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Collectives, Ensembles & Projects

These are groups of people who regularly work together to create events or performances.

Xochitl-Quetzal Danza Azteca

Back of the Yards

Xochitl-Quetzal Aztec Dance Experience a journey into Mexico's ancient Aztec culture of music, song and dance. Xochitl-Quetzal invites you to a dynamic and vibrant performance honoring the heritage of the tradition of La Danza De Los Concheros. Join us and explore the Aztec world of indigenous ceremony and ritual. We offer free dance practice lessons and cultural healing ceremonies in Back of the Yard and Little Village.

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Amor al Arte

Back of the Yards

Amor al Arte is a collective of neighborhood women that came together to create art opportunities for the neighborhood.

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Artistic Representation

Back of the Yards

A collective of young artists and performers based out of Back of the Yards. Collective was born out of Back of the Yards College Prep.

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Ayodele Drum & Dance

Englewood

Ayodele, a Yoruba word meaning joy in the home, is a sisterhood of women who recognize the guidance of the Creator in our mission to study, heal and express ourselves through African Drum and Dance from a woman’s perspective.

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Holy Cross IHM Marimba Ensemble

W 46th St & S Hermitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60609
Back of the Yards

This intergenerational marimba ensemble is over 30 years old and started out of the Holy Cross Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. In 2016 they began their summer pop-up ensembles, playing on street corners with heightened levels of violence in Back of the Yards. This pop ups were intended to bring community together and create a sense of peace in moments of violence.

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Hood Momz

Back of the Yards

Storytelling circles for neighborhood moms.

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Red Clay Dance Youth Ensemble & Theater Ensemble

808 E 63rd St, Chicago, IL 60637
Englewood

Red Clay Dance is Chicago's premier Afro-contemporary dance company, voted Best Dance Organization by the Chicago Reader in 2019. It’s mission is to awaken “glocal” change through creating, performing and teaching dances of the African Diaspora–change that transforms cultural and socio-economic inequities in our local and global community.

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Interconnected and Affected

Brighton Park

"This is a podcast where we will explore Chicago’s southwest side through the stories of the residents who live here. We will dive deep into topics through anecdotes and question our opinions through political and sociological perspectives. I want to start off by focusing on the neighborhood I live in, Brighton Park and eventually branch out to other neighborhoods as time goes on. We all have a story to tell, I want to make yours heard. Connect with me on Instagram to send me your anecdotes at @itspa_hola... One of the things that is so powerful and beautiful about our communities is that we make a lot of these things for ourselves and we create our own resources and we are each others' resources a lot of the times and I think there is a lot of strength in that cause if people aren't going to give us stuff we are going to make for ourselves and I think it's really great that I see a lot of people are already doing that and I want to support them in any way that I can." - Paola Ponce

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Little blue bird library

3630 S Artesian Ave, Chicago, IL 60609
McKinley Park

"We have a stand in front of our house with books for people to take and or share/drop off. This little library stand was painting by me and other community members. My mother hosts monthly book club for children and adults. The children book club is called blue bird book club. The adult book club is called De Colores book club."

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