Service Learning Project Essay: Graffiti

Service Learning Project Essay: Graffiti Graffiti is the act of writing or drawings illicitly on a wall or other surface in a public place. Graffiti is a problem often overlooked by many member of a community whether it is the everyday onlookers, the youth, or local law enforcement. Many people see graffiti as a victimless crime in which no one really is effected and this mindset has caused many people to perceive the problem of unlawfully vandalizing property as a harmless nuisance that can only be fixed but not prevented. Some see graffiti as a way to mark a gang’s territory while at the same time to show hostility to rival gangs. Others see graffiti as a form of art displaying a person’s talents in an unorthodox way. However, graffiti …show more content…
However, there are many things that we as a community may do to stop and even prevent graffiti from showing up in our community. For starters, report any graffiti that appears in your community to the appropriate organization such as Sun Valley Graffiti Busters. Installing motion activating lights is also a great investment to prevent graffiti as the light will scare off the graffiti artist. Well-lit areas deter graffiti artists as they feel that they are too exposed to onlookers and there is an increased risk that the graffiti artist may be caught. Caring about your property and community is also a great way of combating graffiti as it conveys a message that this is a nice community and the people of this community will pursue legal action for vandalism. This can be seen if we compare Beverly Hills to South Central Los Angeles. One community is littered with graffiti, trash, and gang violence, however in contrast, the other community is extremely well taken care of and has virtually no graffiti. There are countless more solutions to combating and preventing graffiti as explained in a flyer made by the Richmond Police Department titled “How Can I Prevent Graffiti”. However, after our interview with Susan Bartlett, the head of Sun Valley Graffiti Buster, she told our group a solution which was completely novel, but incredibly true. Bartlett’s solution was to say thank you more to strangers for doing simple and effortless tasks such as picking up a piece of trash or sweeping the streets. In doing this, Bartlett says that we build a community with one another and we learn to appreciate our surroundings a bit more while at the same time feeling rewarded for doing a simple task which makes our community look a bit