A towering new sculpture at the intersection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Veronica Shoemaker boulevards stands as a powerful symbol of resilience, unity, and progress in Fort Myers’ Dunbar community.
The Journey of Hope installation, created by artist Cecilia Lueza, was officially dedicated to Veronica Shoemaker on Feb. 26 after being installed last summer. Commissioned by the City of Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency (CRA) in 2022, the 20-foot-tall sculpture is made of aircraft-grade aluminum, designed to withstand Florida’s intense weather conditions. A 200-watt solar lighting system will illuminate the artwork at night, ensuring its message is seen around the clock.
Fort Myers celebrates the dedication of the Journey of Hope sculpture
The sculpture’s design features the profile of an African American woman’s face, framed by radiant sun rays and soaring birds—imagery meant to evoke strength, perseverance, and hope for the future.
CRA Executive Director Michele Hylton-Terry said dedicating the piece during Black History Month made the moment even more meaningful.
“During Black History Month, it is really special that we could have this thing completed and dedicated to her and to all the heroes, all the women that have made great contributions in our community,” Hylton-Terry said. “Because we have to look to them as we go forward, because, as we all know, there's so much more to do.”
The sculpture is part of a broader redevelopment initiative under the city’s MLK Redevelopment Trust Fund. The $100,000 capital art project was funded through a CRA tax increment. Of the total, $1,500 was allocated to three finalists. Each paid a $500 design fee to submit proposals. The remaining $98,500 was awarded to Lueza and covered materials—including solar lighting—engineering, fabrication, permitting, transportation, installation, insurance, and contingencies.
1 of 15
— 030625aiwjourneyofhope007.jpg
Artist Cecilia Lueza smiles during dedication of her sculpture, Journey of Hope, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Fort Myers. The sculpture sits at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
2 of 15
— 030625aiwjourneyofhope006.jpg
The City of Fort Myers celebrated the dedication of Journey of Hope, a new sculpture by artist Cecilia Lueza, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Fort Myers. The sculpture sits at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
3 of 15
— 030625aiwjourneyofhope016.jpg
The City of Fort Myers celebrated the dedication of Journey of Hope, a new sculpture by artist Cecilia Lueza, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Fort Myers. The sculpture sits at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
4 of 15
— 030625aiwjourneyofhope012.jpg
The City of Fort Myers celebrated the dedication of Journey of Hope, a new sculpture by artist Cecilia Lueza, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Fort Myers. The sculpture sits at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
5 of 15
— 030625aiwjourneyofhope009.jpg
The City of Fort Myers celebrated the dedication of Journey of Hope, a new sculpture by artist Cecilia Lueza, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Fort Myers. The sculpture sits at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
6 of 15
— 030625aiwjourneyofhope011.jpg
Fort Myers City Council member Diana Giraldo and Mattie Shoemaker Young at the dedication of Journey of Hope, a sculpture by artist Cecilia Lueza, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Fort Myers. The sculpture sits at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
7 of 15
— 030625aiwjourneyofhope015.jpg
The City of Fort Myers celebrated the dedication of Journey of Hope, a new sculpture by artist Cecilia Lueza, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Fort Myers. The sculpture sits at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
8 of 15
— 030625aiwjourneyofhope013.jpg
The City of Fort Myers celebrated the dedication of Journey of Hope, a new sculpture by artist Cecilia Lueza, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Fort Myers. The sculpture sits at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
9 of 15
— 030625aiwjourneyofhope014.jpg
The City of Fort Myers celebrated the dedication of Journey of Hope, a new sculpture by artist Cecilia Lueza, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Fort Myers. The sculpture sits at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
10 of 15
— 030625aiwjourneyofhope008.jpg
The City of Fort Myers celebrated the dedication of Journey of Hope, a new sculpture by artist Cecilia Lueza, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Fort Myers. The sculpture sits at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
11 of 15
— 030625aiwjourneyofhope004.jpg
The City of Fort Myers celebrated the dedication of Journey of Hope, a new sculpture by artist Cecilia Lueza, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Fort Myers. The sculpture sits at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
12 of 15
— 030625aiwjourneyofhope005.jpg
The City of Fort Myers celebrated the dedication of Journey of Hope, a new sculpture by artist Cecilia Lueza, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Fort Myers. The sculpture sits at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
13 of 15
— 030625aiwjourneyofhope002.jpg
The City of Fort Myers celebrated the dedication of Journey of Hope, a new sculpture by artist Cecilia Lueza, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Fort Myers. The sculpture sits at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
14 of 15
— 030625aiwjourneyofhope003.jpg
Tom Hall speaks at the dedication of Journey of Hope, a new sculpture by artist Cecilia Lueza, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Fort Myers. The sculpture sits at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
15 of 15
— 030625aiwjourneyofhope001.jpg
Mattie Shoemaker Young attended the dedication of Journey of Hope, a new sculpture by artist Cecilia Lueza, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025 in Fort Myers. The sculpture sits at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. The sculpture honors the contributions of women to the City of Fort Myers, including Veronica Shoemaker, who was the first Black woman on the Fort Myers City Council.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
Lueza, an Argentine-American artist based in St. Petersburg, has worked on public art projects across the U.S. since 2000. She said the installation process was meticulous, ensuring precise placement of the sculpture’s profile and background components.
“I'm super happy,” Lueza said. “I'm super happy that right now installation is going on, but I will be even more happy when the sculpture is finally painted and ready.”
The sculpture’s placement at the intersection of two historic roadways is intentional. It pays tribute to Veronica Shoemaker, a civil rights leader and the first Black woman to serve on the Fort Myers City Council.
Her daughter, Mattie Shoemaker Young, said the Journey of Hope serves as a daily reminder of her mother’s legacy.
“Every time I pass by, I look at the sculpture, and it reminds me of her and what she stood for,” Shoemaker Young said. “It encourages all who pass by to just keep the faith, keep the hope, and keep moving forward.”
1 of 12
— 061024 aiw sculpture 001.jpg
Sam Garcia, left, and Niel Ortega install Cecilia Lueza’s “Journey of Hope,” sculpture on Monday, June 10, 2024, at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fort Myers.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
2 of 12
— 061024 aiw sculpture 004.jpg
St. Petersburg artist Cecilia Lueza and her team install her sculpture, “Journey of Hope,” on Monday, June 10, 2024, at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fort Myers.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
3 of 12
— 061024-aiw-sculpture-007.jpg
St. Petersburg artist Cecilia Lueza watches as her team installs her sculpture, “Journey of Hope,” on Monday, June 10, 2024, at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fort Myers.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
4 of 12
— 061024 aiw sculpture 008.jpg
Niel Ortega attaches two pieces of the “Journey of Hope,” sculpture on Monday, June 10, 2024, at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fort Myers.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
5 of 12
— 061024 aiw sculpture 003.jpg
St. Petersburg artist Cecilia Lueza and her team prepare to install the final piece of her sculpture, “Journey of Hope,” on Monday, June 10, 2024, at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fort Myers.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
6 of 12
— 061024 aiw sculpture 007.jpg
St. Petersburg artist Cecilia Lueza watches as her team installs her sculpture, “Journey of Hope,” on Monday, June 10, 2024, at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fort Myers.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
7 of 12
— 061024 aiw sculpture 002.jpg
St. Petersburg artist Cecilia Lueza watches as her team installs her sculpture, “Journey of Hope,” on Monday, June 10, 2024, at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fort Myers.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
8 of 12
— 061024 aiw sculpture 006.jpg
St. Petersburg artist Cecilia Lueza and her team install her sculpture, “Journey of Hope,” on Monday, June 10, 2024, at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fort Myers.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
9 of 12
— 061024 aiw sculpture 003.jpg
St. Petersburg artist Cecilia Lueza and her team prepare to install the final piece of her sculpture, “Journey of Hope,” on Monday, June 10, 2024, at the intersection of Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Fort Myers.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
10 of 12
— 061024 aiw sculpture 005.jpg
Artist Cecilia Lueza greets Michele Terry-Hylton of the Fort Myers CRA on Monday, June 10, 2024, in Fort Myers.
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
11 of 12
— Journey of Hope unpainted.jpg
The face of "Journey of Hope" is dropped into place by a crane as a four-man team affixes the profile element to the concrete base. The 20-foot-tall sculpture is made of aircraft-grade aluminum and built to withstand the intense Southwest Florida weather. In the coming weeks, the gleaming silver sculpture will be repainted. A 200-watt solar lighting system will illuminate the sculpture at night.
Tara Calligan/WGCU
12 of 12
— sculpture.jpg
Journey of Hope
Amanda Inscore Whittamore / WGCU
Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson echoed that sentiment, calling the location significant.
“It's in a perfect location at these two boulevards honoring such great people,” Anderson said. “And I really hope that what this does is remind us, as a community, how far we have come—but more importantly, it reminds us how far we still have to go.”
For Lueza, the Journey of Hope is meant to evoke a personal connection.
“Her name says it all—Journey of Hope—and it is a journey,” she said. “Something like this inspires us to move on, to leave our mark on the city that we all love.” For the people of Dunbar and beyond, Journey of Hope is more than just public art. It’s a visual reminder of the past, a celebration of the present, and an encouragement to keep striving toward a brighter future.
