Our 2nd Annual Black and Brown Solidarity was successful! We had over a hundred people attend the event to experience cultural food, dancing, music, and more!
The event opened with a moving spoken word performance by one of the youth on the B&B committee, Itzel. Right after was the reveal of the mural painting, made by Gabe, Amie, and Yekseny. The Mural, titled "Under the Same Sun," features vibrant colors of reds, oranges, and yellows. The imagery - hands formed in fists, raised in unity. This mural is to show that when we come together as a community, from different backgrounds, we come together as one and become stronger. Additionally, there was more artwork that ranged from self-drawn portraits and paintings. Thirteen youth artists from Proviso Township submitted their work! Additionally, we had various foods and desserts from Black and Brown cultures for guests to enjoy while appreciating the art. Tacos Regio also provided delicious tacos for event attendees! After the mural reveal, the B&B youth committee introduced community circles, explaining the importance of community healing. Soon, four circles formed at every table, with community members of different ethnicities, generations, and towns. To end the night of performances, dancers blended a variety of music styles, transforming them into dances that combined hip-hop, salsa, reggaeton, and more. The night was filled with so many aspects of culture; it was beautiful to see them all put together.
The committee also invited various non-profits to share their mission and services. Yosoyella, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting women’s emotional and mental healing. People also had fun at the Picture Perfect Photobooth, led by Radiant Vessels Community Services, capturing memories to take home in photo strips. The event wrapped up with an exciting raffle, where we announced the winners of Cubs tickets, a birthday party at Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor, a slow cooker, and others.
A heartfelt thank you to the youth committee for their dedication to this event, and we are also grateful for all our guests who came and showed their support!
