Winter 2025

142 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • W I N T E R 2 0 2 5 family, a second home where he feels protected and loved. As a mother, I feel satisfied and confi- dent knowing that my son is there. I know he has fun and gains knowledge from great teach- ers. I am totally grateful to the entire work team, led by Maestro José, for everything they have done for the chil- dren and for all the people who come to the studio, where there is an atmosphere of harmony and creativity, where we can be transported to another world and leave behind the chaos of daily life. It is there that we become children again, full of creativity.Thank you—end- less thanks. God bless you.” Executive Director Christian Mendelsohn points out that the art studio is more than a cre- ative space.“It’s a launching point for life,” he says. The nonprofit also provides mentorships, arts programs in local schools, an annual art exhibi- tion, and has created 80 community murals. “Hijos del Sol doesn’t have large, repeat donors—we run on heart, honesty and perfect- ly transparent finances,” Mendelsohn says.“Every bit of support directly helps give kids a safe space to create, to belong and to grow.” The largest mural to date is just being com- pleted in the community of Pajaro, which suf- fered severe flooding in 2023, devastating the area. Former students of Ortiz are working with him to complete the 4,000-square-foot mural that depicts Mother Earth and a family sur- rounded by beautiful local birds. The nonprofit Community Bridges joined with Hijos del Sol to sponsor the project. “Happiness and joy and strength are the centerpiece of this mural, “Ortiz says. “Pajaro means bird, and birds have no border and are resilient creatures. When you have wings, you can fly somehow and move for- ward.You are not defeated.” Hijos del Sol is located at 443 East Alisal Street, Suite C, in Salinas, and is open Tuesday-Friday from 4:30pm-8pm and on Saturdays from 1pm-4pm. For more information, to donate to the program, or to provide snacks or art supplies, call 831/200- 3915 or visit www.hijosdelsol.org. The Hijos del Sol team, in partnership with Community Bridges, is working on a large mural in the community of Pajaro to represent the resilience of the area after significant flooding destroyed many homes in 2023. The largest mural to date is just being completed in the community of Pajaro, which suffered severe flooding in 2023, devastating the area. Photo: Hijos del Sol