Tonika Lewis Johnson is a photographer and social justice artist exposing the impacts of systematic disinvestment in urban communities. Johnson uses photography, maps, and multimedia storytelling to articulate the vast disparities in conditions, infrastructure, and investment between Chicago’s neighborhoods, while creating pathways for residents to begin the process of restitution and repair. Johnson’s Folded Map Project (2018–ongoing) illustrates how decades of harmful policies have divided Chicago socially and physically. Her latest project, UnBlocked Englewood (2023–ongoing), reclaims vacant lots and restores homes, reimagining home improvement and neighborhood revitalization as public art. Through a practice that answers history with action, Johnson realizes the potential for art to create thriving communities and provides a roadmap for other cities facing similar challenges arising from entrenched socioeconomic divides.

Opening Keynote Session: Tuesday @ 10:00am

Maria Krysan is LAS Distinguished Professor of Sociology at the University of Illinois Chicago and has spent decades teaching, researching, and writing about residential segregation and racial attitudes. Her 2017 award-winning book with Kyle Crowder, Cycle of Segregation, proposes an innovative framework for understanding the causes of racial residential segregation and has served as a springboard for her growing engaged work, especially that with Chicago social justice artist, Tonika Johnson. Krysan’s writing has been published and cited in conventional academic outlets, nonacademic publications, and local/national media. She frequently presents her work outside of academia, sharing her expertise with, and learning from, her engagement with the general public, advocates, mayors, legislators, housing agencies, real estate agents, researchers, students, lawyers, library patrons, and others. 

Opening Keynote Session: Tuesday @ 10:00am

Renee M. Willis is the President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Willis brings nearly a decade of leadership and commitment to NLIHC’s mission, having joined the organization in 2015 as Vice President for Field and Communications. She later served as Senior Vice President for Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, working to ensure that NLIHC’s commitment to racial equity, diversity, and inclusion is woven through its culture, policies, programs, and practices. Throughout her tenure, Willis has led with strategic vision, deep collaboration, and an unshakable commitment to centering people with lived experience in the fight for housing justice. She has more than 30 years of experience in affordable housing, including establishing and leading successful community and region-wide initiatives.

Closing Keynote Session: Wednesday @ 11:30am

Schedule At-A-Glance

Tuesday, September 29

• 8:30 am – Registration & Continental Breakfast
• 10:00 am – Opening Keynote: Tonika Lewis Johnson & Maria Krysan, authors of Don’t Go: Stories of Segregation and How to Disrupt It
• 11:45 am – Breakout Workshop I: Spotlight Sessions
• 12:30 pm – Lunch & Membership Meeting
• 2:30 pm – Breakout Workshop II
• 4:00 pm – Reception

Wednesday, September 30

• 8:00 am – Registration & Continental Breakfast
• 8:30 am – Breakout Workshop III
• 10:15 am – Breakout Workshop IV
• 11:30 am – Lunch & Closing Keynote: Renee Willis, National Low Income Housing Coalition
• 1:00 pm – End of Day