FOLDED MAP PROJECT

DURING 2024, FOLDED MAP ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES IN SERVICE OF ITS MISSION: 1. FOLDED MAP DEEPENED PARTNERSHIPS AND CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUTREACH TO EDUCATORS, PROVIDING THEM WITH THE FOLDED MAP CURRICULUM AND CONDUCTING WORKSHOPS THAT INTRODUCED TEACHERS AND STUDENTS TO FOLDED MAP AS AN ART PROJECT EXPLORING SEGREGATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORIES. THESE ENGAGEMENTS HELPED EDUCATORS LEAD REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION ABOUT SYSTEMIC INEQUITY AND PROMOTED CROSS-COMMUNITY UNDERSTANDING. 2. FOLDED MAP CONTINUED ITS ONGOING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS ACROSS A VARIETY OF SECTORS INCLUDING SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, AND CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION CONDUCTED MORE THAN 80 ENGAGEMENTS, INCLUDING SPEAKING EVENTS, PUBLIC PROGRAMS AND PRESS FEATURES, ALL AIMED AT EDUCATING RESIDENTS ABOUT SYSTEMIC SEGREGATION AND ENCOURAGING CROSS-NEIGHBORHOOD CONNECTIONS AND PERSPECTIVES. THESE ENGAGEMENTS SUPPORTED DIALOGUE THAT CHALLENGED BARRIERS BETWEEN COMMUNITIES AND PROMOTED A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF CHICAGO'S SHARED HISTORY. 3. THROUGH PROJECTS SUCH AS FOLDED MAP, INEQUITY FOR SALE, AND UNBLOCKED ENGLEWOOD, FOLDED MAP CONTINUED TO ADVANCE THE FIELD OF REPARATIVE ART AND ITS INFLUENCE ON HOUSING JUSTICE IN CHICAGO. THESE INITIATIVES POSITIONED THE ORGANIZATION'S LEADERSHIP AS A RECOGNIZED EXPERT IN USING ART TO ILLUMINATE SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES AND BOLSTER CROSS-SECTOR CONVERSATIONS ABOUT COMMUNITY-LED SOLUTIONS. 4. IN 2024, FOLDED MAP HELPED FIRMLY ESTABLISH THE ENGLEWOOD ARTS COLLECTIVE (EAC) AS AN ARTS AND CULTURE STEWARD BY PROVIDING FISCAL SPONSORSHIP AND THOUGHT PARTNERSHIP TO SUPPORT ITS ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE. EAC PRODUCED PUBLIC PROGRAMS THAT CELEBRATED THE POWER OF ENGLEWOOD ARTISTS AS LEADERS AND CHANGEMAKERS, LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR ITS FORMAL INTEGRATION AS THE CREATIVE PLACEMAKING ARM OF FOLDED MAP IN 2025.