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KENOSHA, Wis. — In wake of the shooting of Jacob Blake last Sunday, the city of Kenosha has endured a week of unrest, violence, and a deadly shooting that killed two protesters.

The cleanup process is difficult, but Kenosha residents and organizers remain positive. At Frank’s Diner, owner Kevin Ervin grew up in Chicago but sees hopeful signs in his adopted home Monday.

“Even though it’s boarded up it looks a lot better,” Ervin said.

Downtown Kenosha Inc., an organization designed to support small businesses, raised over $100,000 in donations to buy plywood to help board up businesses.

“We’re proud and love the message of rebuilding and we are open to that change and we’re committed to it,” Executive Director Alexandria Binanti said. “I think there’s going to be a message of hope that will be much bigger in the future.”

In less than a week, the plywood and particle board, much of it donated, lined the streets of this small downtown to keep looters out, became a canvas. Many of the boards downtown have been filled with artwork, containing messages of support and hopefulness as well.

“It came about from so many people coming to help that we didn’t know what to do with all of them… and the best thing we could do is turn it into art,” said business owner Riki Tagliapietra. “Every paint stroke that you see down here is somebody who came down to help because they care about this community.”

Through her mission to serve and help the less fortunate at God’s Kitchen of Kenosha, Arnetta Griffin says she sees what the country hasn’t yet.

“There’s obviously a lot going on and it’s hard to find somewhere to stand because everything is heartbreaking from every aspect,” Griffin said. “But to see our community come together and turn disaster into art is what I think defines Kenosha.”

While organizers have made progress, there is no guarantee to an end to local social unrest.

An impending visit by President Donald Trump is expected to spark a fresh round of protests on Tuesday. Trump’s announcement comes as both Kenosha mayor John Antaramian and Wisconsin governor Tony Evers asked Trump to hold off his visit.

No matter what happens, the protests are a defining moment for the state-line city of 100,000 that has come together in many ways. Among many there’s a sense that out of the ashes, they will rise.

An official GoFundMe as been produced.