Some choices lead to outcomes we can’t undo — including lives lost to violence or the streets. “Still I R.I.S.E” is a four-panel mural, created by artist Robert Hodge and curated by Street Art for Mankind (SAM), inspired by the transformative work of the R.I.S.E. Empowerment Center. Combining visual storytelling shaped by conversations with the Center’s staff and excerpts from Maya Angelou’s poem “Still I Rise,” the piece invites viewers on a meditative journey about choices, and ways to move forward.
The letters R.I.S.E. are formed by the letters on each of the four murals in clockwise order.The descriptions below focus on two of them — the “S” and “E” murals, which face one another:
The “S” mural depicts a symbolic life journey: a boat navigating a storm as people rise above the waves. Combined with more extracts of the poem, it invites the viewer to his own interpretation and reflect on the fragility — and strength, of this ascension.
The final “E” mural proposes a conversation between the viewer and themselves. Surrounded by oak trees, vines, and flowers that symbolize wisdom and renewal, it also bears the names of those lost — from local community members whose lives were taken, to icons who have been jailed or assassinated for Justice — reminding us how one choice can change a life and a legacy.
Those remembered include: Bennie BDown Nolley, Berta Cáceres, Big Choo, Big Zack, César Chávez, Charles Lil C Ransom, Derrick Savage Smith, D’Vonte Paw Walker, George Floyd, Mahatma Gandhi, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Robert Black Rob Palmer, and Robin Strong.
At the center is a mirror, inviting viewers to reflect on who they have – or wish to become. It begins — and ends — with the choice made by the person in the mirror.
The piece is part of the I Choose To Rise Outdoor Museum, created in Cypress Station by SAM in partnership with Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis.
This mural is one in a series of eight launched in Cypress Station that tie into a holistic approach to public safety through Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), which uses art, lighting, and thoughtful design to create spaces that feel safe, cared for, and connected. It complements Harris County’s broader efforts to prevent harm before it happens and foster communities where everyone can thrive.