Poetiq Justiz is an annual poetry slam competition dedicated to the memory of Rekia Boyd and a celebration of the campaign for justice started by her brother Martinez Sutton. 2020’s commemoration was filmed in partnership with Women’s All Points Bulletin, WAPB, a non-profit 501c3 organization; The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Art Therapy and Counseling department; Jane Addams Hull-House Museum; A Long Walk Home, and filmmakers Martin Hernandez and Malcolm Harlan. The film features Alycia Kamil (Poetic Justice Winner 2019), Martinez “Jesus Bother“ Sutton, Trezo, Demireo, Taylore Norwood, Jonathan Williams (Poetic Justice Winners 2019), Ric Wilson, and Sa Les.

The backdrop to the performances is Hull-House’s exhibition True Peace: the Presence of Justice featuring artists activist Monica Trinidad and activist and photography Sarah-Ji. These partnerships continue JAHHM efforts to commemorate the centennial of the passage of the 19th Amendment and examine women’s leadership and activism in 2020 and beyond.

Watch the trailer and learn more about Poetic Justice and A Long Walk Home below. Look out for the complete performances coming soon!

Care Sessions: Dream Boards and Bonnets #DREAMUP

Care Sessions uses a peer-support approach to community mental health and a Black feminist ecological framework to facilitate community care and arts-activism. Students lead research, programming, outreach and community partnerships to create events for Chicago families and communities who have been impacted by interpersonal and state violence. The project began in 2017, led by SAIC faculty Leah Gipson (Art Therapy and Counseling Department) and Pascale Williams (Arts Administration and Policy Department), Awera Winters (Justice for Families BLM Chicago), Aislinn Pulley (Chicago Torture Justice Center), and Amika Big Tree Tendaji (Black Lives Matter Chicago).

Care Session: Dream Boards and Bonnets #DREAMUP

A community care session to dream of the safety, well-being and freedom for Black girls and women. This Care Session featured a conversation with Cris Noel (Women’s All Point Bulletin WAPB) and Martinez “Jesus Bother“ Sutton about music, healing and the in progress film “Poetique Justiz,“ and art making to create dream boards and dream bonnets. Audience could follow along with #DreamUp to participate.

Hosted by faculty and students at SAIC and community partners: A Long Walk Home, BYP100, Women’s All Point Bulletin WAPB

Poetiq Justiz

The first Poetiq Justiz competition, held at the South Side Community Art Center in 2015, began the tradition of reaching back to women leaders in art, education, and justice by calling upon Margaret Burroughs’ spirit to lift and protect “Words that Fire.”

A Long Walk Home