The Sea.Hear.Now Festival, music brings people together. So does art. So does community.

This year, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey is bringing all three together with an interactive community mural that will come to life throughout the festival.

Created in partnership with local artists Ryan and Lauren Wade of RAD Shirts, based in Manasquan, New Jersey, the mural will begin as a black-and-white illustration featuring the outline of New Jersey and words that reflect the Big Brothers Big Sisters mission: EMPOWER. POTENTIAL. COMMUNITY. MENTORSHIP.

Throughout the weekend, festivalgoers will be invited to inquire about being a volunteer mentor and adding their own marks of color, gradually transforming the mural into a finished work of art.

The idea behind the mural goes beyond the artwork itself. Stronger communities are shaped by the people who show up and contribute to them. Every person, every connection and every act of support can become part of something bigger.

Mentorship is one example.

It can start with one person choosing to show up for a young person. Spending time together. Listening. Encouraging. Trying something new. Celebrating a milestone. Helping a young person recognize their own potential.

Those moments may seem small on their own. Together, they can build confidence, open possibilities and create a connection that matters.

At Big Brothers Big Sisters of Coastal & Northern New Jersey, one-to-one mentoring relationships ignite the power and promise of youth. Caring adult mentors become a consistent presence in a young person’s life, creating opportunities to learn, grow and see what might be possible.

The mural offers a way to see that idea take shape.

Each person who stops by the Big Brothers Big Sisters tent and signs up to learn more about volunteering as a mentor will add a small contribution to a shared work of art. As more people participate, the picture will become more complete and more colorful, reflecting what can happen when individual contributions come together.

Ryan and Lauren bring their own creative perspective to that idea through RAD Shirts, their Manasquan-based art and apparel business. Partnering with local artists was an important part of creating a mural that feels connected to the community where it will come to life, while giving festivalgoers an opportunity to contribute to something that is uniquely theirs.

The finished mural will be a reminder that we all have a mark to make, and every mark can help shape the bigger picture.

We’re grateful to the Sea.Hear.Now team for welcoming BBBSCNNJ into the incredible festival and community they’ve created here in Asbury Park. Being part of a weekend that brings together music, art and community is a special opportunity to share what mentorship can make possible.

So, while enjoying the music, exploring the festival and taking in everything Sea.Hear.Now has to offer, stop by the Big Brothers Big Sisters tent.

Make your mark on the bigger picture.

Add some color. Meet our team. Learn more about mentorship and how one-to-one connections can help create stronger communities.

Because sometimes, being part of something bigger
starts simply by showing up.