Thank you for being a part of 2022!
Relive and learn about our community building events below
5th Annual Be the Healing:
Reparations Conference
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The 5th Annual Be the Healing: Reparations Conference explored innovative approaches to reparations including restoration, repair, and healing at the individual, community, and institutional levels, inclusive of policy changes.
Over the course of three days, Dr. Joy DeGruy and Dr. Bahia addressed the historical harm and trauma of racism and colonization through an inspirational and solution-oriented global lens. Chicago community leaders led community tours addressing various ways reparations are being carried out within the ecosystem of their neighborhoods. We have deep gratitude to our partners, volunteers, donors and everyone who brought their whole selves to this years conference. We hope you enjoyed this special time with Dr. Joy DeGruy, Dr. Bahia, speakers, tours, and panel discussions. |
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Keep chipping away until you discover the gemWant to be inspired? Listen to this interview with Syda on Julia Bruns' podcast, The Peace and Possibilities. "Get ready to learn all about feeling alive and going after what you want, from awesome people who have been there. Making it happen is easier than you think, you just need a few simple tips and reminders. We share stories with amazing people who have figured out how to do work they love, so others can see what's possible. Get ready to be inspired! Come along on this journey with me. After all, we're all in this together... "
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Open Boulevards: Drexel Boulevard
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Bronzeville organizations were a part of Open Boulevards between 43rd and 45th of Drexel Boulevard highlighting programs and resource in the community on September 18, 2022. This free, day-long street activations along Chicago’s historic boulevards that close streets to motor traffic open for people to use for rolling, walking, scooting, eating, and playing encouraged becoming a shared space for people to gather and experience community safely. |
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Monarch PaloozaOn August 27th, we celebrated the start of the monarch migration with North Park Village Nature Center during their annual Monarch Palooza. The indigenous Purépecha group from Michoacán, Mexico, Chi Nations Youth Council, and many other partners came together for the fourth generation migration of the incredible, symbolic, endangered monarch butterflies.
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4th Annual Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Bronzeville Bike Tour
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Organic Oneness is a proud program partner and fiscal sponsor of the Chicago Race Riot of 1919 Commemoration Project and the annual bike tour in Bronzeville, Chicago. Check out our video of this year's CRR19 ride. On the bike tour, participants learn about the history of Eugene Williams and how his unjust racist killing sparked the Chicago Race Riot of 1919, also know as the Red Summer. Let's expose the truth of our history to unleash the potential of a just future. Also read the article by Word in Black where Dr. Franklin Cosey-Gay (Board Chair of Organic Oneness and Co-Director of CRR19) was interviewed about the reparation efforts of the Eugene Williams Scholarship. |
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Creating Psychological Safety
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Organic Oneness and UCAN teamed up to conduct six training sessions on Psychological Safety for LGIM America.
Many people and companies are dedicating themselves to transform their environment, goals, language, mindset, internal and external structures, and so many other things to embrace and benefit the diversity of our human family. What are effective qualities we should bring to a space to be more welcoming and embrace our differences as gifts? What are ineffective qualities we need to get rid of that make people shut down and leave? Transformation starts with you! |
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Marching for Peace in North Lawndale
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Watch youth and staff from Daniel Webster Elementary School demand for Peace in the neighborhood!
Board member, Nilufar Rezai, has been co-creating solutions with the Anti-Violence Youth Committee and many other youth groups at the school to help bring peace to the community. They conducted a Peace March and are laying the ground work to create a Peace Garden near the school. Organic Oneness is a part of Anti-Violence efforts at Webster Elementary along with UCAN and North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council. |
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Caring for the EarthSuch an amazing experience to witness children interacting with nature as we celebrated Earth Day with Webster Elementary, North Lawndale! Nilufar and youth organized a day of cleanup and gardening with prekindergarten-8th graders. Classrooms rotated throughout the day and worked on garden beds to clean, turn soil, and plant seeds.
We were honored to be among Openlands, Nordson Green Earth Foundation and all the children and staff of Webster Elementary for this day of service. |
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Day of Service for Teens in Bronzeville
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Organic Oneness is a part of the Bronzeville/South Lakefront My Chi My Future cohort. Spring Forward: Day of Service was a city-wide initiative in various neighborhoods for teens to conduct service projects during spring break. We conducted outdoor clean up projects at Ellis Park and Mandrake Park. All teens involved were able to get exclusive access to a Spring Break party at the Navy Pier Ballroom.
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Pedroso MLK Series
The Executive Director, Syda S. Taylor, was part of a panel discussion at El Centro-Northeastern Illinois University for Women's History Month. This series was created to both honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as well carry forward his call for; equity, peace and mobilization based in love. The goal is to hold up the legacy of women and honor the work of transforming our community. The panelist engage leadership within a holistic approach and shared their journey with students which included educational background up to their current roles.
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The Art of Collaboration
Creating Quality Partnerships
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Organic Oneness was a part of Equiticity's Community Mobility Rituals Webinar Series in April 2022.
The intent of the series is to share with the world what Community Mobility Rituals are; how they are planned and executed; the impact they are having on people, neighborhoods, cities, and community partners; and the research which supports intended and achieved impacts. The webinar series includes panelists from across the United States who are all practitioners actively organizing CMRs in their respective cities and communities. |
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Too Critical to Fail:
Tips for Working Effectively With Community-Based Organizations
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Syda was a part of a Webinar Hosted by UCAN for the American Psychological Association’s Minority Fellowship Program. She was on a panel with Dr. Carolyn Vessel, President and CEO of I AM A.B.L.E. and Pastor James Brooks, Harmony Baptist Church and CEO of Lawndale Christian Health Center where they gave their unique perspectives on topics of health, equity, community engagement, and partnerships. Claude Robinson VP, External Affairs and Diversity moderated the conversation then panelist and guest went deeper into conversation in breakout sessions.
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North Lawndale
Anti-Violence Youth Committee
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Students are raising awareness and combating the increase of violence, cleaning and beautifying open spaces, and honoring those that have been killed with a monument and wellness garden. The Department of Street and Sanitation visited the school and placed more garbage cans near the school after a phone call request from the students.
Our Board Member and Treasurer, Nilufar Rezai, is co-creating with students from Daniel Webster Elementary, Organic Oneness, UCAN, and North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council to begin an Anti-Violence Youth Committee. |
Over $22,000 Funds Raised for Arts Programming in Bronzeville!
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Organic Oneness reached out to our beloved network with a fundraising campaign to help students from Doolittle Elementary see Alvin Ailey Dance Theater perform at the Auditorium Theater and build an arts immersion program at the school. With the help of board members, many high profile supporter, and all of you, we raised over $22,000 in one weekend! Thank you Dr. Joy DeGruy, Rainn Wilson, and Liz Dwyer for pushing this campaign on your social media platforms, and Block Club Chicago for covering the story!
Block Club Chicago followed the story Article I , Article II : Syda Segovia Taylor, who is a dancer, said that when Jones suggested the trip to see the famed historically Black dance troupe live she jumped at the chance to help. “Music and dance activates the creative parts of our brain, and that’s not always activated through traditional classwork. We become solution-oriented. It opens up a whole new world of what’s possible,” Segovia Taylor said. |
Keeping the Dream Alive in Bronzeville!
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On Monday, January 17, 2022 from 9am until 12:30pm, Organic Oneness, Engage Civil Inc., and a multitude of private and public Bronzeville community partners hosted the 4th Annual King Day of Service: Bronzeville.
Approximately 175 volunteers of all ages gathered to hear and reflect on the words of Dr. King before they began their service projects at five different Chicago Public School buildings. For three hours they painted classrooms, cleaned and organized libraries, created 500 "Blessing Bags" for people without homes, and painted murals under the guidance of professional artists: Rahmaan “Statik” Barnes, Damon Reed, and Luthando Mazibuko. Vaccination were also offered resulting in 20 people being vaccinated. As part of the morning program, volunteers watched an uplifting video on how Bronzeville organizations are keeping the dream alive! 2022 Service Sites:
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Sponsors and Partners
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