Our Memorial Events – Media Coverage
During the first week of November 2011 – in coordination with All Saints, All Souls, and Day of the Dead – Urban Dolorosa organized five multicultural and multimedia memorial concerts in five different neighborhoods. Over 2000 people attended to remember children killed in violence, to support grieving families and traumatized communities, and to commit together to end this violence.
Read more about the unprecedented artistic collaboration.
Read Mayor Emanuel’s Proclamation.
Check out the following media stories:
Urban Dolorosa featured on Different Drummers
NBC5 – Mayor Emanuel at St. Sabina Concert
Manya A. Brachear for the Chicago Tribune (article & video)
Photography from Columbia College Students
More photos on Facebook
Unprecedented Artistic Collaboration
The Memorial Events will be the world premier of original sacred music by South African composer Vaughn Fayle with libretto (lyrics) by Susan Johnson.
They will feature…
- Documentary photography by award-winning Carlos Javier Ortiz.
- Soprano Jade Maze and Baritone Khary Laurent.
- Chicago Community Chorus with conductor Dr. Keith Hampton.
- Johnson College Prep Choral Program.
- Youth Choir and Marimba Ensemble from Holy Cross/IHM Parish.
- Chamber Soloists of North Park University.
- Spoken Word poetry by Mama Brenda Matthews.
- Artistic Direction by Steppenwolf for Young Adults.
This collaboration combines classical and folk music styles, an African-American youth choral group from Englewood, an Hispanic chorus and marimba group from Back of the Yards, a chamber ensemble from the north side, with documentary photography, spoken word poetry, and a candlelit vigil.
The events will be artistically beautiful, creating an ethos of sacred remembrance, but more importantly, they will bring our city together across neighborhood, racial, ethnic, religious, and economic dividing lines.
We must come together – we must mourn and work together – we must remember forward – if we are to end youth violence in Chicago.
Additional Rehearsal Photos on Facebook
November 2011 Memorial Events
We invite the city of Chicago to join us on a memorial pilgrimage – a series of multi-media memorial events in five neighborhoods – to stand together to remember the children killed by violence and to support peace in our city.
Official Flier for Memorial Events
28 September 2011 Press Release PDF
Announcement for Memorial Events
and Official Public Flier
Please download and share this official announcement and flier.
Your participation is vital to honor these children and families and to support peace in our city.
Ecumenical Worship in the Spirit of Taizé
Join us first Fridays for contemplative worship and prayer. Taizé worship blends meditative worship with silence and candle-light. We invite all spiritual pilgrims in our larger Hyde Park and South Side community to seek with us the peace of Christ for ourselves and our world. Please join us for worship at 7:30 pm and for a community dinner at 6:30 pm. Let us know if you or your faith community would like to get involved in planning these ecumenical services.
