Black Lives Matters murals have been popping up in cities across the U.S. all summer, and now creation of the first one in the Hudson Valley is underway in front of Yonkers City Hall.

The mural will span the entire block of South Broadway between Hudson and Prospect streets. The project is led by Yonkers Arts, a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing the artistic community and impact through the arts in Yonkers.

Executive Director Ray Wilcox, who spearheaded the project, says he felt it was paramount that the organization brought this project to the city of Yonkers.

"We understand that Yonkers has had its issues with race and racism in the past," says Wilcox. "We want to create this mural here to start a conversation to create ongoing conversations to attack and address the situations that are ongoing in our community."

Wilcox says organizers were expecting about 45 volunteers to help with the mural on Sunday. They planned to work all day and through the night if needed for the unveiling Monday at 10 a.m.