KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A group of people in Kansas City, Missouri, hope a picture is worth 1,000 words.
The Northeast Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and Northeast Arts KC want those pictures to help non-English speakers learn more about COVID-19.
Data from the city’s health department shows zip codes 64123 and 64124 in the Historic Northeast part of town have the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases within city limits.
Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows the same two zip codes have the highest number of people who don’t speak English within the city limits.
So, instead of using words, the chamber wants to use art to raise awareness about the coronavirus in hopes of controlling the spread of the virus.
The group is asking artists to submit drawings showing healthy habits. It will turn the drawings into a coloring book to pass out to people in the neighborhood on June 20 for World Refugee Day.
“I would like to see them adapt a new habit of good health while having a good time doing it, coloring their world,” explained Bobbi Baker-Hughes, the president of the chamber of commerce.
Muralist Isaac Tapia has already submitted drawings to be a part of the coloring book. He grew up in the area and jumped at the chance to give back.
“It’s very important, especially for little kids or kids in general to have somebody to look up to and to show them in a picture that they’re able to do something,” Tapia explained
If you’re interested in submitted a drawing for the book, click here. The deadline to submit a drawing is May 31, 2020.
