July 22 at 9:30 AM – 10:30 AM CT
Whose Truths? Exploring the Chicago Monuments Project
We’re kicking off Virtual Day programming with a presentation organized by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE).
This panel will open the conference by exploring the significance of Chicago’s monuments in reflecting and shaping the city’s core values, particularly around race, history, and identity. Centered on the conference theme We Hold These Truths, we will examine several case studies to highlight how these projects confront complex histories and engage with contemporary social issues. Panelists will discuss the values embedded in these monuments, the truths they aim to honor, and the approaches used to create meaningful public spaces that encourage reflection and dialogue. Join us for a conversation on how monuments can shape collective memory and promote healing.
Moderator:
- Lydia Ross, Senior Strategist, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
Presenters:
- Scheherazade Tillet, Co-Founder and Executive Director of A Long Walk Home
- Peter Cole, Professor at Western Illinois University; founder and co-director of the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Commemoration Project
- Pearl Dick, artistic director of Firebird Community Arts, and co-founder of Project FIRE, the team that design the Race Riot Markers