Wear Orange Art For Awareness 2026

Students and community members were invited to respond to the question: "What does a safe community look like to you?" Selected works were recognized at our Wear Orange event and displayed at Trenton City Hall throughout June. The project was organized by Mercer County Moms Demand Action in partnership with local schools and community leaders.

Wear Orange is a national movement honoring victims of gun violence and advocating for safer communities. This virtual gallery brings together work that reflects on care, visibility, and collective responsibility.

This project is part of an ongoing effort to support the community in Trenton and Mercer County, NJ through creative practice, holding space for reflection while contributing, in a small way, to broader change.

⬇️ Scroll down to view the virtual gallery. Click to view larger images.

Interested in participating next year? Click here to find out more.

2026 Award Winners:

"Peace & Kindness"

by Jurnee Smith
Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School

Walk around. Take in the subtle beauty of Trenton and be mindful of your surroundings.

"A peaceful community"

by Sarah, Joi, Alma, Hellen, Aurora, Deli
Clara Parker Elementary School

This piece is about how a community should look. Also how peace over violence is better than anything.

"Community Savers"

by Angie Perez, Estuardo, Contreras, Ariane Brown, Adrien Collazo, Stefanie Ulyssee and Lesli Soto
Clara Parker Intermediate School

My safe community poster shows different ways to keep our neighborhood safe! It has two police stations for extra safety. It also has a heart in the center to represent love for one another.
There's a big park with people doing outdoor activities. There is a river in the middle of the park with a lifeguard to keep people safe. It also has a school named Parker.
There are signs posted all around to remind people to be safe, and make healthy choices. This is what a safe community looks like to us.

"No Hate Just Love"

by Tanyia Hawkins
Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School

Gun violence expresses hate.

"Flower 'POW'er"

by Nashly Delgado
Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School

People should not use violence and spread beautiful kindness. Hate hasn't solved any problems in the world.

"Keep the World Safe"

by Satcha Sanchez-Aparicio, Dayana Lopez, Jocelyn Deleon Sanic, Yolanda Chay Elias, Allison Cardona Aparicio, Iricelys Garcia
Clara Parker Intermediate School

The girls collaborated on this poster for the "Wear Orange" contest

Community Gallery

"Violence Is Not The Answer!"

by Francis Murillo, Perla Fuentes, Anyeli Galeano, Kristal Ray Mundo, Catalina Lopez
Clara Parker Intermediate School

Violence Is Not The Answer!
We need more love and laughter.

We need our communities to be violence free,
So us kids can grow and shout with glee!

Violence is not the answer!
We need more love and laughter.

We need to be brave,
And not feel as if we are in a shut cave.

Violence is not the answer!
We need more love and laughter.

Let's make our communities in Trenton gun free,
And make violence fly off like a flea!

"Keep It Safe & Nice"

by Tanyia Hawkins
Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School

Guns make the world ugly, keep it pretty and clean and safe from violence.

"It Takes A Village To Build A Safe Community"

by Ms. Tharp's Empowered Class
Clara Parker Intermediate School

Our class focused on the positive parts of their community that make them feel safe and like family. School, neighborhoods, parks, church and the community garden. These areas are no violence zones, no trash/litter and no guns or drugs.

"Look Both Ways"

by Kerturall Scott
Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School

Cross the street with a trusted adult to stay safe.

"Trenton Makes the World Safe"

by Heaven Jiles, Jocelyn Paz, Jordan White-Ashe
Clara Parker Intermediate School

Students wrote and recorded original poems about a safe community.

"A Safe Community" by Heaven
"I Am" by Heaven
"A Safe Community is..." by Jocelyn
"A Safe Community" by Jordan

"No More, Guns; Love, Instead!"

by Aubrianna Rodriguez, Vivianna Campos-Solano, Natalia Jones, Kylee Burgess Clemons
Clara Parker Intermediate School

This artwork is about putting an end to school shootings.

"Anywhere"

by Tristan Dunn
Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School

Home, school, or on vacation, you should always be safe from gun violence.

"No Strangers"

by Henry Crusoe
Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School

Don't go with anyone you don't know.

"Protected From Violence"

by Sharon Adgei
Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School

People who almost get shot get protected by shields and can survive the shot.

"Under A Rock"

by Max Jerome
Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School

Stay safe, stay inside.

"Street Safe"

by Zamya Gilmiere
Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School

No matter what you wear, time of day, or where you are, SA is never okay.

"STOP"

by Leeyah Wynie
Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School

Stop the violence.

"Better Together"

by James Welch
Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School

Bad things happen more when you are alone.

"No More Gun Violence"

by Samantha Perez
Clara Parker Intermediate School

This piece is about a world with no gun violence at schools.

"Relax"

by Honesty Smith
Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School

You should be able to relax and enjoy life without fear of violence, death, and guns.

"The Harms of Gun Violence"

by Carla Aguilar Sandoval, Davian Mitchell, Bristin Perez Goboy, Genesis Joaquin Marroquin
Clara Parker Intermediate School

117 to 130 people die every day to gun violence.
Guns are a leading cause of death ages 1 to 17.
An estimated 4.6 million American children live in a home where at least one gun is kept loaded & unlocked.
Stop doing bad stuff!

"Ways To Say No To Gun Violence"

by Samuel Romero, Jeicon Meraz, Jeferson Lima, Jhostin Gallardo
Clara Parker Intermediate School

We hope to inspire you on all the ways to think gun violence is wrong.

"Street Safe"

by Aaliyah Savage
Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School

Be mindful of your street surroundings, look for any unsafe or suspicious cars/people before crossing.

"No Littering"

by Tyleeah
Thomas Jefferson Intermediate School

This piece shows that people should stop littering and you should keep the earth clean.

"Bite the Bullet, Try Love"

by FlyKickz
Materials: Upcycled Nike sneakers, acrylic & leather paints, diamond dust
Mercer County community submission

“Bite the Bullet, Try Love” speaks into moments of confusion and hardship, urging us to choose vulnerability over fear and courage over retreat. It reframes love not as something easy or passive, but as a deliberate act, one that demands openness even when it feels most difficult. In doing so, it becomes a quiet yet powerful reminder that the hardest choice to love anyway can be the one that transforms everything.

"Light in the Deep"

by Kayla Howe
High School

A safe community is one that provides care and support to those that need it. My painting depicts a lone, baby turtle in the deep ocean while other ocean creatures help give their light. Even if the ocean is too much for a baby turtle to navigate on their own, a safe community will guide vulnerable members through the waters.