Letter of Recommendation

May 5, 2026 

From:  Ellen Shapiro, Adjunct Faculty, Columbia College Chicago 

To:  Whom It May Concern 

Re:  Recommending Julian Garcia 

Julian was a student in my Spring 2026 Semester, Sales and Promotional Marketing Class at Columbia College Chicago.  He was an influential student in our collaborative project focusing on the development of an educational module providing agency and access for students to careers in the painting field, both artisan and commercial. 

Julian had impact on Day 1.  Hearing the plan for our semester work, focusing on the downtown Chicago Loop revitalization project, targeting Wintrust Bank, he almost immediately suggested expanding the project to a second community in Chicago, Little Village.  He reasoned that there was a WinTrust Bank branch one door away from the business he worked at, Fresh Kickz Shoes.   

Julian persevered, helping guide a student group in development of mural concepts for installation at both Little Village block locations:  WinTrust, and Fresh Kickz Shoes.  He successfully negotiated between all interested stakeholders on the block, resulting in all agreeing to the important positive impact the art will have on the block, and reaching agreement on choices of murals to install.   This project has a wonderful ending, with good connections for Julian with the leadership in a few of our partners, and art being installed by June 1. 

I can say that Julian became very skilled in understanding the approach and process for leveraging what he knows and building forward some remarkable program plans and activations.   He will be a very valuable participant in collaborative situations that emerge in his future.