Wednesday, August 5, 2026 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Kristin McKinney, Nikki Newton and Christy Williams, ENP, of NCT9-1-1, Arlington, Texas
Leah Lakstins, Kathy Mammon and Flynn Nogueira of Motorola Solutions
North Central Texas Emergency Communications District (NCT9-1-1) and Motorola Solutions turned public safety children’s art into building-sized murals in North Central Texas.
“I think it’s very meaningful,” said Nikki Newton, NCT9-1-1’s community engagement coordinator. She recalled a recent ceremony where a young artist saw her mural for the first time. “I said, ‘What did you think about seeing this today?’ She said, ‘It’s so big!’”
On the last day of the APCO 2026 conference in San Antonio organizers explained how others could launch a similar program.
The project launched in fall 2024 to mark National First Responders Day in October. K-12 students across North Central Texas were invited to submit artwork depicting firefighters, law enforcement, EMS and public safety telecommunicators. NCT9-1-1 handled community outreach — visiting schools, libraries and coffee shops. Motorola Solutions staff ran digital promotion through blog posts, email campaigns and social media.
The first year drew more than 100 submissions and 400 public votes. By the second year, entries topped 600 with more than 2,000 votes cast. Winning student artwork is painted on donated wall space by a professional muralist. Contracts guarantee at least three years of display and are unveiled at community ceremonies that include local officials, a ribbon-cutting by the student artist and a small scholarship.
Presenters said the biggest early obstacle was finding wall space and an affordable muralist. Newton said leaning on existing relationships — county judges, police chiefs, emergency communications center supervisors — proved more effective than cold outreach. Written contracts with building owners and muralists head off miscommunication, she said.
Kathy Mammon said the team extended the project’s reach beyond the murals by converting submitted artwork into coloring books, bookmarks and a life-size coloring display used at community events.
Presenters said agencies don’t need a budget to start a similar program; an earlier version of the contest funded itself through T-shirt sales of winning designs. Motorola Solutions has compiled a 70-page guide covering the project’s full timeline that they offered to share with agencies interested in replicating the model.
By Rick Goldstein
