Fundraiser started to bring murals of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Rosa Parks to Frenchtown

CD Davidson-Hiers
Tallahassee Democrat

As murals on the side of an advocacy center in Frenchtown, the spirits of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Rosa Parks may be coming to Tallahassee. 

The Florida People's Advocacy Center, a roughly 12,000 square-foot building in the Frenchtown neighborhood, has started a Kickstarter campaign online to try and raise $12,233 so previously-local artist Kollet Hardeman can paint two, two-story murals of the iconic women. 

Florida People's Advocacy Center

A third mural of the late, iconic U.S. Supreme Court justice would go on the campus of Leon County Schools' SAIL High School, according to the Kickstarter website. 

Hardeman has painted several murals around Tallahassee, including the Gaines Street Rosie the Riveter, before she and her family moved to Austin, Texas. 

More:Free-spirited Tallahassee muralist moving to Austin

"Hopefully if this Kickstarter works out, I'll be coming home to do three murals in the month of November," Hardeman said in a video posted to the webpage. 

Florida People's Advocacy Center

The campaign is considered "all or nothing" on the fundraising site which means the group must raise the projected funds by 8:31 p.m. Nov. 3 or the project won't continue. 

"This also assures backers that they’re only funding creative ideas that are set to succeed," the website says. To date, the campaign has raised $2,206 from 29 contributions. 

The People's Advocacy Center sits off Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard across the street from the Frenchtown Farmer's Market and is owned by longtime lobbyist for progressive causes Karen Woodall. 

It's a place that out-of-town activists can use as a home-away-from-home and office to organize their lobbying of state government. 

More:A place for progressives: People's Advocacy Center in Tallahassee is made for citizen-lobbyists

The center offers 33 dorm-style rooms and a common space outfitted much like a family room with sofas, chairs, board games in a bookcase and a television. It comes with a $1 million mortgage. 

More than 1,500 people stayed at the center during the 2019 session and the committee weeks leading up to it.

"I hope you can support these endeavors and bring me back home," Hardeman says in the fundraiser's online video.

To donate, visit https://bit.ly/3iYXeYo

James Call contributed. CD Davidson-Hiers is an education reporter for the Tallahassee Democrat. Contact her at 850-631-0958, or CDavidsonH@Tallahassee.com. Twitter: @DavidsonHiers. 

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