Artists and activists: the beating heart of Chicago’s ‘Together We Heal’ initiative

The Purpose
In the autumn of 2020, the Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ) launched Together We Heal (TWH), a program aimed at fostering racial healing and transformation through policy and cultural change. The purpose of TWH is to use OERJ’s platform to spotlight and connect various efforts across Chicago, creating a virtual healing map that allows community leaders to share their work and discover initiatives happening throughout the city.

The Challenge
The challenge was to address racial disparities and divisions within Chicago and promote racial healing and transformation. It required creating a platform to connect and showcase the efforts of various community leaders and organisations.

Over just three months, 200 healing events were recorded on the virtual map, involving nearly 10,000 Chicagoans.

The Solution
OERJ created a virtual healing map that allowed community leaders to reflect and share their work, as well as discover the work of others. Over just three months, 200 healing events were recorded on the virtual map, involving nearly 10,000 Chicagoans. OERJ also organized the first TWH Healing Summit, held virtually, where reflections through art and storytelling were shared, and a vision for future work was built. The initiative also included the Together We Heal Creative Place Program, which allocated $5.5 million to projects that enhance neighbourhood environments. This program encourages new and existing projects that highlight a community’s history, culture and assets while leveraging the creative potential present in these communities, acknowledging the work of artists and activists.

The Impact
Together We Heal is bringing about racial healing and transformation in Chicago. By creating a virtual map and facilitating a healing summit, the initiative has engaged a significant number of Chicagoans. Furthermore, the Together We Heal Creative Place Program is fostering a creative and cultural renaissance in neighbourhoods, strengthening their environments and honouring the work of local artists and activists. This initiative represents a significant step towards addressing racial disparities and divisions within the city.

Images Courtesy © City of Chicago