Ra Joy on the Wednesday of the Cultural Equity Precon at Americans for the Arts' 2015 Annual Convention

1. Welcome to Chicago

7. “As the plain-spoken Don Welsh, [President and CEO of Choose Chicago],
implied last week in a meeting with the Tribune editorial board, when young
people are being murdered at this alarming rate, it trumps tourism
initiatives, cultural initiatives, arts initiatives, any darn initiatives you care to
name. There's no point in building parks or museums or putting out come-
to-Chicago ads in the face of such killings.”

9. “Simply put: Less art leads to
more inequality. More
inequality leads to less
justice. And this is not
something with which any of
us should be comfortable.”
– Darren Walker
President, Ford Foundation

10. of Chicagoans agree that arts and cultural
activities attract tourists to the city.

11. of Chicagoans agree that the arts improve
the livability of our communities.

12. of Chicagoans agree that arts and
cultural activities contribute positively to
the city’s economy.

13. of Chicagoans agree that arts education
helps to prepare students for success in
college, careers, and life.

15. “The truth is that years of
silence and inaction have
walled off a portion of our city.
It is time to stop turning our
heads and turning the
channel. It is time for each of
us to start breaking down
those walls.”
- Mayor Rahm Emanuel

16. Right HERE…

17. Right NOW…

18. National Museum
of Mexican Art

19. The National Museum
of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture

21. Welcome to Chicago