STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Artist Cody Prez has been working on a semi-secret project for the past year.

Borough natives might remember him for his involvement in the PILLZ KILLZ mural, tackling the abuse of prescription drugs on Staten Island in 2012.

But for his latest large-scale piece, he's gone global. Literally.

Prez's new mural, titled "Climate Change Ain't Nothin' to Mess With," will make its debut on Saturday, June 30. (Keep scrolling for details on the unveiling party!) The project's mission is to inspire others to get themselves educate themselves on things going on in the world.

In this case, the focus is on climate change.

Prez said the 2,000 square foot mural was created during the time of Hurricane Maria, the storm that devastated Dominica and Puerto Rico.

"The inspiration came from the itch to paint something, you know, listening to some Wu-Tang in the house and watching the news," Prez said. "I like to send a message with my art. I want to put the message out there that pain can actually be turned into something prettier."

It's true: Wu-Tang has consistently taken the borough by storm since their start in 1992. It is no secret that Wu has influenced much of Prez's work. He grew up in Park Hill, considered the birth place of the popular rap group.

BTW: If you think dreams don't come true, think again. Mathematics, AKA the creator of the Wu-Tang Clan logo, stopped by to see the mural and give his blessing weeks before its unveiling.

According to Richmond Hood Co. owner Tariq Zaid, "If you're from Staten Island, you know the Wu logo is our version of the Mona Lisa and Mathematics is Da Vinci."

Sure, Hurricane Maria came and went but the damage it left behind is still very much a reality. Prez wanted to draw attention and awareness to that: "We all tend to forget the effects things have in life because we just go back to our daily lives."

A MURAL WITH A MESSAGE: Prez was awarded a DCA Premier Grant from Staten Island Arts to get this project off the ground. To make this a full community effort, eighth grade students in the IS 61 art program spent a day painting the wall. Prez gave the students a space beside his work to share their own message through art.

"We want to inspire the youth more than the adults," Prez said. "They're the future lawmakers. They're the future choice providers as far as where we're going to continue to live on as a culture."

"There is nothing stronger than giving the youth an idea and letting them make their own decisions from it," he added.

BTW: This mural isn't meant to cause political havoc. The artist's end game is to make Staten Islanders more aware of the conditions of our world.

"We just gotta keep the arts alive and put it to good use," Prez said.

"The underlying message behind the beautiful artwork was something that resonated with me," Richmond Hood Co. owner Tariq Zaid. "I believe seeing this art piece in a public art mural is going to impact people more than seeing it on Instagram."

THE UNVEILING DETAILS: An event dedicated to Prez's mural is on Saturday, June 30, from noon to 4 p.m.

The open area where the mural unveiling will take place is located next to the Richmond Hood Co. shop, 827 Castleton Avenue. The area has made a name for itself on the borough as #ArtistAlleySI.

There will be music, live art and a slew of creative minds to pick. The event is free and open to the public.