Kyra Kaviani (back left) and members of the PlatteForum’s ArtLab team pose beside the Hero Mirror. The cabinet’s curtains open to reveal a mirror with the words “This Is What A Hero Looks Like”—encouraging people to see themselves as an advocate for child abuse prevention. Photo courtesy of GroundFloor Media.

Park Hill resident Kyra Kaviani wants you to know what a hero looks like to survivors of child abuse. She and a group of 14 teens involved in the PlatteForum’s ArtLab program worked with local artist Brian Corrigan to bring the Hero Mirror concept to life.

The Hero Mirror stemmed from a collaboration between the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) and local arts nonprofit PlatteForum to join forces to create an art installation that would give voice to the issue of child abuse and raise public awareness about the Colorado Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline (1-844-CO-4-KIDS).

The Hero Mirror includes a cabinet with curtains that open to reveal a mirror that says, “This is what a hero could look like.” The hotline number is also included on both sides of the cabinet.

The mirror was unveiled in April to kick off Childhood Abuse Prevention Month at the state Capitol. It is currently a traveling exhibit in the metro area and statewide to raise child abuse prevention awareness. “The goal of the Hero Mirror is to send a positive, empowering message to adults and children,” says Kaviani. The project is intended to encourage reporting abuse by calling the hotline number.

As a victim of child abuse herself, Kaviani asserts that reporting abuse is a lifeline for many children. Often, the stigma of witnessing or suspecting abuse or neglect prevents people from reporting it. “The Hero Mirror puts people in a place where they see themselves as a true hero for taking steps to stop child abuse from continuing,” Kaviani states. The emphasis is on the positive things a person can do to help a child.

In addition to her recognition for working on the Hero Mirror project, Kaviani is the winner of the Mayor’s Adversity Award. The award was presented April 16, 2016, at the Wellington Webb Building. Kaviani is a 2016 graduate of East High School. She is looking forward to earning a degree in political science and a future in politics.