Lee’s Summit CARES recently joined forces with local artists, art teachers and students to paint inspirational messages throughout Pleasant Lea Middle School. The group spent approximately four hours on Saturday, Dec. 8, working on the school-wide project.

“We are calling it empowerment art,” said Lindsay Weiss, youth outreach coordinator for Lee’s Summit CARES who assisted with the project. “It was inspirational watching these creative and kind students give their time and efforts for this project.”

A total of 16 students participated in the project with the volunteer young people coming from Pleasant Lea Middle School, Lee’s Summit High School, Lee’s Summit West High School and Summit Technology Academy.

The volunteers painted messages in one girls restroom, one boys restroom and the school’s staff restroom. Kimberly Alonzo, PLMS assistant principal, and Brooke Linquist and Jennifer Shults, art teachers from the school, spearheaded the project along with Jaime Lyon of In Joy LLC and I Am Noticed.

“We hope the students feel empowered and engaged when they see the new positive messages in their school,” Weiss added.

Lee’s Summit CARES is a community coalition dedicated to preventing youth substance use and violence, promoting exemplary character and empowering positive parenting. For learn more, visit http://www.lscares.org/. You may also follow Lee’s Summit CARES on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat.