Bridgeport – On Sunday, Sept. 13, the Ramova Loft at 3520 S. Halsted St. will become a gathering place for Chicagoans who want to confront the legacy of segregation and redlining in the city. Artist Tonika Lewis Johnson, the Englewood native behind the Folded Map Project, is hosting an immersive afternoon titled “Both Sides of the Street: An Immersive Folded Map Experience.”
What the event offers
From 2 to 5 p.m., attendees will hear Johnson explain how she pairs “map twins” – residents who live on opposite sides of town but on the same street – to reveal how neighborhood histories affect everyday life. The event will feature readings from Johnson’s 2025 book, Don’t Go: Stories of Segregation and How to Disrupt It, co‑authored with University of Illinois Chicago professor Maria Krysan.
Participants will take part in an interactive mapping activity. A large map of Chicago will be laid out on the floor, and visitors will place sticky notes answering the prompt, “What does your community need most?” The activity is designed to visualize personal stories and community priorities side by side.
Community voices and cultural highlights
Johnson will co‑host a discussion with Chicago rapper and educator Femdot, founder of the nonprofit Delacreme Scholars. Femdot recently taught DePaul University’s inaugural class on Chicago hip‑hop history, adding a cultural dimension to the conversation about neighborhood identity.
Music will be provided by local DJ Chuck Hemi, and a pop‑up bookstore run by Da Book Joint – a Black woman‑owned shop in Jackson Park Highlands – will offer books and merchandise related to the project. Food and drinks will be available, making the afternoon both informative and enjoyable.
Why the project matters
Johnson’s Folded Map Project began in 2016, pairing residents from opposite sides of the city to discuss how historic policies continue to shape opportunities, schools, and safety. The resulting multimedia work combines interview audio, photographs, and maps to illustrate the persistent impact of segregation.
“I wanted to provide a relaxed, in‑person way for people to learn about these histories and bring people together,” Johnson told Block Club. She added that the event aims to empower participants to reject the harmful advice to “don’t go” to certain neighborhoods, a sentiment she has heard throughout her own life in Englewood.
In addition to the live discussion, the afternoon will screen Johnson’s 2020 animated documentary, Folded Map, which details the making of the project. The film is freely available on YouTube and can be used by educators as part of a curriculum on Chicago’s urban history.
How to attend
Tickets and additional details are available through the event’s online page. The venue is wheelchair accessible, and the organizers encourage families, students, and anyone interested in Chicago’s neighborhood story to attend.
By combining art, conversation, and community mapping, the Folded Map Project hopes to spark a deeper understanding of how historic segregation continues to affect Chicago and to inspire concrete ideas for a more united city.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
