African American Legacy Mural

Artist: David McLean

Local artist David McClain is a Liberty, MO resident who began drawing as a child. David has painted four murals depicting the history of Clay County on the third floor of the old courthouse in Liberty, Missouri. His fourth mural spotlights and links Clay County African American historic places and people of the past, as well as current figures, to the other murals. 

A realistic, historical artist, David likes to depict periods of history in his work. His most recent project for the city of Liberty is a mural featuring Lewis and Clark that is located on the wall of the Clay County Jail.

David Began his professional career at Worlds of Fun in 1985, where he painted theatre stage backdrops during the winter for the upcoming spring seasons: a psychedelic van, Elvis sign, Chicago playbill, and a Moulin Rouge scene. David completed many of his paintings for the Oak Park and Ward Parkway Malls. One of his favorites was a scenic wall for Ace Sports at Oak Park Mall.

In 1993, David was invited to do paintings for the World Expo in Seville, Spain. Country and Western singer Dolly Parton commissioned him to do a series of rearing stallions on canvas, which are on display at the Dixie Stampede at Branson, Missouri.

David painted the north wall entrance to the Fork and Spoon Café, once located on the historic old square, in Liberty and was later commissioned by the Clay County Fine Arts Council to paint the murals now displayed on the third floor of the old courthouse.

The first courthouse mural was done in 1993 and is the 28’ x 8’ mural, which hangs in the center of the wall. It depicts the history of Clay County. The second mural shows the POW camp in Liberty, which occupied a 650 ft. building on a former turkey farm along old 291 Highway. The third mural is the Multnomah Plantation scene at dusk, with a party in progress.

Liberty African American Legacy Memorial

Clay County African American Legacy celebrated Missouri’s Bicentennial with a memorial honoring more than 750 African Americans buried in the segregated sections of Fairview and New Hope Cemeteries. Persons who were enslaved, domestic staff, day laborers, housewives, infants and children, businessmen, veterans, and more are buried in this hallowed ground. These mothers, sons, fathers, and daughters are buried in a 6-acred field, mostly in unmarked graves, and we have made it our mission to acknowledge them in their final resting place. Coming together as a community, we recognize that their contributions to Liberty helped build the town we call home, and we invite all to join us in honoring their lives and legacy.

Freedom Fountain Monument

In 2001, CCAAL Inc. raised funds to build a Freedom Fountain Monument in Liberty, Missouri, on the lawn of the old courthouse square, and in 2002 installed an a 8 x 10 ft. mural on the 3rd floor of the Administration Building, featuring African American pioneers businesses, schools and churches from the 1820’s to the present day. 

Hopes and Struggles

CCAAL acquired a new Parade of hearts sculpture, “Hopes and Struggles.” Artist Wendy Sohm represents Liberty Missouri’s African American Legacy, and the sculpture will sit in Liberty Town Square.

ASEM: After School Education Mentoring Program

Every day the Clay County African American Legacy is working to make a difference in our community. The CCAAL has partnered with the City of Liberty, William Jewell College, Target Corporation, and Liberty Public Schools through the Garrison School to create and implement programming that will improve the quality of education our youth receive. Most recently, the CCAAL began a program that will reach many of our students, the After School Education Mentoring Program. 

The After School Education Mentoring Program (ASEM) is a tutoring and mentoring program for students in the core curriculum attending Liberty High School. The program will focus on four areas of student development: (1) Improvement of student ACT scores (2) Leadership training (3) Drug education and (4) Cultural enrichment. 

Our students deserve every opportunity for achievement that we can provide. We invite you to become a part of this revolutionary program by giving donations to the CCAAL that will be converted into Missouri Department of Economics Tax Credits. This single action will fund the ASEM Program for two years, providing learning materials, computers, cultural enrichment activities and quality staffing. 

How do tax credits work? Your donation first reduces your federal tax liability because the CCAAL is a 501c3 charitable organization. Because the CCAAL has been authorized by the Department of Economic Development to issue tax credits that will reduce the Missouri taxes owed by one-half of the amount donated you will receive a return on your donation of 50%. For example, if you owed $2,000 in Missouri taxes, a donation of $2,000 will reduce your tax amount owed by $1,000.

A quality education is one of the best gifts our community can offer our youth. The After School Education Mentoring Program will make a difference in the lives of dozens of students, giving them a brighter future. Thank you for your support of this project, of these students.

LURP: The Lion and the Unicorn Reading Program

The Lion and the Unicorn Reading Program (LURP) is a free early childhood literacy program for Liberty School District 2nd grade students, sponsored by the Clay County African American Legacy, Target, and William Jewell College. Students take fieldtrips to the historic Garrison School to attend monthly programs where each session  (1) focuses on a particular theme in children’s literature (2) features exciting and diverse guest readers from the local community (3) includes a discussion time (4) a related craft project, and (5) a snack time.  

LURP is coordinated by the William Jewell College Association of Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the Clay County African American Legacy Inc. The culminating event, which includes performances by Jewell athletes, the Spirit Team, college mascot and a storyteller, is held at the William Jewell College Mabee Center. 

Established in 2004, LURP promotes a love of reading, and encourages diversity among its more than 300 annual participants.