Healing Illinois 2025
South and West Side Partner Locations
Healing Illinois 2025 is a continuation of 6018North’s Justice Hotel conversational meals that address real life concerns of communities through creative and artistic actions. Healing Illinois supports Justice Hotel curator Wisdom Baty and our ongoing partnership with WILD YAMS: Black Mothers Artist Residency. Baty and WILD YAMS artists host convenings that bring together artists, activists, scholars, and a general audience as a think tank to experiment in how justice looks and functions. These intimate discussions create a dialogue between those who are directly affected by inequalities, deeply engaged in issues of social equity, and those who, with this increased exposure, may be willing to invest more deeply in societal justice.
Over a series of private and public events, Baty and 6018North create unique experiences, tailoring the discussion, atmosphere, and menu to deepen connections among participants. Baty works closely with each Wild Yams artist to help them envision, articulate, and develop the topic to be discussed at each convening and how it will be presented. These gatherings are intended to strengthen our bonds with one another and with the communal spaces that host them. By centering food as a medium for care and healing, we aim to honor its sacred role in ritual to create meaningful, collective moments of gathering, care, and nourishment.
Since 2018, 6018North and the Justice Hotel have hosted over 100 discussion meals, bringing a wealth of experience in creating transformative experiences. These gatherings extend an invitation not merely to join an existing table but to build a new one, reimagining power structures and creating space for underrepresented voices. Unlike traditional gatherings where power is retained by a select few, these aim to shift the power dynamics, empowering participants to shape the narrative and purpose of the table itself.
These gatherings are a commitment to justice, care, and healing. Sharing a meal together fosters a unique, embodied, and unhurried experience, enabling deeper connection and reflection. This communal act transcends surface-level dialogue and encourages meaningful conversations that inspire participants to imagine new possibilities and take concrete actions. By cultivating engagement and promoting change, these dinners stand as catalysts for both individual and collective transformation.
Healing Illinois is funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services in partnership with The Field Foundation of Illinois.
Our Lived Experience
March 30, 2025 and April 6, 2025 at Cafe Logan
The first public events in this series Our Lived Experience were presented by artist Dorian Sylvain at the Logan Center Cafe; March 30 featured artists talks by Alexy Irving, Deliah D. Salgado, Shiree Davis, and Kiah Zellner Smith; April 6 featured Delia West, Haerim Lee, Marlen Aguirre, Carina Vargas-Nune, and Chazarhae Morales Williams.
Stages: Inclinations Through Life
May 17, 2025 at THE cre.æ.tive ROOM
The second public event Stages: Inclinations Through Life featured Mama Anana Nyamuwi at THE cre.æ.tive ROOM on May 17. Mama Anana Nyaumuwi shared strategies for supporting Black mothers, caretakers and raising Black youth.
NOURISH: Marks on Canvas Dinner Series
June 21, 2025
An intimate, workshop-style gathering designed for and centering Black mother artists. Over the course of one evening, we’ll come together to share a meal, reflect on what it means to nourish ourselves, and explore what sustainable support can look like within our creative practices.
NOURISH will feature a candid conversation on the real-life journey of building an artist-centered business – covering everything from how Marks on Canvas began, to what it actually costs to hire support, and how Bianca Marks vets readiness for a studio manager relationship.
Following the presentation, guests will participate in a small group exercise – designed to help artists imagine what kind of growth and ease a studio manager could make possible. Each group will respond to a creative prompt and generate thoughtful questions to guide deeper discussion. We’ll close the evening by coming back together to share insights and ask questions in community.
PAUSE FOR PEACE | COMMUNITY GATHERING
June 22, 2025
Sonja Henderson, Chef Zen Frankie, Chef Simone, and Toni Asante Lightfoot will present a “High Frequency” community dinner for the People. This gorgeous meal will be preceded by restful & energizing healing activities like gardening, reiki & Ear Seed acupuncture. This community dinner is brought to 75th and St. Lawrence by: Healing Illinois, 6018 North, & Pause for Peace.
FELLOWSHIP- Seeds & Salutations, 1-2:15pm
Guests will be invited to Rest, Relax, & Rejuvenate in whatever capacity they feel is needed, as they gather & mingle. Our REST is vital to our recuperation, connection to spirit, & our resilience. There will be mattresses, tipi tents, journals, pillows & blankets for you to stretch, play, write, or lay down to enjoy the sun and land. Enjoy shaved ice while planting tomatoes, squash & melons for PFP’s raised beds- show them some love.
FREQUENCY- Ear Seeds & Reiki for All, 2:15-3pm
Ear seeds are rooted in the rich heritage of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and are used to reduce stress, relieve pain, restore balance, & enhance energy flow. The ear reflects the whole body, with different points connecting to specific organs or body parts. Ear seeds stimulate these points, promoting the flow of qi, or vital life force. TCM practitioner, Toni Asante Lightfoot, will lead our energetic discussion & healing with Ear Seeds, Reiki, and the Harmony we create while in “Community”.
FOOD- High Vibe Food, 3-4pm
“High Vibrational Food" are foods that have specific energetic frequencies or vibrations that can impact the body's energy and overall well-being. Foods that are fresh, raw, organic, and “whole” have higher, more beneficial vibrations that can enhance energy, vitality, and health. Chef Zen Frankie will prepare a light vegan lunch to nourish the mind, body, and spirit with new flavors and textures. Raw key-lime parfait and peanut sesame noodles prepared by Chef Simone. Food contains nuts and seed allergens.
Recipes for Life: Community Dinner
June 28 from 11 AM - 2 PM at Sears Sunken Garden – Arthington St. & Homan Ave
Wellness is a cosmology and all encompassing landscape that embodies the emotional, intellectual, physical and spiritual worlds of existence. A true state of wellness is not merely dependent on the condition or mindset a person currently inhabits. Our level of wellness is finely interwoven with the intimate relationship we have with our community, our environment, and ourselves. The multifaceted universe of health and healing is cyclical, a living organism in constant metamorphosis. – Adriana Ayales
The Mothers Healing Circle is gathering together to celebrate and share our annual “Recipes for Life” Community Dinner with the local community and loved ones. This “Heir”-loom dinner honors our children lost too early to state, street, and gun violence. MHC’s annual dinner is an opportunity to come together in a Circle of Love to experience prepared homestyle and contemporary recipes, legacy decorated tables, healing activities and fellowship. Table settings will display photos to celebrate our children and family lineages and to honor those who cannot physically be with us – do to loss, illness, and mass incarceration. Mothers Healing Circle and Artists will help heal the neighborhood with a community Reiki Healing led by Toni Asante Lightfoot & drumming by Zen Frankie.
INTENT - Gathering to support National Gun Violence Awareness Month
1. Eat, Laugh, Play, Heal in fellowship with friends, family and neighbors.
2. Inner-standing how Community Care is the remedy to many social problems on a personal, communal, and political problems from loneliness to disinvestment.
3. That Beauty begets Beauty, Peace begets Peace, Harmony begets Harmony and so forth. These attributes come from hard work and alignment with mind, body, spirit, and community– in which our MHC Mothers are working on every week while holding space for their grief, growth, and healing..
4. Food sharing, storytelling, playing and resting together is rejuvenating for the people, place, and space. To dine Family style creates new friendships, lasting bonds and the opportunity to have new shared experiences.
NO HATE DAY
June 28 from 5-7 PM at Stalwart Market, 3320 E 90th Street
Join master gardener Gregory Bratton and DJ Nina Nite at Stalwart Market Garden as we celebrate and imagine a season of wellness and art with intergenerational dialogue focused on reducing hate and increasing peace in Chicago. The event will feature a sound activation booth by Isaiah Afrumu. Join us for a restorative day in the garden with peaceful sounds, food, and art!
A RITUALIZED RETROSPECTIVE AND COMMUNITY FEAST
June 29, 2025 at Haji Healing Salon
Join WILD YAMS at Haji Healing Salon for a very special evening with Aya-Nikole Cook for A Ritualized Retrospective.
We invite you to actively witness and receive the story of how Aya alchemized the poison of trauma and illness into a devoted self and community care practice, now known as Haji Healing Salon.
Attendees will be guided through four inspired community rituals, which at as portal gateways, opening another chapter of the Haji story.
The event will culminate in a very special feast lovingly sourced by local farmers and prepared by beloved community chefs.