What We Built Together

"Until the lion writes their own story, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter."

-African Proverb

The ConTextos Authors Circle was developed in collaboration with young people at risk of, victims of, or perpetrators of violence in El Salvador. In 2017, this innovative program expanded into Chicago to create tangible, high-quality opportunities that nourish the minds, expanding the voices and sharing personal truths of individuals who have long been underserved and underestimated. Through the healing process of

LION SPEAKS

drafting, revising and publishing memoirs, participants develop self-reflection, critical thinking, camaraderie and positive self-projection to author new life narratives.

This project is the result of a partnership with Public Allies, “a national movement committed to advancing social justice and equity by engaging and activating the leadership of all people." The 2024-2025 cohort of emerging leaders came together in Authors Circle fully ready to engage, be candid, and share their authentic selves and truths. What you hold in your hands is a result of that weekly commitment.

The glory of Authors Circle is what happens in session—this is immeasurable and unquanitifable growth and relationship building. This compilation is our best estimation and representation of the hard work and bravery exhibited in that most cherished space. Turn the pages and enjoy.

3

INTRODUCTION

It has been a marvelous honor facilitating this year's Public Allies Circle.

We have learned so much about each other through engaging in the centuries long tradition of sharing stories around the bonfire. We just like to call this tradition Authors Circle. Every Authors Circle I've facilitated thus far always has its own character, a unique energy and taste that develops from the meaningful emotional labor people put into it. From the daring ability to be vulnerable when the powers that be tell you not to.

This Public Allies circle has a stand-out characteristic of resilience. The ability to show up in the face of external forces that have disrupted the work we're all doing to make the world a better place. The ability to speak out when told to be quiet. As a circle they have inspired me with their ability to imagine a future.They are the change makers we need to imagine our future.

Knowing that the work of imagination and worldbuilding is our collective responsibility. Our conversations have filled me with hope and activated me on a whole nother level. They embody the assumption that the world we want to exist has the potential to exist if we will it to. A world that is bright and built on the foundations of true care. One that holds us all with the same importance and nourishment. One that relies on an abundant mindset, knowing that there is solidarity, light, and love for everyone. One that we built together.

Ahnika Franklin ConTextos Facilitator

6

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION AJ ASHLEY DASHUN DEBANIE DEMETRIA DORIAN HEAVEN JOVANNA KALAND KAMYA KARIZMA KASSANDRA KHALIL KYERA LAAVIONA OZELLE

6 9 14 17 19 21 25 28 31 34 36 40 44 46 48 50 53

SEE(D) THE WORLD YOU WANNA GROW.

AJ 9

AJ

Untapped treasure Gold buried in backyard tincans Of cookies and candies These hands that loved me so

LEGACY GARDENS

Also fought, Resisted, persisted through Racism and violence and poverty To bring me nourishment To bring me home Frontyard gardens With sunflowers toppling over metallic silver fences Underporch adventures While uncle planted for tomorrow, And days he’d never see And those plants grew back, Year after year, even untended Insisting to rise into a new season Fortified by soils prepared by a tender man Tending the ground

10

AJ

How ya doin?

In this climate?

In this economy?

Head underwater and you tell me to breathe easy for a while Alright, I’ll tell you…

Tryna hold it down

SINCE YOU ASKED

Tryna figure out what we can come up with To upend this deadly regime Band of thieves Prowlin on the grandmas and grandpas Takin Medicaid So they can make our brothas slaves Yes, that’s the plan Project 2025, read all about it It’s written in ink And in the halls of legislation Congress The ones who decide the rules we followin Democracy for sale To whoever funds the campaign trail Whoever signs the book deal gets to tell the public a tale Sell an American Dream Manifest Destiny to colonize, compromise, and exploit our God given rights…

11

AJ

But let me not catastrophize We have a choice, there are options that may delay

SINCE YOU ASKED (CONT.)

Demise Organize.

Okay, cool word; but what do we gotta do?

Talk to your family and neighbors Build a local support network Stay in tune with what’s happening: research, compare notes, call out corruption Be Aware Enact Strategy Boldly Act Persist Until We Win Even in the midst of darkness, Especially then, Imagine where you are going Remember where you have been

WHERE I’M GOING (LET’S GO TOGETHER)

The horror of the present moment will never contend with Imagination, assurance, hope We are the ones we’ve been waiting for We are the seeds grown from soils of resistance We are more than we’ve ever been Here for a reason Called for purpose We are bigger than this moment I imagine a world where all are housed, fed, and cared for And I know we are arriving there Because we’re building this world, Day by day, Choice by choice Let’s dream together Let’s build together

12

AJ

Cycles have begun, cycles are ending Here I am again, having changed My life continues lives lived before

OUR 24 MEMOIRS IN 144 MOMENTS

Tapping into ancestral connections; who’s there?

Spirals of lifetimes lived in decades The scope of my lens changed What comes next for my life?

The futures depend on present decision Out of my head, onto canvas Let my words flow with ease I have stories to tell: listen The stories I wished to hear Can’t get the time back; go!

Tune in to everpresent ancestral whispers Redeeming the time, in divine timing All is happening in divine timing In community, we have everything - peace How about zooming out, little one?

Free Palestine, Free Congo, Free Sudan Free Haiti, Free them All, Landback Free all political prisoners, my people Never had a chance, took one Look who’s coming behind, live better

13

LOVE IS SIMPLE, GOD WAS VULNERABLE.

Ashley 14

ASHLEY

I’m the legacy of my grandmother’s prayers.

I’m the legacy of my grandfather’s sacrifice and prideful character.

I’m the sacrifice of sweety cotton.

I’m the sacrifice of physical labor.

LEGACY

I’m the sacrifice of rice, beans and chicken.

I’m the sacrifice of forced birth.

I’m the sacrifice of religious faith.

When I think of sacrifices that have awarded the gift of life. I think beyond my parents but acknowledging their seen struggles and heard hopes.

Sometimes my mind doesn’t have thoughts of my blood lineage, which sometimes forces me to adopt or appreciate global larger sacrifices from the general people. I wish we talked about my ancestors more. How do we say ain't nothing like family, family comes first, or family over everything if we don’t discuss our history.

15

ASHLEY

Since you asked, I’ll tell you why I’m so indecisive.

Because it’s too many food options.

Because sometimes I can afford the fast food or comfort food.

Because I’m just not confident.

Because I’m so uncertain about everything.

Because sometimes I’m slim and other days I feel like a whale.

SINCE YOU ASKED

Because I love both my mom and dad but I love the thought of having peace more.

Because I saved my dad’s life.

Because if I hadn’t debated for so long, the outcome could’ve been different.

Because no matter what I decide there’s always doubt, guilt and the question of what if Because my decisions affect you.

Because my decisions impact generations.

Because I have to consider my legacy.

Because. Because. Because.

What does this word mean?

Explaining why? Isn’t the why the same.

Or should the why change?

See, indecisive! There’s too many decisions and a large impact and I have to decide.

16

BRAVER, WISER, KINDER— BECAUSE I PERSEVERED.

dashun 17

WHERE I’M GOING

SINCE YOU ASKED

IN THE MIDST OF CRUMBLING

DASHUN

As I observe and reflect on the world around me, I’ve come to understand that my actions are the primary architects of my reality. Before I allow thought to become action, I carefully consider the potential impact of each decision.

While many recognize me as a problem solver, I see myself as someone who seeks meaning both beneath and beyond the surface of every experience.

In the midst of a crumbling society, I am committed to building a strong and thoughtful foundation. One grounded in intellect, insight, and purpose.

Since you don’t know, I guess I’ll share.

I get bored with the question “what do you want to be when you grow up?”

I don’t know why, but I seem to not have the answer.

What I am certain of; is that I have a vision of a man taking care of responsibilities.

What I do know is anything I do put my mind to, I will receive the fruits from my labor.

Time is of essence and in due time, my projects will be a blessing.

Thinking of who I want to be is a rejection to who I am and what I’m going to be.

I am moving forward with a heart for the people and a vision rooted in wellness. My path leads toward stronger communities; where leadership is shaped by service, and health is seen as a right, not a privilege. Through fitness, nutrition, and advocacy, I am building a future where every voice is heard, everybody is empowered, and the strength we create together becomes the foundation for lasting change.

18

BORN DOUBTED. LIVING PROOF THEY’RE WRONG.

debanie 19

DEBANIE

SINCE YOU ASKED

Because if I go to you, you might try to kill me

LEGACY

Since you asked, I’ll tell you why

I am the legacy of hard working people. The legacy of, “get up and go get

Because if asked you, “what’s the reason?” you might say I'm aggressive Because if I try to discipline my children, you might try to take them away from me Because if I call, you you might turn on me Because if color didn't matter, then why ask?

Because why do it feel the scariest around you when I’m supposed to feel the safest?

Because you asked, I told you why...

it.” The legacy of look good while you’re doing. The legacy of, “lock in, stay focused.” The legacy of true family. The legacy of, “you can do anything you put your mind to.: The legacy of me. The legacy that I plan on adding to and making it better. The legacy I will create for mine.

20

DON’T LOOK BACK. YOUR FUTURE’S WAITING.

Demetria 21

DEMETRIA

We are full because we ate.

No coincidences, because we have fate.

On the green grass, yellow tape.

6 WORD MEMOIR POEM

There are things I cannot escape I’m always on time, never late.

Sometimes I ponder near the lake Thinking of things I can escape Embrace things I can control Letting go of things I hold Allowing hands I trust to mold Me, myself and I wont fold Sharing stories that I’ve never told While sitting outside feeling very cold I want to be courageous , bold.

Leading with love, always and forever Taking a step,day by day Every step counts to becoming better Birds of a feather flock together I‘ll shine no matter the weather

22

DEMETRIA

I’m going to meet my dreams in reality.

Do the things I never thought of.

Meet people I’ve never met.

WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

I’m going to encourage others to do the same.

I want the world to be more loving and kind.

Without the earth there is no us.

We are building new traditions and ways of life in place of the old ones that are crumbling.

Bringing back historic traditions stolen and lost.

We are constantly building communities that reproduce ideas to improve ourselves and the land we stand on.

With hopes that people interact with each other with more awareness for oneself and others.

Treat others how you want to be treated.

Structure ourselves in a way that we could never break apart.

I see myself aiming to be better than the old me.

I see myself continuing to build on my foundation so that I can never be broken.

Only strong enough to strengthen others and the world.

Where am I going?

I am going to keep on keeping on day by day.

Actively praying for a better tomorrow.

23

DEMETRIA

Since you asked I’ll tell you why I am who I am.

Because my parents raised me this way Because hurricane Katrina moved us here

SINCE YOU ASKED

Because I’m the first born Because I’m allergic to peanuts Because I was bullied so much that I didn’t love myself to the point that I wanted to be someone else Because my dad is a pastor Because I was always the tallest in elementary in middle school.

Because I love to crochet Because I’ve traveled abroad.

Because my grandma left school in the fourth grade to help her family make ends meet Because I cut my hair senior year at high school Because I went to camp Because I grew up in Wisconsin Because I love nature Because I went back to New Orleans for college.

24

GUIDED BY PURPOSE, GROWING THROUGH SERVICE. ROOTS IN JUSTICE, HEART IN YOUTH. STEPS WITH VISION, ALWAYS BECOMING.

dorian 25

DORIAN

I am the legacy of Shirley and Eugene visionaries with steady hands and open hearts.

From behind the counter of Dave’s Red Hots, they served more than meals

WHO AM I A LEGACY OF?

they served hope, community, and a future their grandchildren could hold.

Their work was never just business.

It was love folded into every bun, wealth passed down not just in dollars, but in dignity, resilience, and pride.

Because of them, I walk with purpose.

I dream with legacy in mind.

I build not just for myself, but for the children who will one day ask where they come from.

And I’ll tell them— you come from fire, from faith, from family.

26

DORIAN We came from drums from sun-warmed soil From chains unbroken

SINCE YOU ASKED

Hearts that toil Yet here we stand Not hand in hand Who stands for us when we divide?

Color shades war with each other Brother turned cold against brother Dreams sold cheap for fleeting fame While our elders whisper, “Not the same” Still, in the cracks a seed might grow If watered right, if love we show But first we face what keeps us chained

WORLD I WANT TO SEE

The quiet war, we’ve self sustained

The world I want to see is a world that represents what it stands for.

If America is the Land of the Free then equality should mean just that.

There are no double standards, no privilege.

There are no sundown towns in 2025.

There aren’t any men making decisions on women’s bodies.

Schools in the hood get the same funding as schools in the hills.

Prisons won’t decide their next infrastructure based on a third graders reading test.

Felons won’t be able to run for president.

Unity wouldn’t be so unattainable.

27

LAUGHED UNTIL TEARS. LOVED WITHOUT LIMITS.

heaven 28

HEAVEN

Who am I? I am a legacy of grit and grace, of love wrapped in discipline.

The youngest, yes, but never the smallest.

I carry the wisdom of my mother’s prayers, the steady presence of my papa’s lessons, and the layered truths of my father’s love.

I am the child of three hearts who taught me how to rise while still learning how to breathe.

LEGACY

Who stood in the fire so I could walk through the smoke.

I am a Black queer woman, raised in a world that tried to shrink me but I expanded.

Built in resistance, softened by love, shaped by survival.

They raised me while wrestling their own storms, and still made room for me to bloom.

So I don’t just survive I honor.

I don’t just speak I echo.

I am a living tribute to those who loved me forward.

I am the promise they poured into, made flesh and fierce.

29

HEAVEN

Since you asked I’ll tell you what it’s like to carry roots in a backpack, to leave pieces of yourself behind in zip codes that forgot your name before you could remember theirs.

I’ve grown in transit flowering through car windows, learning to hold my breath in unfamiliar hallways, packing resilience into boxes and calling it home.

Love never came easy.

It arrived in riddles, in the hush of slammed doors,

SINCE YOU ASKED

in the silence after someone called me too much, too soft, too queer, too Black, too alive.

Safety was not a room I could lock.

It was a feeling I had to build from scratch in my voice, in my spine, in the way I learned to hold myself when the world could not.

Still, I grew.

Bent sometimes.

Cracked, yes.

But rooted.

Not despite the storms but because of them.

So if you’re asking who I am know I am a constellation of every goodbye, every almost-home, every fight to feel worthy of rest and love without apology.

Since you asked I’m still becoming.

But even in motion, I am whole.

30

BUILT ON FAITH, NOT ON FEAR.

Jovanna 31

JOVANNA

I don’t know everything about my family’s past, the full story, the struggles,

LOVE TURN AROUND

or the dreams left unfinished. But what I do know is this: I am the turning point.

My family has done beautiful things. They started restaurants, barbershops, small businesses, seeds of greatness. But those seeds were never fully watered. The growth stopped before it could reach the next generation.

That changes with me.

I carry their ambition in my blood. I carry their sacrifice in my bones. I’m not here to let the legacy fade. I’m here to expand it. To elevate it. To honor it by building something that lasts.

It doesn’t stop with me, it starts with me.

NO VALUES NO FAMILY

We don’t love each other the way we should.

We don’t keep one another company, or offer comfort when it’s needed most.

We don’t sit and talk for hours, sharing stories and laughter.

We don’t gather at one table for family dinners.

We don’t exchange warmth and good energy the way we ought to.

We don’t share the bond a true family should.

We don’t have it now but one day, we will.

32

JOVANNA

I want to see a world in harmony, Where peace flows like rivers to the sea.

A world not torn by hate on fear

THE WORLD I WANT TO SEE

But filled with love, sincere and clear.

When life begins, a single cry, Becomes a song that lights the sky.

And through the years, with joy and grace, Laughter lights the human race.

I dream a place where purpose calls Where every soul stands proud and tall No masks, no lies to twist the truth Each heart beats strong from age to youth.

We are a unity, we are the same, One world, one voice, one sacred flame.

Bound by hope and shared desire, To lift each other, rising higher.

This is the world I long to see A place where all can simply be.

No greater dream no deeper pleas A world in peace, for you and me.

33

DEATH IS TEMPORARY. LIFE IS FOREVER.

WRONG TURNS LEAD TO DESTINED PLACES.

kaland 34

KALAND The Legacy of Black Soldiers.

WHO OR WHAT AM I THE LEGACY OF?

Black Excellence.

I am the Legacy of those who fought for something and died for nothing.

The Legacy of Leaders.

The Legacy of those without a voice, who spent more time trying to speak than being heard or understood.

The Legacy of Nurses.

The Legacy of Laughter.

The Legacy of Love.

The Legacy of Truth in my bloodline and the duty to uphold that to the best of my ability.

A Legacy of Courage And A Legacy Youth.

All these things I pass down from and give to you….

Since you asked I’ll tell you why, I’m always so tired: Because I’m always on my phone Because the only time I have to think in a day is when my head hits the

SINCE YOU ASKED

pillow Because I have to revenge scroll to feel like I had time for me in a day Because it’s been going on for years Because instant gratification gets addicting Because I just ate a few hours ago and now I’m hungry again Because I need time to process my emotions Because on the R&B side, Drake and Partynextdoor got it fasho Because I feel better when I grieve alone Because my mother and grandfather need help and I’m the one to deliver Because I’m overstimulated Because somehow at 3am every night my mind is running a million miles a minute Because I have insomnia Because I take on so many things at once Because truthfully… I don’t know 35

PORCH TALKS, CORNER STORES, SUMMER NIGHTS.

kamya 36

KAMYA “The architect” She was born in the 1940s, down South, where the heat didn’t just rise from the pavement, it pressed in from all sides— from signs that said “Whites Only,” from glances that lingered too long, from laws that didn’t see her as fully human, but she always saw herself as something more.

She didn’t pick cotton— she picked herself up, every day.

LEGACY

Picked up her siblings, eight of them, one by one, held them like promises she refused to break.

She didn’t just survive the South.

She carried dignity through closed doors and tight corners, taught herself how to walk through a world that never made space for her and claim it anyway.

Then came Chicago.

Not in a Cadillac or with a suitcase of dreams— no.

She came with a vision, a fierce kind of focus, and hands that already knew how to hold the weight of a future.

37

KAMYA

Eight children of her own.

Eight.

Each one carved from her patience, her power, her prayers whispered into night shifts and early mornings.

And they made it.

All of them.

Because she didn’t bend to what the world said she couldn’t do.

LEGACY (CONT.)

She broke the odds open and rebuilt them in her own image.

She didn’t need applause.

She needed results.

And now we are those results— walking, breathing legacy with her fire in our lungs and her strength in our bones.

So when you speak her name, say it with pride.

Say it like a hymn, like the foundation every generation still stands on.

She wasn’t just our grandmother.

She was the architect of everything good we came from.

38

KAMYA

Mother, since you asked why I’m so shy It’s because you never gave me the chance to learn.

Because you called it protection when it was really control.

Because you kept the doors locked when I needed to look out.

Because you said, the world is dangerous, but never taught me how to walk through it.

Because every decision I made was yours.

Because I never got to make mistakes when the cost was small.

Because when it was finally my time to go out there—

SINCE YOU ASKED

I didn’t know how.

Because I was scared.

Because I trusted the wrong voices.

Because I followed the wrong crowd.

Because I didn’t have anyone to guide me.

Because you were always the voice, but never the hand that let go.

Because I only learned freedom when it hurt.

Because you gave me rules, not reasons.

Because I grew up in a box, and the world felt like a jungle.

Because every step outside felt like falling.

Because you didn’t teach me to fly— just to fear the sky.

Because I had to unlearn silence before I could speak.

Because I had to meet pain before I met myself.

Because I’m still learning how to live without looking over my shoulder.

39

SEEDS OF SOLIDARITY ARE LIVING EVERYWHERE.

karizma 40

KARIZMA

Water was always a place for you to find yourself Soil was always a place to pour your heart into

REMEMBER SHAME WAS NEVER YOUR FIRST FEELING

And Both spaces were always your reminder that living was the first feeling you experienced The older you get you remind yourself that stories take time to unlearn whether it comes someone else's perspective or old stories you told yourself may you remember sitting in grandmas steps blowing bubbles the feeling of joy may you remember the feeling of the love of walking into sacred keepers on Saturdays reminding you the feeling of anger is not something to dismiss but to make space for to allow people to hold with you to heal from may you remember traveling to Mexico, Africa, Puerto Rico, and across different states with the feeling of the excitement to learn from others may you remember your 19th birthday and the ode you promised yourself to never let go of the feeling of coming home may you remember the experience of what the the farm apprenticeship taught you about the feeling of patience and trusting in the land to guide you may you remember public allies for the feeling of community is to be met with compassion And may you remember when you get to the place of feeling shame In moments that tried to make you feel small In moments that tried to silence you In moments that felt too overwhelming to process In moments that made you feel it was safer to be in your mind than to exist in this world May you remember your power to reflect, reimagine, and transform

41

KARIZMA First let us gather to take a collective breathe and listen to what we discover in each other's stories This will be the groundwork for our next steps.

We are going to create a vision together and think about how the stories that are told to the next generations honor who we are.

Let our rage grow into flowers across households as they have the resources to sustain their quality of living Let our grief grow into flowers across places that allow people to come

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

together to heal and connect us back to our ancestors Let our joy grow flowers across neighborhoods being full of murals where people see themselves Let our solidarity grow flowers across communities as we remind ourselves of our agency in making a space, ecosystem, and world function And let the seeds being planted everyday affirm that all the flower of emotions + people are supported this is world a place where we can find collaboration across the world to cultivate relationships that nourish each other where everyone is held in a vessel that is poured into from everyones energy from everyones wisdom from every ones creativity from everyones dreams from everyone's gifts and skills and from where we discover together what will take care of our wellbeings is each other 42

KARIZMA

Listen To Learn Honor Harvest Cultivate Imagine

LESSONS FOR LEGACY

Curiosity Trust Care And never forget to do it In community With community For community while maintaining your heart your mind your spirit your integrity so that you never lose sight that everyone and you deserve a world that is filled with freedom from the land to the the sea to the cement to the sky

43

DROPPING SEEDS. AWAITING BLOOMS. PLUCKING FRUIT.

SEMBRANDO SEMILLAS. ESPERANDO FLORECER. RECOGIENDO FRUTA.

kassandra 44

KASSANDRA Roots that cross lands Roots that connect despite time, despite borders Roots that ground me to stories before there was me But there was always a me… in them Those whose strides made the path less treacherous to walk Those who couldn’t see it, but knew my time would come As I live… breathe… love… struggle… but continue on As I live a legacy for those who follow beyond my time I choose to carry these stories but to leave behind what doesn’t serve I choose to break from that, which has held us back, pinned us down

LEGACY

and didn’t allow us to soar as far as the sky allows These roots don’t define me, but they hold me like a warm embrace that reminds me of all we were capable of and all that we… I have yet to realize

Raices que cruzan tierra Raices Raices que me conectan a cuentos que existeian antes de mi Pero siempre existeia yo…en ellos Que sus pasos hiceron el camino mas facil a caminar Por que no los pudieron ver, superion que mi tiempo iba venir Por que vivo…respiro… amo…y pero sigo ____ Por que vivo como una Elegio

45

THE JOURNEY IS PAINFUL, YET PURPOSEFUL.

khalil 46

KHALIL I’m just a kid from a city where survival is a daily decision, where corruption runs deep and options run thin. I didn’t choose the weight I carry—but I chose not to be crushed by it. As the firstborn, expectations weren’t handed to me—they were etched into my skin. I’ve walked streets that tried

LEGACY

to claim me, but I followed a greater light.

Through faith in Christ, I found purpose. Through pressure, I found strength.

I became a leader not by title, but by action—serving the very community that shaped me. I earned a degree not just for myself, but for every ancestor who dreamed in silence. I see my grandfather in the mirror—his resilience in my spirit, his legacy in my steps.

I am the firstborn. I am the breakthrough. I am the beginning of what’s

WHERE AM I GOING?

SINCE YOU ASKED

possible.

Since you asked... sometimes I ask myself Do I pray to listen or to speak?

I know He’s always watching and listening I know that He knows my heart and I know I can’t go back to where He delivered me from.

I know I can’t earn my way into the kingdom, honestly fulfilling His purpose is all I care about.

What is the world you want to see?

Imagine a world that wasn’t corrupted. A place filled with Christ, love and peace. People teaching with righteousness and healthy doctrine. No, this place is not prideful. It’s not a world where everyone is selfish. Individual sharing resources don’t gate keep. I'm not saying this world is perfect and it has no flaws, but everyone is on the same page and wants to live peacefully, healthy, genuine, faith, driven, and positively influenced. Money isn’t the main objective or focus, but people can live without stress.

47

HEARING THE SILENCE MADE ME SPEAK.

Kyera 48

WHERE I’M GOING

KYERA

Bring your ID, it’s RSVP. Where I’m going I need nobody stopping me It’s invite only, come to smile, check your attitude, you’ll be here for a while.

It’s invite only, I hope my people there, we should've came together Some that’s rare. Please bring your ID, ion wanna get turned around It’s a long walk to the front, and a slow walk coming down

49

LIVE YOUR LIFE, LIKE NOBODY’S WATCHING.

Laaviona 50

WHERE I’M GOING

LAAVIONA

I am going to get everything that is meant for me.

Everything that has my name on it.

Everything that feels right for me.

Unapologetically.

I am going to get everything the world has to offer for me.

I am going to build the life I envision for myself, for myself.

And I am going to attract and welcome my success to me.

In life, I am going to be the change I would like to see in the world.

Since you asked, I’ll tell you a little about me.

I love to laugh.

SINCE YOU ASKED

I love life. I love my life.

I am in love with my camera and I love to create visual arts.

Since you asked, I am from the west side of Chicago. The hood. And I love it.

But I want to explore different parts of the world.

Since you asked, I love music, film, and television. It helps me.

I love the creativity that goes into creating it.

I am an Artist. And I want to create.

Since you asked, I love the arts, and I am art.

51

LAAVIONA

I am the legacy of my grandparents and parents.

LEGACY

From Memphis, Tennessee to Chicago, Illinois.

Their sacrifices, stories, and strength echoed me.

What they built with their hands and hearts, I carry forward with purpose.

From southern roots to northern streets.

Chicago raised me, but Memphis made me possible.

I am the result of dreams that began long before me.

They paved the way and now I am adding sparkle and sauce.

52

I AM WITTY. LOVE. FAITH. FEARLESS. THOUGHTFUL.

ozelle 53

LEGACY

OZELLE

Our story isn't just about where we come from, but the journey we have

walked. We faced struggles, but we've built Bridges with determination and mountains of success. It's a legacy of resilience, truth, love, showing that anything is possible. We honor our history, but we're building an even better future. It means something to me to be a Williamson.

You are: I’m Ozelle, a single mom in Chicago, balancing life and raising 3 kids. My days are filled with responsibilities, faith, and the love that fuels everything I

SINCE YOU ASKED

do. I’m deeply rooted in my church and my community—not just showing up, but lifting others as I go. My story is one of resilience, of finding light in dark places and being that light for others when they need it most.

I don’t lead with my title—I lead with my actions. Whether it’s organizing food drives, mentoring young mothers, or simply showing up when others can’t, I try to be a steady hand and a hopeful voice. Challenges don’t scare me. They shape me. They remind me that I’m still here, still standing, and still smiling.

To know me is to love me—not because I’m perfect, but because I love big, lead with heart, and pour all I have into what I believe in. So yes, I’m Miss OZELLE—and I hope my journey inspires others to keep going, keep giving, and never count themselves out.

YOU DID ASK AND THIS IS ME

WHERE AM I GOING

Sometimes I don't know. To be black and a black woman sometimes can be hard. I think about how I want to be seen in this world when it comes to being a woman and how it doesn't look so good on me. Yeah it is the color of my skin. I would have never guessed in 2025 I'm in a place where my rights are being restricted. A single mom juggling work, School, and raising two kids at home and my oldest child lives away from home. Despite battling depression and dyslexia, I stay active in my community and my church. My heart is set on helping others. Even when things get tough. I refuse to give up. So where do I go now? I try to showcase leadership and my actions. Balancing so much and overcoming personal and professional challenges. To have moved so many spaces of head just to feel like I'm standing behind the line where am I going?

54

To learn more about our work and read memoirs and other compilations written by our Authors, visit: www.contextos.org Find us on social media: @ContextosChi

Photography by TJ Williams

Book design by Killian Harris

2025

Cover design by Kalief Dinkins