Rosa Parks Transit Center and Memorial
The transit center at Mesa College is dedicated in memory of the legacy and teachings of civil rights activist, Rosa Parks, who visited Mesa College several times in the early 1990s. It is located at the East Gateway entrance to Mesa College; at the corner of Mesa College Drive and Mesa College Circle.
The Rosa Parks memorial project was designed specifically to highlight the quiet strength that all people have within them to take a stand against repression and injustice. The memorial is unique in that the design incorporates a functioning transit stop and an adjacent reflection area.
The bus shelter features panels displaying a historical timeline with photographs and a second panel telling the history of Rosa Parks and Mesa College. A large photographic transparency of real Mesa College students is laminated between safety glass and displayed above the benches. The reflection area features terracotta-colored cast concrete curved walls, seating, and a rose vessel.
Project Advisory Committee
- Damon Bell
- Nathan Betschart
- Joyce Carrigan
- Georgia Laris
- Starla Lewis
- Thekima Mayasa
- Alessandra Moctezuma
- Robert Sanchez
- Barbara Sexton
Project Sposors
- Constance M. Carroll, Ph.D. - Chancellor, SDCCD
- Elaine Steele and Anita Peek - Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development
- Elizabeth Hamilton - Rosa Parks Institute for Human Rights and Self Development (Co-Founder)
- San Diego Metropolitan Transit System
Public Art Team
-
Prof. Mario Lara, Public Artist
- Department of Fine Arts faculty member at Mesa College
- Designed the public art project at the trolley station at 25th and Commercial, San Diego
-
Nina Karavasiles, Public Artist
- Commissions for the Colfax Bridge in Studio City, Los Angeles
- Completed an African-American Legacy Project for Lillian Place and 70th Street Trolley Station, San Diego
-
Dr. Gerda Govine-Ituarte, Ed.D.
- C.E.O. of Govine Consulting; specializing in human resources/diversity/organizational development, labor, and workplace issues
Artists' Project Statementchevron_right
The Rosa Parks Memorial Project, designed for the San Diego Mesa College Transit Center located at the east entrance to the campus, is inspired by the decisive moment when Mrs. Rosa Parks chose not to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus in 1955.
With dignity and quiet strength, Mrs. Parks provided a teachable moment for all. Her act of courage initiated the now historic, Montgomery Bus Boycott, and energized the Civil Rights Movement in America. Our intention was to create a beautiful and contemplative place interwoven with artistic elements that honor Mrs. Parks and provide opportunities for the campus community to connect with, learn about, and appreciate her contributions, as well as understand her connection with Mesa College.
The memorial is composed of two conjoined areas. The bus shelter area is a functioning MTS bus stop, route 44, which serves the campus. The custom bus shelter has a lighted display kiosk with historic images with text of Mother Parks and her connection to Mesa College. The adjacent free-standing glass display wall has life-sized photographic images of a dozen Mesa College students. Each student has a rose placed over his/her heart.
The roses signify the quiet strength of Rosa Parks that lives within us all. The flower we chose to use is the rose because her name is “Rosa.” The rose itself is a universal symbol of love. The student gathering depicted in the glass display wall represents the ever-changing student community of San Diego Mesa College, moving onward to their desired careers. The curved concrete bench in the bus stop area links to the adjacent circular Quiet Strength reflection area.
Additional seating set further back from the street offers a space for rest, serenity and contemplation. When sitting in this area one feels the comfort and protection of the curved wall. A engaged conical vessel is situated in the middle of the curved wall. The vessel contains rose bushes and in particular, the Freedom Rose, which is attributed to Mrs. Parks. The curved wall also has embedded in its surface cut metal text of the phrase Quiet Strength that signifies Rosa Parks' strength and self determination and is also the title of a book authored by her. In the center of the Reflection Area concrete walkway is a sand blasted and color stained rose design.
The vessel and curved walls sculpturally express an abstracted figurative form that reaches out and embraces those who occupy the area. The simplicity of the forms and the use of concrete reflect the down-to-earth qualities of Rosa Parks and her ability to reach out and impact others. The overall colors of the memorial are bold, present and engaging.
They express both nostalgia of Rosa Parks and forward movement of her ideals and actions. Rose bushes are planted behind the bus shelter and alongside the reflection area, providing a living testament to the spirit and legacy of Mother Parks and her enduring relationship with San Diego Mesa College.
Rosa & Raymond Parks Institute For Self Development
The Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development is the ONLY organization created by Rosa Parks to continue her legacy. She co-founded the Institute with Ms. Elaine Eason Steele in honor of Raymond Parks (1903 - 1977). It is the living legacy of two individuals who committed their lives to civil and human rights.
Contact the Institute to learn more:
- Phone: (313) 965-0606
- Email: general@rosaparks.org
- Address:
Rosa & Raymond Parks Institute for Self-Development
65 Cadillac Square
Suite 2200
Detroit, MI 48226
History of Rosa Parks at Mesa
In the early 1990s a special relationship developed between San Diego Mesa College and civil rights activist Rosa Parks. Following Rosa Park's death in 2005 at the age of 92, the college explored the possibility of honoring the late civil rights activist.
The following provides a history of major events surrounding the life or Rosa Parks and her involvement with Mesa College:
- February 28, 2010 - MTS begins transit service grounds of Mesa College, with outgoing Route 44 stopping at the Rosa Parks Transit Center.
- February 25, 2010 - The Rosa Parks Memorial Project is unveiled and dedicated as the Rosa Parks Transit Center.
- April 15, 2009 - A community forum previewing plans for Rosa Parks Memorial Project to be Built at Mesa College is conducted at the Joe and Vi Jacobs Center.
- Spring 2009 - Construction begins on the Rosa Parks Memorial Project at San Diego Mesa College.
- November, 2008 – The Rosa Parks Memorial Project is awarded to a public art team composed of Dr. Gerda Govine-Ituarte, Ed.D., Nina Karavasiles and Mesa College Prof. Mario Lara.
- 2005 - The Mesa College Foundation begins the process to create a memorial project to honor Rosa Parks.
- October 24, 2005 - Rosa Parks dies at her home in Detroit.
- 1999 - Rosa Parks receives the Congressional Medal of Freedom.
- November 8, 1996 - The Mesa College “Quiet Strength 40th Anniversary Celebration commemorating Mrs. Parks' historic act of civil disobedience in 1955 is cancelled due to her frail health.
- April 6, 1995 - Rosa Parks presents the Elder and Wiser Award to Chief Jo Ag Quis Ho Oren Lyons at an event at the Mesa College Apolliad Theater.
- 1993 - San Diego Mesa College is named the San Diego-Mexico branch of the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Human Rights and Self Development and is active for several years.
- 1993 - Rosa Parks presents the Elder and Wiser Award to celebrated civil rights attorney Leo Branton, Jr.
- Feb. 5, 1992 - Rosa Parks speaks at Mesa College. More than 2,200 school children from throughout San Diego County gather to pay tribute to Rosa Parks at the Mesa College stadium.
- Feb. 4, 1992 - An Evening with Rosa Parks. Mesa College benefit featuring Rosa Parks, Cyril Neville, the UCSD Gospel Choir, Peter Spraque, keyboardist Clarence Bell and vocalist Bobie Williams.
- December, 1991 - Mesa College Professor Elizabeth Hamilton was so moved after screening a video tribute to Rosa Parks for her students that she personally financed bringing the civil rights activist to San Diego.
- December 1, 1955 - Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama city bus to a white passenger. She is arrested, tried and convicted of violating a local ordinance. Her act spurs a year-long boycott of Montgomery buses by the black community, who made up 70% of the riders. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was appointed the spokesperson for the Bus Boycott and taught non-violence to all participants.
