Project Location/Destination: In town
Faculty Leaders: Brandon Woods & Suzanne Callis
Dates: Monday, March 13 - Friday, March 17
Cost: $720
Special Considerations:
See below.
Objective:
Students will learn about the history of the connections between the contemporary gay rights movement and art activists, who use their media as means of collective political action. Students will learn how storytelling, dance, drag performances, and crafting have become modes of resistance and sites of community building and self, and other-care. Working with local organizations and activists, students will use what they learn to create a direct-action to improve the lives of queer people in Chicago.
Description:
In this project, students will learn how queer activist have always used art to forward the causes of inclusion and social justice. Using Bill Moyer's "Movement Action Plan '' and Bayard Rustin's book "I Must Resist" as frameworks for political activism, students will explore the intersections of activism, history, politics, and art. Students will interview Chicago-based drag queens and recent cast members of the reality show Rupaul's Drag Race about the history of Chicago's local drag scene. They will partner with local craftivists and actors to imagine and develop novel forms of resistance and solidarity. Students will work with famed local theatre troupe the Neo-Futurists to explore the power of storytelling; they will work with local craftivist and dancer to learn the history of queer dance and craftivism. Lastly, students will explore how a local organization, dedicated to queer actvism, marshals the talents of the people it serves to fight for justice.
Student Requirements and Expectations:
Students will learn Chicago’s queer history by working with queer artists/activists. Students will have the opportunity to write, dance, engage with the local community, and craft; they should be open to all these opportunities. Students will partner with local LGBTQIA+ organizations and queer people to create a direct action campaign to advocate for people on the margins of the movement, specifically BIPOC, gender non-conforming, physically disabled, and neuro-atypical people.
About the Faculty:
Ms. Callis is Dean of Community Learning and an English teacher. She teaches Queer Literature for 12th grade students and has worked with many English departments at Latin and beyond on how to incorporate queer authors and texts into the curriculum. She is an advocate for queer youth and queer inclusive and gender expansice sex education. She also chairs Latin’s Gender Support Task Force. Outside of Latin she has volunteered with programs like the Youth Empowerment Performance Project and the Center on Halsted. Ms. Callis is excited to work with the students and all of the Chicago based activists and artists.
Mr. Woods is an English teacher and DEI Curriculum Coordinator. He studied queer theory in graduate school and is a passionate advocate for the rights of LGBTQIA+ youth. At Latin, Mr. Woods taught “Gay America,” an English course that explored the interstices of history, resistance, and literature. Marrying his knowledge of political movements with his burgeoning interests in urban planning, He has volunteered at the Center on Halsted and the Q Center in Portland, Oregon. Mr. Woods is excited to work with students to learn more about queer history and art activism.
Special considerations:
COVID vaccination required - Students must be fully vaccinated to participate in this project. Some venues we are working with require proof of COVID vaccination. Students should be prepared to provide this information.
Equipment requirements: laptop/tablet - Students will all need a laptop for in class work as well as pen/pencil and paper.
Food limitations and allergies - Students with food allergies and food sensitivities should understand that there may be times that food options will be limited. In addition, there may be cross contamination risk of allergens, as there will be times where outside food vendors will prepare our meals. Please contact the project leaders or School Nurse with any questions or concerns.
Scheduling (In Town) - This project will have time commitment outside of the Monday-Friday (8 a.m. - 4 p.m.) typical school week. Please note that there is an expectation that students are able to attend the whole time the project is running.
Transportation considerations: CTA - Students will take the CTA with faculty.
Transportation considerations: Latin faculty - Students will be transported by Latin School faculty chaperones drivers.