KWANZAA CELEBRATION

Join us for an electrifying evening of art, activism, and community empowerment at our Kwanzaa Celebration! As part of our Making The Artivist® Level II program, advanced apprentices will present their powerful, Artivism projects spanning dance, visual arts, poetry, and more—each one tackling pressing social issues. With creativity and passion at the forefront, these young Artivists will pitch their ideas to a panel of professionals and a live audience for an opportunity secure funding to bring their projects to life.

Rooted in the Kwanzaa principles of Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility), and Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics), this event is more than a competition—it's a celebration of the power of collective action and artistic innovation to inspire real change.

Be part of the action by voting for the Audience Choice Awardee, while our panel of judges selects the top three winners. Your participation helps sustain our community engagement and education programs, ensuring a brighter, more just future for all.

EVENT DETAILS

Meet the Panelists

  • Joanna Furnans

    Chicago Dancemakers Forum

  • Dr. Thomas DeFrantz

    Northwestern University

  • Laura Paige-Kyber

    Museum of Contemporary Art

  • Phil Wood

    In The Making member

  • Alexis Williams

    BMO Harris Bank

INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF ARTIVISM

“An Artivist is an individual that uses their artistic genius to ignite social change. A Dance Artivist creatively uses the body and movement as tools to gain personal and collective freedom.”

~Vershawn Sanders-Ward, Founder and CEO