“Next Stop: Chicago”: Numerous marginalized voices at the Democratic Party Convention

CHICAGO (WLS) — Gertie, a civic and cultural agency that grows Chicago’s creative economy, will present a series of public art actions by community-based organizations in advance of the Democratic National Convention, August 19-22 in Chicago.

Gertie, founded by Abby Pucker, has awarded over $400,000 in grants to seven community-led projects along the Chicago Transit Authority’s Green Line (which connects Chicago’s West and South Sides to downtown), examining the nature of the infrastructure and its importance to historically marginalized communities, especially in the wake of the pandemic.

Next stop: Chicago shows how the arts drive economic growth alongside beautification and investment in infrastructure. The initiative’s public activities aim to draw attention to organizations whose placemaking work is revitalizing meeting spaces outside of work and home (known as “third spaces”) post-pandemic, and showcase the important contribution that creative small businesses are making by employing artists who keep communities vibrant. Vic Mensa, rapper and actor at The Chi, will host a series of short videos about the project, which will be featured on Gertie’s social channels and website.

“Gertie organized Next stop: Chicago to amplify the voices of artists and citizens from Chicago’s vast network of neighborhoods at this historic political moment when the city is in the global spotlight,” says Pucker.Next stop: Chicago is designed to highlight the important intersection between infrastructure and art through installations and programs that address resource distribution and infrastructure inequality—an issue that has disproportionately affected Black and Brown people in this city. This issue cannot be solved with a one-size-fits-all approach and requires collaboration and creativity across sectors to ensure our city thrives at the highest level.”