Activating the Legacies of Invisible Giants

In celebration of Women’s History Month, join Arts + Public Life and filmmaker, author and historian Essence McDowell for a special screening of Invisible Giants, an archival and story-driven documentary celebrating the enduring legacies of Black women who shaped Chicago’s cultural, social, and political landscape—and those who continue to do so today.

The program doesn’t end when the credits roll. We invite you to participate in a range of hands-on, post-screening activations inspired by the companion curriculum, Lifting as We Teach. Expect creative, experiential making sessions designed to help participants engage history with their hands, hearts, and imagination.

This event is for educators, teaching artists, students, historians, history lovers—and anyone curious about how everyday Black women in Chicago built enduring legacies and extraordinary futures.

(Essence McDowell, 2025, 42:00 min)

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Arts + Public Life