The 2024 Resilience Through Art residency, led by local artist Dinah Myers Schroeder, brought together staff and clients from Montgomery County's Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to create the mural “Harmonic Hands for Change.” The project was born from the County’s Climate Action Plan, which advocates for a “whole-of-government” approach to tackling climate change. Motivated by this initiative, a climate ambassador from DHHS’ Crisis Center sought to create a work of art that would inspire hope and healing among residents most vulnerable to and disproportionately impacted by climate-related hazards.
This collaboration involved the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), DHHS, and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (AHCMC). It combined artistic expression with themes of climate resilience and social justice.
Myers Schroeder fostered a safe, judgment-free space for participants to share personal stories, using their experiences of vulnerability and resilience to inform the mural's design. Her own experience with childhood homelessness added empathy and depth to the creative process. The residency demonstrates how art can bridge government efforts with community healing, providing a model for addressing complex social and environmental issues in an integrated and meaningful way.
The “Harmonic Hands for Change” mural is displayed in the second-floor lobby of the Montgomery County DHHS Building, located at 1301 Piccard Drive in Rockville.
