April is Arts, Culture and Creativity Month in Fremont, and residents are already engaging with some of the city’s newest works. On Sunday, March 30 more than two dozen community members gathered at Dusterberry Neighborhood Park for the unveiling of the Citizens for Better Community (CBC) Mural Project—a 38’ by 14’ tribute to Fremont’s “Happiest City in America” status. Created in collaboration between CBC and Fremont Unified students, the mural showcases the people and organizations that shape the city’s identity.
“This mural aims to inspire viewers to embrace diversity, foster unity and contribute to the happiness that defines Fremont,” said Dr. Herbert Chiu, a local dentist and CBC founding president.
Fremont has now held its “Happiest City” title from WalletHub for six consecutive years, starting in 2020. While WalletHub’s rankings consider factors such as income, divorce rates and physical well-being, residents at Dusterberry Park on Sunday pointed to the city’s rich diversity as a key reason they believe it’s thriving. U.S. Census data shows that nearly half of Fremont’s population is foreign-born, and more than 60% speak a language other than English at home. CBC members said that showcasing this diversity was central to their vision for the mural.
The mural is the result of nine months of dedication from 14 student artists from Irvington High School, Mission San Jose High School and Hayward Twin Oaks Montessori. Lead artist Ava Zhang Pedersen, a junior at Irvington High and president of her school’s Visual Arts Club, has been an artist for more than 10 years.
She co-designed the mural’s concept digitally with fellow artist Jessica Chen from June 2024 to January 2025 before leading the team through a phased painting process. By late January, they were working on the final version at Dusterberry Park, dedicating five hours every Sunday to painting and sometimes braving unfavorable weather. In her speech, Pedersen expressed pride in her team’s commitment.
“Our city is the happiest city because of our community, and we couldn’t have built this mural without the initiative of the young community here,” Pedersen said.
Founded in 1992 and based in Fremont, Citizens for Better Community is a nonprofit dedicated to uplifting the community through education and civic engagement. In addition to its renowned Annual Spring Celebration, CBC provides student scholarships, internships and various enrichment programs.
Beyond the mural, Fremont residents can explore a wide array of artistic events throughout the month, from gallery exhibitions to live music and spoken word performances. A full calendar of activities is available on the Fremont Creates website, fremontcreates.com.
