WATTS WOMEN RISING

Honoring the Women Who Lifted a Community and Inspired Generations

“Behind every strong community are extraordinary women whose courage, compassion, and determination helped build its foundation.”

Watts Women Rising is a powerful tribute to six remarkable African American women whose lifelong dedication to community activism, leadership, and service has helped shape the cultural and social fabric of Watts, California.

Created by Los Angeles contemporary artist and muralist Mike Norice, this monumental public artwork celebrates the strength, resilience, and extraordinary contributions of women who have devoted their lives to uplifting one of Los Angeles' most historically significant communities.

Located at the intersection of 103rd Street and Anzac Avenue in Watts, South Los Angeles, the mural features larger-than-life portraits of six respected community leaders:

Betty Day, Ms. Dot, Kathy Wooten, Pastor Clark, Sweet Alice Harris, and Dr. Cynthia “Sista Soula” Mendenhall.

Each woman represents a legacy of dedication, compassion, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to the people of Watts.

Together, their portraits tell a story of community empowerment, grassroots leadership, and the powerful role Black women have played in shaping the history and future of South Los Angeles.

Watts Women Rising is more than a mural. It is a monument to the women who refused to give up on their community.

Six Women. Six Legacies. One Community.

Throughout the history of Watts, women have played an essential role in strengthening families, mentoring young people, organizing neighborhood initiatives, advocating for social justice, and creating opportunities for future generations.

Often working behind the scenes and without widespread public recognition, these women have served as the foundation of community progress.

Watts Women Rising brings their contributions into the spotlight, honoring six women whose commitment to service and leadership deserves to be celebrated.

Betty Day — A Legacy of Community Commitment

Representing the spirit of dedication and neighborhood leadership, Betty Day is honored for her place among the women whose advocacy and service have helped strengthen Watts.

Her portrait symbolizes the importance of individuals who remain committed to their communities and work toward a better future for the next generation.

Ms. Dot — The Strength of Community Connection

Ms. Dot represents the everyday heroes whose presence, compassion, and dedication help hold neighborhoods together.

Her inclusion recognizes the importance of women who become trusted figures within their communities, offering encouragement, guidance, and support to those around them.

Kathy Wooten — A Voice for Community Empowerment

Kathy Wooten is celebrated as part of a generation of women who have helped advance the interests of Watts residents through community involvement and advocacy.

Her portrait represents the power of individuals who speak up, remain engaged, and help create opportunities for positive change.

Pastor Clark — Faith, Service, and Spiritual Leadership

Pastor Clark represents the powerful connection between faith, compassion, and community service.

Her inclusion acknowledges the important role spiritual leaders have played in providing guidance, encouragement, and hope to families throughout Watts.

Sweet Alice Harris — A Symbol of Compassion and Community Service

Known affectionately as Sweet Alice, Alice Harris became one of the most recognizable community advocates associated with Watts and South Los Angeles.

Her legacy reflects decades of dedication to helping families, supporting young people, and advocating for residents facing difficult circumstances.

Through her commitment to community service, Sweet Alice became a symbol of compassion, determination, and the belief that meaningful change begins with caring for others.

Her portrait honors a lifetime of service and the profound impact one individual can have on an entire community.

Dr. Cynthia “Sista Soula” Mendenhall — A Voice of Strength and Empowerment

Dr. Cynthia “Sista Soula” Mendenhall is honored for her role among the women whose activism, leadership, and commitment to Watts have contributed to the community's enduring spirit.

Her portrait celebrates the importance of strong voices, cultural identity, and the determination to uplift others through advocacy and community involvement.

The Stained-Glass Background — Honoring Women as Pillars of the Community

One of the most visually striking elements of Watts Women Rising is its vibrant stained-glass-inspired background.

Behind the six realistic portraits, bold geometric shapes in brilliant shades of red, blue, purple, green, orange, and yellow create a colorful mosaic reminiscent of the stained-glass windows found in churches and historic places of worship.

This artistic choice carries a deeper symbolic meaning.

Throughout history, stained-glass windows have been used to honor important figures, preserve meaningful stories, and celebrate faith, sacrifice, and spiritual devotion.

In Watts Women Rising, Mike Norice uses this visual language to elevate the women beyond ordinary portraiture.

The stained-glass design transforms the mural into a contemporary monument of honor, respect, and remembrance.

Each vibrant section represents the many experiences, contributions, and cultural influences that come together to form a strong community.

Just as individual pieces of colored glass combine to create a beautiful image, the collective efforts of these women have helped shape the identity and spirit of Watts.

The brilliant colors also create a dramatic contrast with the lifelike portraits, allowing each woman's expression, personality, and dignity to become the focal point of the composition.

The result is a powerful fusion of contemporary realism, African American portraiture, public art, and stained-glass-inspired design.

The Women Who Helped Shape Watts

Watts has a rich and complex history defined by cultural achievement, community activism, resilience, and transformation.

Throughout generations, the neighborhood has faced challenges involving economic inequality, limited resources, social injustice, and violence.

Yet the community's history is also filled with extraordinary individuals who dedicated themselves to creating opportunities, protecting families, mentoring young people, and strengthening neighborhood relationships.

Women have played an especially important role in this ongoing work.

They have served as mothers, educators, faith leaders, mentors, organizers, activists, and advocates.

Their leadership has often extended far beyond formal titles or public recognition.

They have helped families navigate difficult circumstances, encouraged young people to pursue positive opportunities, and worked to ensure that the voices of Watts residents are heard.

Watts Women Rising recognizes that the history of a community cannot be fully told without honoring the women who helped sustain it.

The mural celebrates not only the six women depicted but also the countless mothers, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, educators, and community leaders whose contributions continue to shape South Los Angeles.

A Personal Tribute From an Artist Born in Watts

For artist Mike Norice, Watts Women Rising carries a deeply personal significance.

Born and raised in Watts, Norice understands the importance of community leadership and the lasting influence of individuals who dedicate themselves to helping others.

His artistic practice has long focused on using public art to celebrate cultural identity, preserve community history, and inspire positive change.

Through this mural, Norice honors women whose contributions deserve to be recognized not only by the people who know them but also by future generations.

The artwork is a reminder that community heroes do not always appear in history books. Sometimes they are the women who live on our streets, lead our organizations, mentor our children, and dedicate their lives to making our neighborhoods better.

By painting their portraits on a prominent public wall, Norice transforms their individual stories into a lasting visual celebration of community leadership.

The mural allows residents, visitors, and young people to encounter these women as important figures in the cultural history of Watts.

Preserving Black Women's History Through Public Art

Throughout American history, the contributions of African American women have not always received the recognition they deserve.

Despite playing critical roles in civil rights movements, grassroots organizing, education, faith-based leadership, and community development, many women's stories remain underrepresented in public monuments and historical narratives.

Watts Women Rising helps address that imbalance by placing Black women's leadership at the center of a monumental work of public art.

Rather than celebrating distant historical figures, the mural recognizes women whose lives and contributions are directly connected to the neighborhood where the artwork stands.

This creates a powerful relationship between art, history, and place.

Residents can recognize familiar faces, share personal memories, and introduce younger generations to the individuals who helped shape their community.

When we honor the people who built our communities, we preserve the foundation upon which future generations can rise.

More Than a Mural — A Celebration of Strength, Service, and Legacy

Watts Women Rising represents the extraordinary power of women working together to uplift their communities.

The artwork celebrates:

• Black Women's Empowerment: Recognizing the strength, leadership, and achievements of African American women.

• Community Activism: Honoring individuals who have dedicated their lives to advocating for positive neighborhood change.

• Cultural Heritage: Preserving important stories from the history of Watts and South Los Angeles.

• Faith & Compassion: Celebrating the spiritual strength and commitment to service that inspire community leadership.

• Mentorship & Education: Recognizing the importance of guiding and encouraging future generations.

• Resilience & Perseverance: Honoring women who continue to serve their communities despite difficult circumstances.

• Unity & Collective Strength: Demonstrating how individual contributions come together to create lasting change.

• Historical Preservation: Using public art to ensure that local heroes and their legacies are remembered. 

  About the Artist — Mike Norice

  Mike Norice is a Los Angeles-based contemporary artist, muralist, and visual storyteller born in Watts, California.

  With more than 30 years of professional artistic experience, Norice is known for creating powerful works of art that celebrate cultural identity, community history, social awareness, and the transformative power of creativity.

  His artistic style combines realism, contemporary fine art, graphic design, and large-scale public murals.

  As the founder of Artfully United, Norice remains committed to using public art as a platform for inspiration, cultural preservation, community empowerment, and positive social change.

  Through projects such as Watts Women Rising, he continues to highlight the people and stories that make Los Angeles communities unique while ensuring their contributions are recognized and celebrated.

  Honoring the Women. Preserving the Legacy. Inspiring the Future.

  Watts Women Rising reminds us that the strength of a community is often reflected in the women who dedicate their lives to serving it.

  These six women represent generations of leadership, compassion, sacrifice, and perseverance.

  Their contributions are part of the living history of Watts.

  “Strong Women Build Strong Communities. Their Legacy Gives Future Generations the Strength to Rise.”

  Bring home Watts Women Rising by Mike Norice — a powerful celebration of African American women's leadership, community activism, cultural heritage, and the enduring spirit of Watts, California.