome" during an unveiling at the MIX Center in downtown Mesa on May 3. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

The Combatting Human Trafficking program started the R.E.A.L. Friends Don’t campaign in 2020 to give parents and young people information to deal with online exploitation, which increased during the pandemic due to kids’ increased time online. It stands for:

• Raise the topic of online safety with your kids.

• Educate yourself on the technology they’re using.

• Act if something makes you or your child uncomfortable.

• Learn all you can. Stay involved and stay alert.

The artworks were designed to not only appeal to the eye, but also to start a conversation about a topic that is often avoided, according to Kelsey Syms, program manager for Combatting Human Trafficking. She said the campaign goal is to provide action-oriented solutions to online child exploitation.

“As COVID was taking over, parents and caregivers were overwhelmed with not only how to adapt to the pandemic but also to have kids at home with virtual learning,” she said.

“We wanted to put out an awareness campaign to educate parents about four actionable steps they can take tonight at the dinner table.”

At the unveiling event on Wednesday, Syms said that online exploitation is the fastest growing form of violence against children. Yet a recent McCain Institute study found that less than half of caregivers had talked to their children about the risks.

The R.E.A.L. acronym emphasizes the point that discussing online safety is not a one-time conversation, Syms said.

“The second piece of the title is for parents to begin the conversation that, ‘Real friends don’t pretend to be someone they’re not,’ or ‘Real friends don’t ask for sexually explicit images.’'”

The campaign was promoted on digital platforms and social media in English and Spanish, and was also featured on billboards in several cities in Texas during the summer of 2021.

“We were trying to reach caregivers as they were driving to work or school to facilitate that conversation,” Syms said.

The Combatting Human Trafficking program worked with several partners to develop the messaging, including the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Polaris Project.

Feedback from parents and caregivers was good, and in summer 2021, the campaign was expanded to reach young people directly.

“Teens are resilient and informed and need to keep themselves and their peers safe,” she said, noting that Black, Latino and LGBTQ youth are more likely to be targeted.

The messaging for young people includes information such as “Realize that predators pretend to be your friend” or “By the time they ask you for something personal, it might not seem creepy. This is part of their trick called grooming.” The web page also includes a step-by-step guide of what to do if explicit photos have already been shared or leaked.

But the institute wanted to go beyond digital messaging.

“We’ve seen the power that art can have in sparking conversations, and it’s a compelling way to share information,” Syms said.

So the program did a pilot in Chicago, working with mural artists to develop design workshops with young people.

“We left it to the artists and youths to design a piece of art that resonated with them and that they wanted to see in their community.”

The result was a 60-foot mural that’s still up in a Chicago neighborhood.

Because the McCain Institute is based at ASU, the program wanted to work in an Arizona community with local artists and young peoples’ organizations.

Harrison graduated from ASU with a degree in interdisciplinary studies and found her path to art when she interned for a fashion designer. She’s volunteered her skills for several causes, including Free Arts for Abused Children and the Special Olympics.

She’s now a full-time artist who creates art-immersive experiences under her business I Am Undefined Art.

When collaborating with the Boys & Girls Club youths, Harrison had them draw a storyboard incorporating some of the R.E.A.L. Friends Don’t messaging. Then she used their imagery in her mixed-media piece.

“There was a student that sat the whole time and didn’t really paint or draw and I told her, ‘Your voice is important.’

“I walked her through and made sure she drew one thing, and she waited until everyone left and came up and said, ‘I’m not sure this is good’ and I told her I would definitely include it.

“That lightened my soul,” said Harrison, whose piece was displayed at Gammage before being moved to the MIX Center.

The other artists, Calderon and Moreno of the Xico Inc. organization, had collaborated many times.

“This project seemed like a good fit. We’re both educators and like to utilize art as a healing mechanism for communities,” Moreno said.

They worked with young people from the one•n•ten center for LGBTQ youths in Mesa.

“We were there to guide them and teach them basic painting techniques. They did all the painting and we just came in and defined some areas,” he said.

“I’ve been a muralist for 45 years now, and it’s always been my philosophy that art should be available to the whole community, regardless of who you are or where you are economically or geographically,” Moreno said.

Calderon said that she and Moreno had the young people discuss what kind of symbolic imagery they wanted on the mural.

“We wrote words on a dry erase board and talked about how to put our thoughts into symbols,” she said.

“We spoke about making something positive out of negativity and being open to growing, seeking wisdom and mentoring.”

The teens talked about ways to recharge their energy — hobbies, listening to music, enjoying nature, breathing and meditation.

“There are symbols like flowers for nature and wings for freedom. There’s an aspect of stained glass for restoration — a metaphor for making something beautiful out of broken pieces,” she said.

The original mural, 16 feet long by 3 feet high in vibrant shades of blue, pink and purple, was photographed and projected digitally onto the 32-foot screen in the lobby of the MIX Center.

Panoramic view of bright, colorful mural

The mural "Restoring our Energy" is digitally displayed in the lobby of the MIX Center in downtown Mesa on May 3. Composite photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

Hira Ismail, the training and digital program specialist for one•n•ten, said she loves when the young people have a chance to interact with other organizations.

“We want them to walk in the world feeling confident about themselves and I could see that happening here,” she said.

“I loved that they felt they could have those conversations and this space was still safe with the artists.”

Josh Stine, vice president of external affairs and business partnerships for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley, said that his organization wants to make sure its young people are prepared.

“We see the positive and negative impact of social media and access to technology to youth and teens today and the influence it has on some of the decision-making,” he said, noting that the clubs provide programming for young people on the risks of social media and technology.

“A project like this gives them a way to be proactive and to be ambassadors for other youth and teens on how to protect themselves,” he said.

The Combatting Human Trafficking program recently received funding to evaluate the effectiveness of its campaigns on shifting behavior.

“We’re really excited about this,” Syms said. “It’s a huge opportunity to learn if these types of campaigns are effective or if we need to identify new or different approaches to reach those most vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation.”

Evelyn Farkas, executive director of the McCain Institute, said, “The McCain Institute is proud to be part of the Arizona State University community and deeply values our Arizona-based partners who have worked with us on this meaningful endeavor.

“Public art serves as a critical stimulus for the challenging, but necessary, conversations we need to have about the online safety of our children.”

Top photo: Patrons socialize in front of a digitally displayed mural titled "Restoring our Energy" at the R.E.A.L Friends Don’t public art unveiling on Wednesday, May 3, at the MIX Center in downtown Mesa. Photo by Charlie Leight/ASU News

Mary Beth Faller

Reporter , ASU News

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Research and flexibility: Military veteran mom finds right fit at ASU Online


May 4, 2023

Editor’s note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2023 graduates.

Michelle Boutin’s time in the Air Force took her from the rural Midwest to the West Coast, but she didn’t have to travel a single mile to earn her college degree.  ASU Online student Michelle Boutin and family Photo courtesy of Samantha Lynn Photography. Download Full Image

The military veteran and mother of two is graduating from the School of Life Sciences this spring with her Bachelor of Science in biological science with a concentration in conservation biology and ecology. She had searched for a school where she could balance family life with school life, and she found it with ASU Online

“It was during my service that I met my husband,” she said. “I chose to leave the Air Force after my son was born in order to focus on my family and provide stability while my husband continues to serve. We now have two kids, ages 3 and 5, and they are my primary reason for having chosen ASU Online. I wanted to find the best balance between working on my education and spending as much time as possible with my kids. ASU has allowed me to do just that.”

Boutin chose conservation biology and ecology because of its focus on solving environmental and ecological challenges such as climate change and habitat destruction.

“My favorite course was probably Environmental Ethics because it had a way of challenging your choices in everything you do,” she said. “I really enjoyed looking at different perspectives and using new knowledge to reevaluate my beliefs when it comes to the way I eat and live.”

She was excited to discover the research opportunities available to online students. Boutin became a School of Life Sciences Undergraduate Research (SOLUR) apprentice and took part in the Online Undergraduate Research Scholars (OURS) program, an opportunity for students grow academically and professionally through group-based research and mentorship.  

“In high school, I always felt like online classes were do-it-yourself kinds of courses with instructors only there if you needed help, but my experience with ASU Online was much more proactive,” she said. “The best opportunity I had was the one-week spring 2023 research immersion for online students in which we were able to get hands-on lab experience while learning about cell culture, immunocytochemistry, molecular biology, beekeeping, and more.”

Now Boutin is focused on the next step in her family’s journey and knowing that, wherever military life takes them, there will be a new opportunity waiting to work with wildlife and nature. 

Question: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?

Answer: I don’t think there was one specific moment. I was majoring in biological sciences mainly because of my interest in and passion for wildlife and realized that all of the classes I wanted to take for electives were required for the conservation biology and ecology major. I changed majors and all of my requirements were classes I would have chosen anyway and then I got to take even more interesting classes as electives.

Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU Online — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?

A: I was surprised to learn about the research opportunities available to online students. Before ASU, I had accepted that I wouldn’t be able to do any research as an online student. I am so grateful that I was wrong.

Q: Why did you choose ASU Online?

A: I was looking for online universities that had strong science degrees and ASU really stood out. In addition, I am a military wife with two young children, and ASU gave me the ability to schedule school around my home life.  

Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU Online?

A: Dr. Susan Holechek taught me that online school doesn’t have to be as impersonal as it had been previously. She really took the time to be engaged in her class and reached out to me with encouragement to get involved in opportunities available to online students that I hadn’t heard about. Taking her course made me less worried about completing my bachelor’s degree online.  

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

A: I think my best piece of advice would be to find the balance you need in your life. School looks much different for me with two kids at home than it does for those just out of high school. I had to accept that I didn’t have enough time to do everything I wanted, so I just needed to find the balance that worked best for me and my family.

Q: What was your favorite spot for power studying?

A: Since most of the time I am home with my kids, our family room was where I got most things done. Sometimes I’d set my toddlers up with a notebook and pens or a play laptop so they could “work” alongside me. I got pretty good at multitasking and studying wherever and whenever I could find the time!

Q: What are your plans after graduation?

A: Since we are a military family, I know we will be moving in about a year, but don’t know where we will be going. My next location will determine what opportunities will be available. I do know that I would eventually like to get my master’s degree and work with wildlife in one way or another.  

Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?

A: $40 million sounds like a lot, but I don’t believe it would be enough to solve any significant issues globally. However, I do think that putting the money towards conservation and conservation education would definitely be a worthwhile cause. It is my hope that my children and their children, and so on, will still be able to marvel at nature and the amazing life it supports. 

Written by Margot LaNoue for ASU Online.