Chicagoans are being encouraged to lend their voices to the problem of violence plaguing their city in a new city-wide civic project called Uproar Chicago. Prompted by the constant stream of news and personal experiences of violence (both interpersonal and structural), the organizers of the project are seeking to create an audio collage about violence using the voices of concerned community members. With the help of a voicemail system, the project calls upon all Chicago residents to dial (872) 216-1735 and leave a message sharing how they feel about what is happening in the city in regards to violence. All of the responses will be collected to create an audio collage that will be shared with the mayor and the rest of Chicago.
“We are thinking of this project as a collective uproar, a ‘primal’ scream, and potentially an emotional catharsis for those of us who live in Chicago in this moment in history,” organizers say.
To participate in the project, call (872) 216-1735 and leave a voicemail stating 1) your name, 2) your age, 3) the community you live in, and 4) one sentence explaining how you feel about the violence taking place in Chicago.
Messages will be accepted through February 24.