Today was short and sweet in events. We started with going back to IMAN to do some ceramics. For many of us, it was our first time so Ariya, the ceramic studio manager, guided us through. We began by cutting a piece of clay and kneading it to a dense state. We then slapped it onto the pottery wheel. Starting to spin, we pushed against the clay to get it centered, which is easier said than done. Many of us had to repeat this state numerous times but once done, we had to poke our finger on the top of the clay to “enter” and create a hollow inside. Although we couldn’t keep our creations, we still enjoyed the experience of playing and connecting with the clay.
We headed to Freedom Dream and Chicago Future, an event at the University of Illinois Chicago, where various guests, including the newly elected Mayor of Chicago, Brandon Johnson, were present. The event featured activists and community organizers as guest speakers, who shared their valuable insights on their work and the historical relationship between Chicago and the police force. We got to learn about the selection process and rationale behind the appointment of the new Mayor, which highlighted a strong emphasis on accountability and the shared goal of reducing police-related fatalities in the city of Chicago.
