NEWSLETTER April, 2018
VOICES FROM THE INSIDE
If you have words, stories and arts you want to share from behind the prison walls, please write to us at: Chicago Torture Justice Center, 641 W. 63rd St. Chicago, IL 60621.
UPDATES ON MEMORIAL PROCESS Please join our sister organization, Chicago Torture Justice Memorials (CTJM), on April 28th! It will be an opportunity to discuss ideas, location and visions for a memorial to survivors and families of Chicago Police Torture. CTJM will share out what they've learned so far and show slides of memorials around the world and local Chicago artists they hope to commission for the memorial. Over the years Chicago Torture Justice Memorials (CTJM) has discussed the importance of a memorial in honor of the history and struggle of survivors of police torture and their families. Since the passage of the Reparations Ordinance in 2015, CTJM has been researching the best processes to create the memorial. After much discussion and discernment in the summer of 2017, they gathered to share images of memorials from around the world, they talked about memorials here in Chicago and eventually decided to commission a small group of artists — all Chicagoans— to develop plans for a memorial. This means CTJM will pay artists to develop plans on paper and/or small models of the memorial. From there they would use a community process to select a final artwork to create the memorial.
In addition to the important work of selecting a group of potential artists CTJM has been discussing and researching options of where to locate the memorial. They met with former and current officials from the park district to learn about the limits and issues of having a memorial on city owned land versus buying land (and maintaining) to house the memorial. Simultaneously, they have been interviewing survivors and family members about locations and visions for a memorial. To do this CTJM drafted questions about what a memorial could look like, where it should be, and what it should do for people visiting it (such as, tell a history, honor survivors, be a place of reflection or action). They used the questions to interview some of you and also sent the questions to survivors still in prison. The interviews were listened to, read, and analyzed for shared answers and themes that represent the hopes the community has for the memorial. CTJM will present this information at the meeting on April 28. They will also share it with artists that they will commission for the project. They knew that artists would need to hear directly from you to create the best proposal possible. Continued on Page 2
Wednesday, April 4th Survivors of Police Torture Support Group 1pm to 2:30pm at CTJC (open to survivors of police torture) Thursday, April 5th Family of Survivors of Police Torture Support Group 6pm to 7:30pm at CTJC (open to survivors of police torture) Monday, April 9th Police Violence Support Group 1pm to 2:30pm at CTJC (open to anyone impacted by police violence)
HEALING
Monday, April 2nd Police Violence Support Group 1pm to 2:30pm at CTJC (open to anyone impacted by police violence)
ACTIVITY
UPCOMING EVENTS
Saturday, April 14th RISE Community Meeting 10am to 12pm at CTJC (open to anyone impacted by police violence)
The healing activity above was borrowed from, My Unapologetic Emotional Awareness Guide, a zine by Bria Royal. For more of Bria's work, visit www.briaroyal.com
Monday, April 16th Police Violence Support Group 1pm to 2:30pm at CTJC (open to anyone impacted by police violence)
TRANSITIONS AND (RE)INTRODUCTIONS
Wednesday, April 18th Survivors of Police Torture Support Group 1pm to 2:30pm at CTJC (open to anyone impacted by police violence) Thursday, April 19th Speakers Bureau Training 3pm to 6pm at CTJC (open to survivors and family members) Monday, April 23rd Police Violence Support Group 1pm to 2:30pm at CTJC (open to anyone impacted by police violence) Saturday, April 28th Chicago Torture Justice Memorial: Meeting on Memorial Update 2:30pm to 4:30pm at Arts Incubator (301 E. Garfield) (open to anyone impacted by police violence) Monday, April 30th Police Violence Support Group 1pm to 2:30pm at CTJC (open to anyone impacted by police violence)
UPDATES ON MEMORIAL PROCESS Continued from Page 1
By April 28th CTJM will be able to share: a) what they’ve learned from the interviews b) they will show memorials from around the globe that honor survivors and victims of state violence and c) they will show art from Chicago artists they would like to commission to make a memorial proposal. Last but not least, CTJM wants to gather any last ideas, images, or visions for what a memorial should do! The meeting will take place from 2:30pm – 4:30pm at the Arts Incubator (301 E. Garfield, Chicago, IL). Soul food lunch will be provided. Check www.chicagotorturejustice.org for more info.
PLEASE DONATE: Interested in supporting the Center or having a survivor, family member, or staff come speak in your community? Our website has been updated to include a donation button and a speaker request form. www.chicagotorturejustice.org
Message from the Board: The Center’s Board of Directors has developed—with significant input from the Survivor and Family Advisory Council and the Center’s Staff—a search process for the new executive director and a design process for developing the Center’s strategic plan. These processes will both continue to involve the voices and input of staff, survivors, family members, and allies. We look forward to continuing to grow this vision with all of you, and thank you for your support. Message from Rodney: As we enter into the spring season of our collective works together, I look forward to partnering with you all as the Center’s Interim Executive Director as we continue to create a space that offer's healing, wellness, and opportunities for community connection. Thank you for your support.
FAMILY MEMBER OF A SURVIVOR? Have you felt the loss and pain of having a family member incarcerated or survive police violence? If yes, please come out and join a group of family members who share similar experiences. Our Family Support Meeting is on the first Thursday of every month. See ‘Upcoming Events’ for details.
HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Led by the Survivor and Family Advisory Council, RISE—Realizing and Implementing Strategies to End Police Violence—held their first open community meeting on Saturday, March 10th. Energy was ecstatic, and participants have already begun narrowing down the issues the community group will advocate for. This was our first open community meeting, and we NEED YOUR HELP TO SPREAD THE WORD! If you are impacted by police violence, directly or indirectly, please join us for the next RISE meeting on Saturday, April 14th from 10-12pm at Center. Share on your social media networks, and let your friends, neighbors, and colleagues it’s happening. If you need flyers, please email Cindy at cindy@chicagotorturejustice.org.