Five years after Chicago youth sealed personal snapshots of pandemic life into time capsules, a selection of those memories is now on view at the Harold Washington Library Center. The exhibit, titled “Look Back to Go Forward,” is part of a traveling showcase organized by Living Record, a Chicago nonprofit that creates interactive projects for young people and communities.
What the exhibit offers
Visitors step into a soundscape of young voices reading excerpts from letters written during lockdown, then move through three sections: past, present and future. The past section displays photos of socially distanced classrooms, face masks, trading cards, guitar picks and other objects that helped kids cope with uncertainty. In the present area, guests can add a meaningful location to a citywide map, while the future section invites participants to write hopes for change and either keep their notes or leave them for others to read.
Community involvement
Living Record received roughly 5,000 submissions from Chicago youth when the capsules were created in 2021. The organization worked with schools, the Chicago Public Library, Chicago Children’s Theatre, My Chi. My Future and the Chicago Park District to gather the artifacts. Teens from After School Matters, a nonprofit that provides paid skill‑building opportunities, helped reopen the capsules this year and shape how the memories are presented.
“There’s this opportunity to contribute to something that’s much bigger than yourself and your own life,” said Stacey Gillett, co‑founder and executive director of Living Record. She emphasized that the exhibit aims to help people connect across generations, understand differing pandemic experiences, and consider the future they want to build together.
Personal reflections
Among the volunteers, 18‑year‑old Nahlej Vonneedo of Gwendolyn Brooks College Preparatory Academy noted how the letters revealed varied emotional impacts. “I just never took the time to actually think how much it affected people,” he said. 17‑year‑old Itzel Figueroa of Muchin College Prep echoed that sentiment, recalling both the joys of crafts and online gaming and the challenges of drifting friendships.
One poignant letter from a 7‑year‑old described a new puppy’s “soft fur and tickling whiskers” as a source of comfort during isolation. Other submissions expressed loneliness, anxiety and the feeling that “time completely stopped.” Together, these voices paint a nuanced portrait of Chicago’s youth during a historic public‑health crisis.
Event details
The exhibit’s public kickoff takes place Thursday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Harold Washington Library Center, with a speaker program beginning at 5:45 p.m. Speakers include Chicago Public Library Commissioner Chris Brown and several After School Matters teens. The event is free and open to all ages; registration is encouraged.
After its opening weekend, the exhibition will travel to additional Chicago locations through early January, giving more residents the chance to engage with the artifacts and contribute their own reflections.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
