Work Force Development

Portraits by Faith

During the pandemic Stockyard Institute was gifted dozens of fiberglass planters and soil, plants, and labor from Chicago and Back of the Yards businesses. The aesthetic aspect of the project was developed by Lavie Raven and Jim Duignan. Lavie Raven invited local artists to exhibit their style on sets of planters and local business would / are sponsoring the boxes with funds going to the work force development Arts program., a Stockyard Institute and University of Hip Hop collaborative venture. Ellen Shapiro has built the network and connected local business with area police and architectural and design firms as we imagine a student designed playground in 2022.