At SkyART we are heartbroken by the pain and trauma that has been on full display in recent days. The violence that spread around Chicago this weekend left our community in South Chicago — and communities across the city and the country — picking up the pieces of shattered dreams.
Despite widespread looting and fires that came within one block of SkyART, the building remains unscathed, and for that we are grateful.
We support the efforts of #BlackLivesMatter and activists fighting for real, tangible change in a system that has propagated racism and inequity for centuries. We know that the wounds of marginalization and poverty in the richest country on earth cannot be healed overnight, but we will continue to support black and brown communities, children and families and redouble our efforts to provide therapeutic creativity in this time.
What are we doing?
We are not shying away from discussing the terrible images we’re seeing in the news and on social media with our participants, especially teens who are more likely to be involved and affected by protests, or fall victim to police violence. Since Monday, our staff has been calling our Project 3rd Space participants to conduct wellness checks and ensure the wellbeing of our teens and their families. Most importantly, we are working with young people to educate and demonstrate meaningful leadership.
Coming together
In the past 24 hours, there have been reports of Latinx and black Chicagoans clashing when we should be joining hands. This is heartbreaking and gut wrenching to see this taking place in our community, where black and brown families live side by side and their kids attend SkyART together.
We know that burning buildings will not create social justice. It is racism and immoral policing systems that must be burned.
We know that looting a grocery store only means our neighbor won’t be able to feed their family. It is the institutions of oppression and marginalization that must be cleaned out.
Our youth are tomorrow’s leaders and change makers! THEIR LIVES MATTER!
In solidarity, in love and in peace,
SkyART