Through experiential art installations “Unbearable Memories, Unspeakable Histories” investigates the Partition of India in 1947. This year marks 75 years since the Partition of India in 1947, which created Pakistan, and eventually, Bangladesh in 1971. Pritika Chowdhry’s experiential art installations are temporary 'anti-memorials' to the Partition. Often described as the Holocaust of South Asia, the […]
For centuries, handwriting served as a powerful tool for communicating information, preserving knowledge, shaping identity, and building empires. In our digital world, however, fewer and fewer people can read handwritten words. Handwriting has survived disruptive technologies before. The invention of printing did not diminish the need for handwriting. Instead, it created new markets for ambitious […]
Join us for the grand reopening of the National Hellenic Museum this fall with the world premiere of a major photography exhibition Resilience By HRH Prince Nikolaos September 16 – December 30, 2022 Prince Nikolaos is an accomplished photographer whose work has been exhibited in major global cities including Athens, London, Copenhagen, Doha and Melbourne—and […]
In this new exhibition, the Chicago-based Greek American photographer presents 80 historic works showcasing Chicago’s Greek American celebrations alongside other ethnic and cultural festivals and parades, primarily from the 1970s and 1980s. Depicted events include the Greek Independence Day Parade, Bud Billiken Day Parade, Chinese New Year Parade, Mexican Civic Society Parade, Jewish Festival and […]
Nine Black women artists engaged in collaborative efforts to create artworks that transcend and transform events in the year 2020. In their eyes, art-making became a transgressive act through activism, documentation and vision. Utilizing book-making, craft-making and works on paper, 9 Artists/9 Months/ 9 Perspectives presents a birth of vision under hardship felt worldwide, collectively […]
Please join us to celebrate the art of Akina Curley. A very impressive show by a talented young Native artist. Seeking Sonder showcases work by Akina Curley (Ojibwe/ Diné) to explore other capacities/disciplines of expression that missions to challenge audiences about Native art today through a contemporary aesthetic. These new works by Akina will perform, […]
Join us for a double feature screening of two classic prewar films: Mother's Heart and Thavary Meas Bong. Screening for the first time in Chicago, these films are a celebration of early Cambodian filmmakers' ingenuity, craftsmanship, and talents. These early filmmakers' aim was to make films that Cambodian audiences would be proud to watch but […]
Organizers: National Cambodian Heritage Museum and Killing Fields Memorial
Please join us for a conversation on Chicago craft in the 1970s-80s with some of the city's long-standing artists and activists, including Lourdes Guerrero, artist and educator; Indira Freitas Johnson, artist, educator and community activist; Arlene Raconcay, former director of the Chicago Artists Coalition; Fern Shaffer, artist and former director of Artemisia Gallery. Starts at […]
Don't miss 16-year-old guitar prodigy Juan Ausiàs Parejo from Valencia on Thursday, November 17. $10 SUGGESTED DONATION AT DOOR PARKING VALIDATION AT 33 W ONTARTIO ST ($10) ABOUT THE ARTIST Born in 2006 into a family of musicians, Juan Ausiàs Parejo began playing the guitar at the age of 4 at the hands of his father, […]
An Intimate Night At The Museum | Paint & Sip! Painting and art made easy for everybody! Learn how to paint on a canvas with Featured Artist Lorimar Matos. This art session Includes a Sangria Flight of 4 Flavors Guava, Pomegranate, Pear & Berry. Welcome / Check In 6pm-6:30pm Taste our New Fall! Blood Orange […]
Organizers: The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
The Balzekas Museum presents an in-person 3-Thursday Lithuanian Straw Ornament Making Master Class with artist/educator Laura Lapinskas About this event In order to preserve and perpetuate Lithuanian traditions, the Balzekas Museum is launching a series of traditional Lithuanian Folk Arts Master Classes. The first Master Class - on making traditional Lithuanian straw Christmas ornaments-- will […]
Join us at the Balzekas Museum for a special three-evening Master Class on making traditional Lithuanian straw ornaments. Classes will be conducted by artist/educator Laura Lapinskas. Traditionally, ornaments were made from natural straw, but resourceful city-dwellers began to use more easily available paper and plastic straws for this purpose. Participants will also have an apportunity […]
Juan Carmona was only ten years old when his father gave him his first guitar. His passion for the instrument grew and his virtuosity was quickly remarked by professional musicians. Juan’s journey as a professional guitarist took him back to his roots: Jerez de la Frontera in Andalusia. For 9 years, he absorbed as much […]
November 5 | 10:00 am - 11:00 am Free Topic: Scottish Settlement of Prince Edward Island and Its Implications for Island Society and Culture Presenter: Professor Edward MacDonald, PhD, Department of History, University of Prince Edward Island, Canada This event is complimentary. To attend, please register below.
Native American Heritage Month The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce, Native American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, and North Shore Chapter NSDAR Saturday, November 5 and Sunday, November 6, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This program honors Indigenous entrepreneurs and brings together innovative Native artists, business […]
Organizers: Native American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois
About the event: Bronzeville Historical Society welcomes Attorney James Montgomery to reveal his own story in a personal interview with a live audience. The event is supported in part by the University of Illinois Black Alumni Network and the University of Illinois Student Success Inclusion and Belonging. Autographed books will be available for purchase at […]
Native American Heritage Month The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce, Native American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois, and North Shore Chapter NSDAR Saturday, November 5 and Sunday, November 6, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This program honors Indigenous entrepreneurs and brings together innovative Native artists, business […]
Organizers: Native American Chamber of Commerce of Illinois
Scandinavian Jam, where we practice what we teach. Join Mary Allsopp and Paul Tyler online on the first and third Sunday of every month. Enjoy an afternoon of traditional roots music. We teach by ear, review and share tunes. We are happy to take suggestions and love meeting new people. It’s a friendly group and […]
In this hour-long class, we will explore the history of the Greek diner and its profound influence on American food culture. On the eve of World War I, Greek immigrants began buying up the diners abandoned by German Americans facing anti-German persecution brought on by the war. In these kitchens, the new Greek owners would […]
COME ENJOY A BEVERAGE WITH A SPECTACULAR EXPERIENCE IN OUR ICONIC 6TH FLOOR SKYLINE LOUNGE & TERRACE A perfect place to meet your neighbors and socialize! Each 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month from 7-11 PM. Proceeds support the DANK Haus Museum
Organizers: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
The Balzekas Museum presents an in-person 3-Thursday Lithuanian Straw Ornament Making Master Class with artist/educator Laura Lapinskas About this event In order to preserve and perpetuate Lithuanian traditions, the Balzekas Museum is launching a series of traditional Lithuanian Folk Arts Master Classes. The first Master Class - on making traditional Lithuanian straw Christmas ornaments-- will […]
Balzekas Museum presents "Lithuania in 1922 - a Symposium Lithuanian American contributions during the first formative years of Lithuania’s statehood is the subject of "Lithuania in 1922," a symposium on Saturday, November 12, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture in Chicago, 6500 S. Pulaski Rd. NEWS RELEASE: […]
Family fun for all ages at the 42nd annual Holiday Delight. The festival hosts a wide variety of vendors selling one-of-a-kind goods such as fine art, jewelry, fabric arts, pottery, and Japanese collectible items. Homemade baked goods donated by community bakers will be for sale as well as craft kits, raffle tickets, and a silent […]
About the event: Bronzeville Historical Society welcomes Film maker Reginald Rice to premier his documentary of personal interviews with artists in Bronzeville and their important mark in the art world. The event is supported in part by the Bronzeville Historical Society. SEATS are LIMITED. RSVP TODAY.
New Music Chicago presents Crossing Borders Music celebrating its first decade with a return to its first-ever program, "Beyond the Headlines: Haiti in Music"! Featuring music highlighting Haiti's rich history and cultural traditions, the Haitian diaspora, and the accomplishments of its young artists, this program remains as relevant as ever! View the concert online at […]
Join NHM Discussions as we explore the lives and legacies of three of the Byzantine Empire's most influential figures: Empress Theodora, Anna Komnene, and St. Kassia. Theirs are stories of palace intrigue, spiritual seeking, and intellectual vibrancy. In the man’s world of the Byzantine Empire, these three women left a legacy for us today.
Join us for a night of humorous storytelling from everyday people in Chicago. Share the shame. About this event Join us for a night of humorous storytelling from everyday people in Chicago. We’ve all experienced some kind of embarrassment in our lifetime. Come out and commiserate over some cold beverages at the historic Music Box […]
Join Intuit for Art After Work, a free series of facilitated art-making workshops inspired by outsider and self-taught art and artists from the museum's collections and exhibitions. This month, Chicago-based multidisciplinary artist and educator Marvin Tate will facilitate a workshop inspired by one of his pastimes: birdwatching. In the in-person workshop titled "Come Fly With Me," participants […]
Organizers: Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
Livewire is your Open Mic platform to jam, tell us a story, act your heart out, enthrall with a verse, drop the mic... You bring the talent we’ll bring the cheers! When? Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 5:30 PM Where? National Indo American Museum, 815 S Main St, Lombard, IL 60148 You'll have 3 minutes for […]
Join us in discussion with #1 New York Times bestselling author Tom Clavin as he makes his literary return to the aerial battlefields of WWII to tell a harrowing and unforgettable story of heroism and human endurance in his latest book, Lightning Down: A World War II Story of Survival. Based on a true and largely untold story, Lightning Down is an […]
BOMBA is the oldest musical tradition of Puerto Rico and one of the greatest expressions of the Island’s African ancestry. Since its establishment in Chicago in the late 1980's and early 1990's, enthusiasts, practitioners and teachers of Bomba had come through SRBCC to develop, share and cultivate their craft and honor this ancestral art form […]
He was born in Żywiec, Poland. He studied at the Faculty of Graphic Arts of the Academy of Fine Arts in Kraków (the Katowice branch). He received a diploma with honours in 2001 from the Studio of Industrial Design supervised by Professor Jerzy Wuttke. In 2010, he was conferred the degree of doctor of fine […]
SSCAC is thrilled to partner with ILA Creative Studio for their G-to-G Coaching Sessions in a 3-part series of artist development resource workshops that intend to help close the gap of limited, sustainable business resources, specific to the needs of Black artists. ILA Creative Studio's G-to-G Coaching Sessions are an opportunity for professional practicing artists […]
On Saturday, November 19th, and Sunday, November 20th, the National Puerto Rican Museum will turn into a free family gathering space that extends through the museum premises, including the galleries. Enjoy live music, beverages, food, and free family workshops. Please support local artisans, artists, and craft makers and get a head start on your Christmas […]
Organizers: The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
Symposium 2: "The Ethics of Exhibiting Artists with Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health Disabilities" Artists First Conversations: Inclusivity for Artists with Disabilities is a three-part symposium series held in tandem with the Chicago Cultural Center exhibition Artists First: Twenty-five Years of Studio Art at Thresholds. The primary goals of the symposium series are to increase scholarship in the […]
Organizers: Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
Scandinavian Jam, where we practice what we teach. Join Mary Allsopp and Paul Tyler online on the first and third Sunday of every month. Enjoy an afternoon of traditional roots music. We teach by ear, review and share tunes. We are happy to take suggestions and love meeting new people. It’s a friendly group and […]
Nearly four decades since its initial release, Marvell Ginsburg’s The Tattooed Torah is widely regarded as a quintessential resource for early Holocaust education. A profound story of love, hope, and resilience, The Tattooed Torah recounts the true story of a small Torah from Brno, Czechoslovakia. This beloved illustrated book teaches the Holocaust not just as a period of destruction, […]
La Tuna de Oro was Born in the city of Guanajuato in 1965 and since then managed to revolutionize the musical concept of this type of group by combining the spirit of the students with the quality of the great masters. To date, la Tuna de Oro has been performed in various stages and cities […]
Crimes and Punishment in Sweden by Kathy Meade Did your Swedish ancestor commit a crime? Many Swedish researchers have discovered a note in the church books that an ancestor was imprisoned and desired to know more about the crime. This class begins by giving an overview of the Swedish criminal justice system and then show […]
Join us in "Celebrating Native American Heritage Month" with a Trickster Open House on November 29 from 5-7 PM and special guests, Larry Yazzie and Iron Bear.
Víctor has lived by himself, tending to his cows, in the mountains of Costa Rica for decades. He believes his neighbors have ordered their one indigenous employee to spy on him and that they have stolen his favorite cow. His 12-year-old grandson has been sent by his mother to live with Víctor just as the […]
Greek may well be the world’s oldest continuously spoken linguistic tradition. In this hour-long class, we will explore the long life of the Greek language, from Proto-Greek speakers arriving in the Greek peninsula thousands of years ago to the "Greeklish" of the Greek diaspora.
Renowned printer and type designer Russell Maret will discuss the creation and use of script fonts, past and present, with Jill Gage, curator of the exhibition A Show of Hands: Handwriting in the Age of Print. SPEAKERS Russell Maret is a letter designer and letterpress printer working in New York City. Jill Gage is the Newberry’s Custodian of […]
The Haitian American Museum of Chicago (HAMOC) is celebrating its 10th Anniversary at its Annual Gala Fundraiser, Leve'L 2022! "Leve'L" roughly translates to "Uplift" in Haitian Creole. Join us in uplifting the accomplishments of the museum over the past 10 years! This year will also be our first in-person Gala celebration since 2019. This memorable night will be […]
Holiday CASH Bingo! Tell your friends, family, and neighbors! The higher in attendance, the higher the payout per game. Coverall will be $200! Food TBD! Mark your calendars!
Bring your passion for Scotland and be part of history as Chicago Scots, the first and oldest charity in Illinois, returns to the Chicago History Museum for our grandest evening of the year! Throughout the evening you’ll have access to the Chicago History Museum’s exhibits including City on Fire: Chicago 1871, Vivian Maier: In Color, and the new Treasured Ten: […]
Julmarknad is the Museum’s annual Christmas Bazaar, where traditional Scandinavian and modern handicrafts will be available for purchase. Visit the Children’s Museum for crafts, games and a special visit from Santa. It is entertainment for the whole family and includes kaffestuga, Lucia processions and folk dancers.
Calligraphy evolved into a fine art practice in the mid-20th century, and it continues to be reimagined by artists today. To keep the art of beautiful lettering alive, it must be practiced. Join us and the Chicago Calligraphy Collective for an interactive and family-friendly event focused on the history of handwriting. Enjoy demonstrations of different […]
Sharing Our Wisdom, Values & Diverse Cultures In celebration of the Association on American Indian Affairs’ 100th anniversary, the Association is honored to announce the first annual Tribal Museums Day to be held on Saturday, December 3, 2022. We are engaging Tribal Museums and Cultural Centers across Indian Country to share our collective wisdom, values and diverse cultures! The Association’s vision is to create a world where diverse Native cultures and values are […]
Organizers: Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
J. Gibran Villalobos is an arts administrator, educator, and cultural worker. He has served as Senior Program Officer for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, as the Interim Executive Director of the Chicago Artists Coalition, and faculty lecturer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Previously, he has held posts as Assistant Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Partnerships and Community Engagement Manager for the Chicago Architecture Biennial, Cultural Liaison for the Chicago Park District, and Curator-in-Residence for the Chicago Cultural Center. In 2016 he attended the Advocacy Leadership Institute and was invited to the White House Office of Public Engagement, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to speak to issues affecting Latinos in Chicago. In 2017 he launched an inaugural summit of Latinx artists and administrators across the U.S; for this project he was awarded the Act Up Award by the Chicago Community Trust. His work has been presented at the Fabrica de Arte Cubano during the 2017 Havana Biennial. In 2019 he was an inaugural recipient of the Field Foundation’s Leaders for a New Chicago Award as well as the Americans for the Arts 2019 Leaders of Color Fellowship. In 2020, he joined the Civic Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy where he worked with government and nonprofit sector participants to think about effective policy for Chicago’s cultural industries. He helped establish the Auxiliary Board at the National Museum of Mexican Art. He has taught graduate and undergraduate courses at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the Department of Arts Administration & Policy.
Gibran holds a BA in Art History and a BS in Public Relations from Northern Arizona University and an MA in Arts Administration & Policy and MA in Modern Art History & Theory from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
He has contributed to exhibitions such as Direct Message, presenting the artwork of Chicago artistic collectives and their relation to language and civic engagement. As part of an international project, he has convened the MCA Chicago with the Tate Modern, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Queens Museum and other institutions to create dialogue on civic engagement within contemporary art institutions. He has written catalog entries for Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, Rodrigo Lara Zendejas, and Jeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford. In 2021, he is contributing to the upcoming retrospective on the work by artist Andrea Bowers focusing on the activism and archives of Emma Lozano. He is curator of the symposium Fractures: Creating Around Devastation focusing on water ecology, civic engagement, activism, and architecture.
Loreal Robertson
Board Member
Loreal Robertson is a native Chicagoan who recently returned home in 2021 where she began working at the University of Chicago. In her role she oversees and monitors a range of programs, services, and resources to support the retention, wellness, belonging, and success of graduate students. Additionally, her role includes informing strategic priorities, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, professional development, student advancement and the support of students who may be experiencing financial academic, or personal challenges, including students with disabilities and international students.
Loreal has over 10 years of experience in higher education and student affairs. In 2021 she received the Inclusion and Diversity Champion Award from Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK), where she was previously employed. Loreal’s personal and professional philosophy is creating and promoting spaces and opportunities where everyone can see themselves as part of an experience and feels represented.
Loreal holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Arkansas, a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from TAMUK.
Loreal is a financial and active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, an avid reader, and enjoys traveling with family and friends.
Warren Frank
Treasurer
Warren Frank is a retired CPA and CFO, and current Adjunct Professor at Columbia College.
Warren worked at such CPA firms as KPMG, PwC, and Deloitte, and Not For Profit organizations as National Association of Realtors, Chicago Associations of Realtors, Anixter Center, and Chinese American Service League.
Warren is a Chicago resident in the Lakeview neighborhood. He attended Loyola University of Chicago for his bachelor degree and Northwestern University for his master degree.
Colleen McGaughey
Board Member
Colleen McGaughey (she/her) is the director of development at the National Public Housing Museum, where she leads the strategic direction of the museum’s fundraising efforts with a focus on creative and community-centric approaches.
Mario Longoni
Board Member
Mario Longoni is a cultural anthropologist (“Lead Environmental Social Scientist”) in the Keller Science Action Center at the Field Museum. For over 20 years, he has worked with individuals and organizations to surface and activate cultural and natural assets (specific strengths and characteristics) to help communities meet the challenges they face.
Rob Fojtik
Board Member
Rob Fojtik is Vice President for Neighborhood Strategy at Choose Chicago, the city’s official tourism and convention promotion bureau. In this capacity, Rob oversees efforts to promote and support Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods to visitors from near and far. Programs include the award-winning Neighborhood Content Creator program that leverages resident-made digital content, and Chicago Alfresco, a $2.5 million placemaking initiative created in partnership with the Chicago Department of Transportation to transform public spaces into community plazas for outdoor enjoyment.
Before coming to Choose Chicago, Rob was a Senior Advisor to Mayor Lightfoot on economic development and international relations at City Hall, as well as LGTBQ+ affairs and the expanded outdoor dining program. In this role, he also worked to recommend and place over 150 civic leaders and residents onto City boards and commissions. Prior to government service in the Lightfoot administration, Rob ran her winning campaign in the crowded 2019 Chicago mayoral race as Chief of Staff. In past lives, Rob has worked as a public affairs manager for a Fortune 500 company downtown; had misadventures in management consulting, art sales, and personal cheffing; and spent time in Washington DC working for former Secretary of Defense William Cohen. Rob also served a one-year appointment at the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence as a policy advisor on Central and Eastern Europe. In this role, he was part of the NSC’s interagency process to develop a comprehensive sanctions regime on Russia as a consequence of its 2014 invasion of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine.
After receiving his BA in Slavic Languages and Literature at Northwestern University, Rob lived and worked in the Czech Republic teaching English and tending bar before moving to Washington, D.C. to pursue a MA from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies (CERES). He enjoys cooking, learning foreign languages, hiking with his partner and their dog, and visiting Chicago’s many neighborhoods.
Paul Durica
Board Member
Dr. Paul Durica is the Director of Exhibitions at the Chicago History Museums and worked in a similar capacity at The Newberry Library. From 2015-2020, he served as the Director of Programs and Exhibitions with Illinois Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Prior to that he drew upon his work as a writer, researcher, and teacher to produce a series of free and interactive talks, walks, and reenactments focused on narratives from Chicago’s past that resonate with its present.
These public history programs led to collaborations with cultural institutions in the city such as the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, Chicago History Museum, Newberry Library, Chicago Architecture Foundation, Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Chicago Cultural Center among others.
Each program made use of both his original research and the skills of the arts organizations, community groups, local businesses, and publications that acted as my partners. Some of these programs, such as the full-scale reenactment of the Haymarket Affair in 2011, involved recruiting and directing over 300 volunteers and 1,000 participants.
To produce these programs successfully, he wrote grants; managed budgets; generated web content; worked closely with program partners of varying sizes and resources; and identified, engaged, and sustained a diverse multi-generational audience.
Lynessa Rico
Board Member
Dr. Lynessa M. Rico is the Associate Chair of the Business Psychology Department at the The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Chicago campus. She is also a business mentor at 1871.
Lynessa is a results-driven Strategic Consultant with over 25 years of experience enabling leaders to meet strategic business objectives by identifying and aligning business growth opportunities with strategic direction of culturally diverse organizations. By leveraging her strategic experience in identifying and impacting business growth opportunities and maximizing profits in retail firms and higher education institutions, Lynessa leads workshops focused on the creative mindset, women’s entrepreneurship, emotional intelligence, and the value and application of design thinking within entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Her services also include consulting with and educating leadership on emotional intelligence, the power of design thinking and the creative mindset, and leadership styles to support inclusive, creative workplaces. She has presented to leadership and innovation teams in small, mid-size, and Fortune 500 companies.
Lynessa received her undergraduate degrees in Marketing and Management from Wichita State University. She then went on to earn a master’s degree in Business Administration from Wichita State University with a focus in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. After earning her master’s degree, Lynessa received her doctorate in Business Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology where she successfully completed her dissertation titled, “The Relationship Between Personality Types and Color Preference for Color Combinations.” Her current research interests include women’s entrepreneurship, design thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and entrepreneurship self-efficacy.
Outside of work and research, Lynessa enjoys mentoring start-ups and judging pitch competitions. Lynessa currently resides in Chicago, Illinois with her four cats. She is an avid long-distance runner, having completed 5 full marathons (and counting), and enjoys watching musical theater.
Briana Thomas
Board Member
Briana Thomas is the Museum Associate at the Abrahamic Center for Cultural Education (a core member of the Chicago Cultural Alliance). She wears many hats including developing exhibition content, facilitating community programs (children and adults), liaising with visitor artists, and other responsibilities. Her previous experience in the nonprofit space includes her tenure as the Financial Empowerment Coordinator at AMERICORPS Sharing Life Center as well as engaging with the public at the Dallas Arboretum. Her past professional experience has remained rooted in marginalized communities. It is their needs, discourse and histories that she has routinely been tasked with protecting and showcasing in the face of poor infrastructure, and willing ignorance. Creating safe spaces is an ancestral practice she has inherited.