Champaign artist Leslie Kimble paints Juvenile Detention Center murals

CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – Local artist Leslie Kimble undertook a mural project inside the Champaign County Juvenile Detention Center (JDC).

Last year, Kimble applied for and received funding through the Illinois Arts Council to launch a mural project inside the JDC. The local artist received full support from Shannon Siders, Direction of Probation and Court Services and began working on-site with a short team shortly after the approval. The youth present were central to the entire process.

They designed and painted three large-scale murals together. The project offered connection, growth, and a sense of purpose—both for the artists and the youth involved. The murals gave an enriching splash of color, with a heavy impact to the youth within those spaces.