Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, November 6, 2026 Malden Together Community Planning Workshop on Saturday, Nov. 7 A ll are invited to a Community Planning Workshop for Malden Together, the City of Malden’s next long-range plan. Malden Together is our community’s blueprint to create a Malden where everyone can thrive. This plan will build on the 2010 Master Plan to chart Malden’s path from now to 2040. This project will span approximately two years and will have multiple opportunities for public engagement. The City is creating this new comprehensive plan through its Office of Strategic Planning and Community Development (OSPCD), guided by a Steering Committee of residents, elected officials and community members. The effort is supported by a consultant team led by Agency Landscape + Planning and includes local urban planners, economists, engineers and designers. You may have met project team members popping up around Malden — at the Ward July 4 festivities, Back to School events, Farmers’ Markets and other community events. The city government is ready to share what has been learned about Malden and to collect your input at a community-wide event on Saturday, November 7, at the Teen & Senior Center. Offer your ideas about housing, transportation, parks, jobs and businesses, natural and cultural resources, public services and more! Event details: Date: Saturday, November 7; Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; location: Malden Teen & Senior Center, 7 Washington St. There will be good conversation, activities for all ages and complimentary treats (coffee and breakfast items). Interpretation is available upon request; please email eeimert@cityofmalden.org 48 hours in advance of the meeting. Bring your family, bring your friends and help shape Malden’s future. We hope to see you there! Please contact eeeimert@cityofmalden.org with any questions. Six new switchbox murals bring color, culture and community to Malden Creative Malden’s public art initiative celebrates the people, stories and diversity that define the city O rdinary electrical switchboxes are becoming unexpected canvases for creativity across Malden. This year, Creative Malden added six newly painted switchboxes to the city’s growing collection of public art, transforming everyday street fixtures into colorful expressions of local history, cultural heritage and community pride. Each artwork reflects a different perspective, demonstrating how public art can make a city more welcoming while giving residents opportunities to see their experiences, traditions and aspirations reflected in the places where they live. The six Malden artists approached their switchboxes in distinctive ways, drawing inspiration from Malden’s history, cultural traditions, transportation, education and the simple joy of artistic expression. Bitho Faustin’s work at Commercial Street and Route 60 features a dynamic interpretation of a train, bringing together realism, surrealism, abstraction and cultural symbolism. Transportation connects people and places, making the subject especially fitting for a city shaped by movement and the many communities that call Malden home. At Washington and Mountain Streets, Swathi Ruchira’s “Intertwined” draws inspiration from the Indian art traditions of kolam and Warli. The work explores interconnectedness and coexistence, reflecting the many cultural traditions that contribute to Malden’s shared identity. At Washington and Winter Streets, Hazel Queen’s tribute to Louise Stokes celebrates a remarkable figure in Malden’s history. Louise Stokes Fraser, a Malden-born athlete, was among the first Black women selected for the U.S. Olympic team. Her story honors local achievement while recalling the racial barriers Black athletes faced. Bitho Faustin, working with artistic partner Sonel Guerrier, created an inspiring tribute to Malden’s students. Located at Holden Street and Eastern Avenue, three young students walk together toward a bright future, symbolizing unity, potential and the power of education. The artwork offers a reminder that young people are at the heart of Malden’s future. At Clifton and Washington Streets, Justine Jonathan’s “Four Seasons” adds another artistic perspective to the city’s streetscape, inviting passersby to appreciate the changing seasons and the beauty of the natural world. In Maplewood Square, Ella Bessmer brings a joyful burst of color to a switchbox through a playful collection of expressive faces. Inspired by freedom and spontaneity, Ella uses a continuous one-line drawing to create the composition. As the work took shape, passersby shared their own interpretations, adding another layer of meaning and reminding us that people can see the same artwork in MURALS | SEE PAGE 17
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