February 24, 2025
Thanks to 91福利 Honors Institute students, the city of Hattiesburg鈥檚 newest public-art mural was officially opened last week in the Palmer鈥檚 Crossing Community.
Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art (HAPA) in conjunction with PRCC, the City of Hattiesburg and the Forrest County Board of Supervisors unveiled 鈥淔reedom Summer: Honoring History and Hope in Palmer鈥檚 Crossing鈥� with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday (Feb. 20).
The project originally began through a student-led initiative at PRCC, where members of national honor society Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) selected this public art installation as their 2023 Honors in Action project. This PTK initiative provides funding and research opportunities for undergraduate students, allowing them to contribute action-oriented service to address real-world challenges in communities across the country.
After studying the intersection of art, science, and play, the PRCC class chose to place a mural commemorating Freedom Summer 1964, near Earl Travillion Attendance Center in Palmer鈥檚 Crossing. Their work ensures this vital piece of history remains a conversational topic to local students, visitors, and community members through the art piece.
鈥淎s our Phi Theta Kappa Honors students worked with the city government and local artists to advocate for this public mural in this specific historic neighborhood rich with stories about the 鈥淔reedom Summer鈥� Civil Rights movement, we learned that art has the power to inspire us to memory, celebration, and renewed hope,鈥� said Dr. Terri Ruckel, PRCC instructor and Phi Theta Kappa Advisor for Beta Tau Gamma at the FCC.
鈥淧almer鈥檚 Crossing played a huge role in Freedom Summer,鈥� said director of HAPA, Kristen Brock. 鈥淲e are proud to continue to tell the story of how Hattiesburg played a pivotal role in making changes for our state, our city and for our country.鈥�
The mural鈥檚 artists are Chris and Taryn Holzinger. As a local educator, Chris Holzinger wanted the mural to tell a story as well as to teach the history lesson of the Freedom Summer of 1964. Depicted are Robert Moses and the Freedom Fighters, the late Vernon Dahmer, depictions of protests at the Capitol and Bettie Dahmer, the daughter of Vernon, teaching students about the events of that fateful summer.
Following 18 months of research and implementation, the city鈥檚 60th mural was officially unveiled during Black History Month, aligning with the recent 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer. Hattiesburg played a significant role in this monumental project of the Civil Rights Movement.
鈥淲hen PRCC and the Ruckels approached me some time ago with the idea of this mural, we looked at several building options that were not suitable. With that, I decided to build a wall. It is a reality today thanks to the efforts and desire to see public art in Palmers Crossing since there was not any in this area before today,鈥� said Forrest County Supervisor Rod Woullard.
The Holzingers were selected by the PRCC class to complete the design with the guidance of community members and Supervisor Woullard, who secured funding for the construction of the wall. Positioned in a high-traffic area, their vibrant artwork integrates important local leaders and imagery honoring the brave individuals who served during the period.
Since 2020, HAPA has worked to significantly grow Hattiesburg鈥檚 public art throughout the city, both in murals and utility boxes. The total number of public art pieces in the community now exceeds 100.
According to Dr. Ryan Ruckel, PRCC students gained valuable experience in the workings of municipal and county governments, as well as school boards.
鈥淲e learned that our community has significant history in stories and the arts have the power to unlock those stories so we can celebrate and we can remember,鈥� said Dr. Ryan Ruckel. 鈥淲e learn we should always be advocates for our artistically-sold communities.鈥�
Dr. Ruckel said last spring in Orlando at a national PTK convention, PRCC鈥檚 advocacy of this mural and the ideas and research behind it, placed in the top 20 projects among thousands of entries submitted.
For the latest news on 91福利, visit PRCC.edu and follow us on X, formerly known as Twitter (), Instagram (), Facebook (),and TikTok ().
Article and Photography by Chuck Abadie.
