We lcome To
Our high-energy, one-hour virtual show features performances, stories, and intimate time with our awardees—photographers and activists Dawoud Bey and Tonika Lewis Johnson. The event, our most important fundraiser and celebration of the year, is open to all who want to support Illinois Humanities and honor awardees Dawoud and Tonika. This event is cochaired by Mea Konopasek and Jennifer Wirtz.
2
About Illinois Humanities Illinois Humanities, the Illinois affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that foster reflection, spark conversation, build community, and strengthen civic engagement. We provide free, high-quality humanities experiences throughout Illinois, particularly for communities of color, individuals living on low incomes, counties and towns in rural areas, small arts and cultural organizations, and communities highly impacted by mass incarceration. In 2020, Illinois Humanities organized 169 events that reached 6,373 participants across Illinois, reaching nearly every one of the 102 counties in the state. Due to the pandemic and the change to virtual platforms, we were able to reach viewers across the world. With additional support from the National Endowment for the Humanities CARES Act funds, Illinois Humanities conducted statewide crisis-relief grantmaking of more than $700,00 to 177 organizations in 2020. Founded in 1974, Illinois Humanities is supported by state, federal, and private funds. Learn more at ilhumanities.org and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn @ILHumanities.
Click here to donate to Illinois Humanities.
3
11:30 AM
PRE-SHOW LOBBY
12:00 PM
OPENING PERFORMANCE
Bomba con Buya
WELCOME AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Gabrielle Lyon, Executive Director, Illinois Humanities and Mae Hong, Board Chair, Illinois Humanities
DAWOUD BEY, PHOTOGRAPHER AND ACTIVIST Statement by the honoree Beacon Award Presented to Dawoud Bey
WHAT IS ILLINOIS HUMANITIES? Illinois Humanities staff
ACTIVATED: THE HUMANITIES IN ILLINOIS TONIKA LEWIS JOHNSON, PHOTOGRAPHER AND ACTIVIST Statement by the honoree Public Humanities Award Presented to Tonika Lewis Johnson
CLOSING REMARKS Gabrielle Lyon Bomba con Buya
4
Public Humanities Awards 2021 Honorees Dawoud Bey and Tonika Lewis Johnson are the 2021 Public Humanities Award recipients, nominated and selected by humanists from across Illinois. Both awardees are visual storytellers at a moment when visual narratives are dramatically shifting the way we tell stories and who is telling them; their works cross media boundaries in ways that bring diverse audiences and stories together. The awards to these humanists underscore the power of the humanities to lead our communities toward a more just society for all.
For decades, Dawoud, winner of the Beacon Award, has used his craft to illuminate tragedies and injustices, visualize and amplify the presence of ordinary citizens, and give credence to the Black experience. Dawoud has gained international acclaim and has been an important educator and guiding light for upcoming artists and photographers.
ABOUT THE BEACON AWARD Launched in 2020, the Beacon Award honors an individual or organization who has been a champion for – or investor in – the humanities in Illinois, elevating the work of humanists in ways that have improved the quality of the state for its residents.
5
TONIKA LEWIS JOHNSON Tonika, winner of the Public Humanities Award, is a photographer/social justice artist and life-long resident of Chicago’s South Side neighborhood of Englewood. She is also co-founder of two community-based organizations, Englewood Arts Collective and Resident Association of Greater Englewood, that mobilize people and resources for positive change. She turned the Folded Map project into a non-profit organization where she serves as Creative Executive Officer. She was named one of Field Foundation’s Leaders for a New Chicago and most recently, she was appointed as a member of the Cultural Advisory Council of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events by the Chicago City Council.
ABOUT THE PUBLIC HUMANITIES AWARD Established in 1984, the Public Humanities Award celebrates people who have made an indelible impact on our state through their work in and support of the humanities. 6
Past honorees... PREVIOUS BEACON AWARD RECIPIENTS 2020 – Weinberg/Newton Gallery
PREVIOUS PUBLIC HUMANITIES AWARDS RECIPIENTS 2020 – Sylvia Ewing And Eve L. Ewing
2005 – The Honorable Abner And Zoe Mikva
2019 – Cheryl Lynn Bruce And Kerry James Marshall
1994 – Martin E. Marty, Stanley J. Ikenberry, Richard J. Franke, Chicago Tribune
2018 – Danielle Allen And Mannie Jackson 2017 – Jeanne Gang 2016 – Dr. Walter E. Massey 2015 – Howard Tullman 2014 – Jay Franke And David Herro 2013 – Lisa Yun Lee 2012 – Bruce Sagan And Bette Cerf Hill 2011 – John A. Wing 2010 – Anna Eleanor Roosevelt 2008 – Carlos Tortolero 2007 – Barbara Gaines 2006 – Mary A. Dempsey
1993 – Francis J. Pettis 1992 – Nancy Anderson Stevenson 1990 – Bridget Lamont 1989 – Cyrus Colter 1988 – Brena And Lee Freeman 1987 – The Honorable Dawn Clark Netsch And Walter Netsch 1986 – Mary Ward Wolkonsky 1985 – J. Michael Lennon 1984 – John Hope Franklin, Stuart Steuver, The Honorable Jim Edgar, The Honorable Paul Simon, The Honorable Sidney Yates, Louise Año Nuevo Kerr
Raffle items We are offering three curated packages from our honorees and partners. For a limited time only, purchase tickets for a chance to win...
EXPLORE ENGLEWOOD WITH TONIKA LEWIS JOHNSON
Five winners will be selected for a 2-3 hour tour of Englewood guided by life-long resident Tonika Lewis Johnson. Tonika will guide the small group through places and spaces in Englewood that highlight community activations and creative projects.
EXCLUSIVE BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR OF THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY PHOTOGRAPHY VAULT WITH DAWOUD BEY
This close and personal look at some of Dawoud’s iconic work includes a chance to hear his stories behind the images firsthand – to get to know the man behind the camera while exploring the Vault at the Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago.
IRIS - 1928 PHOTOGRAVURE BY PAUL STRAND, DONATED BY APERTURE FOUNDATION
Paul Strand was an American photographer and filmmaker who helped establish photography as an art form in the 20th century.
Thank you to donors Aperture Foundation, Dawoud Bey, Natasha Egan, Tonika Lewis Johnson, and the Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago.
7
Thank you to our sponsors and donors! list as of May 18th
REGION SPONSORSHIP
STATE SPONSORSHIP
CITY SPONSORSHIP
Mae P. Hong, Gail H. Shiel-Mahoney and George F. Mahoney, Susan A. Manning and Doug A. Doetsch, Verett Mims, Arthur and Jennifer Wirtz
TOWN SPONSORSHIP Marsha and Philip Dowd Susan Eleuterio and Tom Sourlis Deborah Epstein Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation The Field Foundation Denise B. Gardner Virginia C. Gerst and C. Gary Gerst Lowell Jaffe Priscilla Kersten Gabrielle Lyon
NEIGHBORHOOD SPONSORSHIP
COMMUNITY SPONSORSHIP
BMO Harris Bank
Brett Eldredge
EAB Solutions
Sylvia Ewing
Elevate
Randy Holgate and John Peterson
First Bank Chicago Dedrea and Paul Gray Brenda and James Grusecki Gus and Susan Haramaras Jane A. Hays and David J. Downey
Debra Kerr Mea Konopasek Ron Kowalke Liz Siegel and Greg Jacobs G. Isaac and Ava Stanley
IFF
Reed & Liz Soldwedel
Paula R. Kahn
Surgical Solutions
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Lisa Yun Lee
Bobette Takiff
Richie Marrero and 360 Benefits
Christy Uchida
Weinberg/Newton Gallery
Anne and Roger Taylor
Wintrust
Terra Foundation for American Art
David Woolwine and Kevin Williams
Elizabeth M. Thompson and Donald E. Thompson Jai Winston
8
Dickerson Global Advisors
Thank you to our Host Committee! Mea Konopasek*, Event Co-Chair
Brenda and James Grusecki
Jennifer Wirtz*, Event Co-Chair
Tracie D. Hall
Antoinette Burton
Debra Kerr
Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko
Priscilla Kersten
Sharon Corwin
O. Victoria Lakes-Battle
Rachel DeWoskin
Gabrielle Lyon
Susan Eleuterio*
MacArthur Foundation Fellows Program
Deborah Epstein*
Angelique Power
Sylvia Ewing
Michal Raz-Russo
Denise B. Gardner
Elizabeth Siegel
Helene Gayle
Melody Spann Cooper
Esther Grimm
*denotes Board Member
Illinois Humanities Board of Directors Mae P. Hong, Chair
Jane A. Hays
David Woolwine, Vice Chair
Joyce Higgins*
Mea Konopasek, Treasurer
J. Paul Hunter [Life Director]
Jai L. Winston, Secretary
Lowell Jaffe*
Gabrielle Lyon, Executive Director
Susan Manning
Danielle S. Allen [ex officio]
Verett A. Mims
John S. Bracken
William M. Patterson
Dale T. Chapman
Rikeesha Phelon*
Teresa L. Córdova
Alyssa Rapp*
Susan Eleuterio
Gail H. Shiel-Mahoney
Deborah Epstein [Life Director]
Stacy Ellen Baygood Streur*
Virginia C. Gerst
Jennifer Wirtz
Juana Guzmán
Debra Yepa-Pappan*
Alton B. Harris [Life Director] *Gubernatorial Appointee
9
With appreciation Demetrius Barry, Tiff Beatty, Asiaha Butler, Joey Della Vecchia, Tracie Hall, Adrianne Hawthorne, Nyjah Johnson, Maria Krysan, Lisa Lee, Rita Lewis, Sarah Meister, Don Meyer, Janell Nelson, Daniel Ramos, Liz Siegel, Amare Symoné, David Travis, and the members of Bomba con Buya: Lauren Brooks, Ivelisse Diaz, Ruben Gerena, Teo “Piro” Lopez, Berto Pérez, Jonathon Pacheco, Arif Smith
Thank you to the Illinois Humanities staff Rebecca Amato Director of Teaching and Learning
Meredith Nnoka Envisioning Justice Fellow
Jane Beachy Artistic Director
Paul O’Brien Chief Financial Officer
Alyssa Bierce Envisioning Justice Digital Content Manager
Audrey Petty Director, The Odyssey Project
Michael Foley Manager of Operations and Human Resources Chris Guzaitis Senior Director Mark Hallett Director of Grants Programs Karen Loda Development Coordinator Matt Meacham Program Manager, Statewide Engagement
10
Ned Schaub Director of Marketing and Communications Magdalena Slowik Director of Development Zerline Thompson Operations Coordinator Tia K. Williams Digital Communications and Technology Systems Manager Tyreece Williams Program Manager, Envisioning Justice Jenn Yoo Program Operations Manager
Images from On Wisdom and Vision: Humanities Organizations in Illinois during COVID-19 courtesy Illinois Humanities.
11
Follow us on social media to hear about upcoming events:
FACEBOOK: @ILhumanities TWITTER: @ILhumanities INSTAGRAM: @ILhumanities LINKEDIN: @illinois-humanities-council Post about the event using: #2021PHA Click here to donate to Illinois Humanities.