Open Boulevards on Drexel

On Sunday, November 7th Organic Oneness was a part of Open Boulevards on Drexel on 43rd-45th. This is an initiative that allows Chicago to bring communities together as it safely reopens.

Our tent raised the level of consciousness by handing out balloons that said Truth, Justice, Love, and Unity, along with stickers and tattoos that said, We Are One Family, World Citizen, and No Room in My Heart for Prejudice. Partners included Alderman Sophia King, Chicago Department of Transportation, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, Equiticity, Chicago Park District, Quad Communities Development Corporation, Chicago Race Riots of 1919 Commemoration Project, and many amazing partners.

Environmentalist of Color, EOC

On October 21st, Organic Oneness and EOC hosted the 3rd annual gathering at the river front downtown at the beautiful McCormick Bridgehouse Museum.

This gathering was a BIPOC safe space to amplify, connect and support members in this network to be leaders and thrive in this field.

EOC is an interdisciplinary network of leaders of color who are passionate about an array of critical environmental issues, ranging from habitat conservation to environmental justice. We cultivate opportunities for community, support, and joy so members can thrive.

Bike, Breath + Environment Justice

On October 2nd, Organic Oneness  and several Chicago-based social justice groups teamed up with the transportation equity organization Equiticity to host a ride through Humboldt Park and Hermosa entitled Bikes, Breath + Environmental Justice: Celebrating the African Diaspora in the Americas on Two Wheels.

The ride webpage explained that the purpose of the Near West Side ride was to “Celebrate on two wheels the culture of the African diaspora in the Americas. Through a profound historical journey, explore spirit, dance, and the drum and their inextricable connection in the fight for survival, freedom, and prosperity of Afro LatinX people across two continents.” The event started at the Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center in Humboldt Park, and began with meditation and intention-setting, led by Black Brown + Breathing.
Co-hosting groups included, De Colores + Cultura, Black Brown + Breathing, Music Moves Chicago (a program of the Old Town School of Folk music), Paseo Boricua Tour Company, Environmentalists of Color, and The Honeycomb Network.
Read more about this event on StreetsBlog.

Bronzeville CommUNITY Celebration

On Saturday, September 25th, Organic Oneness and Ellis Park Advisory Council convened over 30 partners in Bronzeville to carry out the Bronzeville CommUNITY Celebration focused on Health, Healing, Love & Unity  at Ellis Park for over 500 people.

Families enjoyed pony rides, petting zoo, chess, bingo, free lunch, bouncy houses, story telling, drum circles and more!  The stage performances incorporated  Interfaith devotionals where Van Gilmore and choir singers represented the Baha'i Faith, followed by community building & artistic pieces by the LUV Institute, movement exercises by Glorious Light Church, and DJ music by Brian Gorman. Phillips High School Marching Band and our elected officials, 4th Ward Alderman Sophia King and President of Cook Country Toni Preckwinkle, also joined us during lunch provided by Ain't She Sweet. After lunch, Jazz Diva Senebella, and Vandercook Youth Ensemble concluded the event.

Movie in the Park

On August 15th Organic Oneness provided a movie night for families that focused on the environment. We partnered with Ken-Well Park Advisory Council and Representative Will Guzzardi and watched Raya and the Last Dragon with approximately 75 residents of Hermosa, Avondale, Logan Square, and Old Irving Park.

The Practice Podcast: Co-Creating With Communities To Promote Interconnectedness

Listen to an episode of The Practice Podcast with Brett M. Amron and Jeffrey Bast from BAST AMRON LLP. In this episode, Syda talks about her personal journey in starting a multi-state organization, understanding climate issues and policies, the importance of staying connected to our communities, and how we can affect the lives around us. She shares some perspectives on building structures to help social activists, preventing illness and burn-out, and promoting compassion. The podcast was created to help business leaders and lawyers understand business and legal issues without all the complicated lawyer language. 

3rd Annual Bronzeville Bike Tour: Sites related to the 1919 Chicago Race Riot

On Saturday, July 24th, 2021 approximately 300 people toured Bronzeville to learn about the history of Eugene Williams and how his unjust racist killing sparked the Chicago Race Riot of 1919.

The program began at the Chicago Military Academy (3519 S Giles Ave, Chicago, IL 60653) and the bike/trolley tour highlighted key race riot sites as well as other locations showing the resilience of the Black community now known as Bronzeville including the Chicago Defender, Chicago Bee, Ida B. Wells, and Victory Monument.

Ain't She Sweet provided lunch while we witnessed the unveiling of artistic markers created by Project Fire youth to commemorate those killed during the race riots of 1919.

Art as Healing:LeClaire Hearst Community

On June 24, 2021 Organic Oneness (OO), Academy for Global Citizens (AGC), and community partners used art to co-created a space for healing together after being isolated and on-line all year due to Covid-19. This community project activated vibrant spaces for outdoor classrooms and events. While the end product is beautiful, AGC and OO were excited about the process. We see art as a healing process which will help us establish relationships amongst community members. We believe that through service, solidarity and unity in the community, we can achieve connections, empathy and compassion. Watch this short video to see everyone in creating this beautiful space together!

Be the Healing 2021

The Be the Healing Conference addressed topics of systemic racism derived from Anti-Blackness, inter-generational and historical trauma, structural violence, mental health and COVID-19, sexism and xenophobia. This conference provided improvement strategies through an inspirational and solution-oriented lens. Click below to experience the 2021 conference and see information about past events on the Be the Healing page.

King Day of Service: Bronzeville 2021
In honor of Dr. King’s fair housing movement, event partners created an amazing online experience to learn, reflect, and take action.  Approximately 200 people joined us to view the  documentary The Color Tax: Origins of the Modern Day Racial Wealth Gap  that brings awareness to the racial and economic unjust acts around Black home ownership. 

The celebration opened with a video of Bronzeville organizations stating how they are keeping the Dream alive. Alderman Pat Dowell of the 3rd Ward and Alderman Sophia King of the 4th Ward gave inspirational statements. Ari Brown from The Jazz Institute lifted our spirits and provided time for the audience to reflect on the documentary. A panel discussion concluded the evening with scholars and community members to emphasize  the modern-day gap and what people can do to promote equity with housing.

Thank you to everyone for helping make this event happening, participating, and especially for keeping the Dream alive!

Candid Conversation with Healers

Watch Candid Conversations with "Healers" from Chicago that are working towards racial justice and healing. In this episode Syda Taylor, Organic Oneness' Executive Director joins the panel discussion hosted by The Chief Equity Officer from the Mayor's Office of Chicago, Candace Moore and Public Narrative's Executive Director, Jhmira Alexander.  Candid Conversations is part of the The Together We Heal Initiative in Chicago where local healers, neighbors and faith leaders discuss community level healing and talk about their experience and challenges on this long and thorny but hopeful road.


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