Following graduation from
Stanford University, Golden moved to Los Angeles and created a number of large, well received murals in the Los Angeles beach areas, particularly in Santa Monica, in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She was co-founder and director of the Los Angeles Public Art Foundation. In 1985, following a diagnosis of
lupus, Golden left California to be with her family in the
Philadelphia area, where she had grown up. In 1984, she founded
Mural Arts Philadelphia, which grew out of the
Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network. The program was designed to fight graffiti in the city by giving graffiti artists a more productive artistic outlet. She quickly began working with at risk teens. Together, they painted murals throughout the city and were trained in practical working skills. The program grew, and the Mural Arts Program (MAP) has now created over 3600 murals to date. Under Jane Golden's leadership, MAP transitioned to a comprehensive community service program in 1996, collaborating with various governmental agencies to transform individuals and communities through art. Golden's approach emphasizes honoring the voices of marginalized individuals, providing them with a platform for self-expression and community engagement. By fostering dialogue and cooperation, MAP helps to rebuild trust and validate the experiences of community members. The collaborative process of designing a MAP project involves extensive community engagement. MAP leaders, including Jane Golden, hold regular meetings to listen to the collective voices of community members, discussing their problems, frustrations, hopes, and dreams. This dialogue is essential in developing mural designs that genuinely reflect the community's experiences and aspirations. The process ensures that the murals are not just art pieces but symbols of the community's identity and collective vision. == Art and community initiatives ==