catalyst-chicago.org

Presented by international educational nonprofit Facing History and Ourselves, the acclaimed multimedia exhibition "Choosing to Participate" examines the impact and history of bigotry and injustice, and inspires conversation about the choices we can make every day to foster civic engagement, tolerance, and mutual understanding in our communities. Central to the exhibition are five installations telling stories in the first-person about people and communities that have experienced racism and injustice, and how courage, initiative, and compassion are necessary to protect democracy. The two local components of the exhibition are "Upstanders: Portraits of Courage," featuring photographs and narratives celebrating 12 unsung heroes making a difference in Chicago; and "pARTicipation: Young Artists Speak Up," a display of original artwork from Chicagoland students in grades 7-12 that illustrates the importance of choices we make in our daily lives and the value of choosing to participate. The exhibition is free and open to the public every day during library hours.