I Am We

In October 2011, a group of dedicated and passionate artists, anthropologist, educators and professionals came together out of need, and founded a non-profit, mission-driven organization named I AM WE™. The group came together to identify the many causes of community breakdown in underserved communities. What we found was, many underserved communities exist in isolation, meaning that residents and community stakeholders are disconnected, non-engaged and in many situations, are hopeless due to increasing crime, poverty, etc. As a result, many residing in these communities have become vulnerable to violence, poor housing, stagnate job opportunities, and lack the necessary resources to thrive. Therefore to address this issue strategically, and be impactful, I Am We partnered with Goodcity a 501(c)(3) organization in September 2012, and released our first initiative, the Chicago's Unsung Heroes project, which will be a traveling photography and audio exhibition, to be featured at select museums and community institutions beginning in 2014. By highlighting amazing, selfless services of ordinary citizens, we are sure their stories will inspire others to get involved. This initiative will promote awareness of community engagement, strengthen and unify communities throughout Chicago.