Stories, Impact, & News
Showing Our Work
At Firebird, we're makers, thinkers, and community builders. Our work takes two forms: the art you can see and hold, and the harder-to-measure work of building trust, connection, and belonging in Chicago.
This blog is where we share both. Finished pieces and works in progress. Answers we're confident in and questions we're still sitting with.
Remember getting credit in math class for showing your work, even when the answer wasn't perfect? That's the spirit here. We don't have everything figured out, but we're committed to learning in public, and we'd love for you to be part of the conversation.
Welcome to Showing Our Work.
Our Anti-Racism Action Plan
Things we have done/are doing to dismantle white supremacy: Diversifying our Executive Board from 100% white in 2012 to over half POC currently Prioritizing access of South and West Side youth of color to rarefied art media in schools and in our studio Employing Black and Brown youth...
Talking Accountability ain't Easy!
In January 2024, Firebird staff engaged with the brilliant Dr. S Simmons to help us explore collective responsibility, or community accountability. His approach is rooted in principles of accountability and transformative justice. Above is one resource he shared defining accountability in this way. Really want to nerd out?...
Black Lives Matter
At Firebird Community Arts, we are struggling along with everyone else about how to think about change. We are discussing our contradictory feelings. We are all shifting wildly between rage, worry, hope, fear, desperation, anxiety, camaraderie.