“Often at-risk youth are robbed from their innocence without them knowing. I think art is a way in which we can bear witness to what they have gone through” -Eddie Bocanegra (above, with one of his students)
Eddie Bocanegra, one of three violence interrupters with CeaseFire Chicago featured in 2011’s The Interrupters, has worked tirelessly to curb the violence on the city’s streets and provide alternatives to at-risk youth. In addition to his work as a violence interrupter, he’s worked as an educator and an advocate for ex-offenders, all while earning a bachelors in social work from Northern Illinois University.
This summer he’s collaborated with the National Museum of Mexican Art to put together “Stop the Violence with Art”, a program designed to give young people whose lives have been affected by violence a creative outlet to express their feelings.
The exhibit opens tomorrow (July 6th) with a screening of The Interrupters followed by a conversation with Eddie Bocanegra and the young artists featured.
We hear everyday about the lives lost to street violence; come by tomorrow to support some of the people working hard to make a change.
See more of Eddie’s students’ work at Hancock Highschool Art Expo
Artists, who is interested in making banners, signs?
Meeting Saturday, 6pm, at Congress & Michigan to discuss #J28. If you love Chicago as much as we do join us. This is not about the battle against the 1% but the battle of our youth against one another.
Source: damatthproblem
