Jul 31st 2016

This Sunday, July 31st will feature performance and presentations by Maria Moon and Monica Cosby of Visible Voices and more!

Artist Jenny Polak’s podium is a deployable speakers’ corner that is both functional and symbolic. Installed and activated on the lawn of the Comfort Station for 5 weeks, it will provide a focus for presentations by local social justice groups including the summer youth program of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association on immigration issues and artist performers such as Diaz Lewis.

The Speakers’ Podium will travel to additional locations such as campuses in Chicago, to Gary, IN and other communities targeted by the for-profit prison industry’s ongoing Midwest expansion efforts. For information or to suggest a performance, visit www.jennypolak.com/podium-citizen-non-citizen/

Inspired by the effective coalition of citizens and immigrants/non-citizens who fought successfully to block the building of a new for-profit detention center by Corrections Corporation of America in Crete IL, the Speakers’ Podium’s contrasting two halves rely on each other. Suburban house collides with prison fence to invoke the needed voices and ever-presence of the incarcerated/detained among the free in a country that locks up 2 million.

Visible Voices is CLAIM’s (Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers) peer support and empowerment group. The group, run by and for formerly incarcerated women, is dedicated to building our skills, creating humane policy change and to advocating for incarcerated women. Visible Voices meets at the Grace House transitional home near the United Center on west Adams Street, at CLAIM, or at other locations for special events. Visible Voices members take part in events and discussions designed to help them rebuild their self-esteem, to engage their point of view and leverage their experience, and to empower them to take action. Incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women are too often told that their point of view doesn’t matter. Visible Voices reminds them that what they have to say is important and valued, and that they can make a difference.
For more information check out Cabrini Green Legal Aid

Please join us on the lawn for our last performance this Sunday at 2pm!

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