Join us at Kennedy-King College for a screening of Beyond Closure (2024) and a panel discussion on community responses to Chicago’s 2013 school closures.
‘Beyond Closure’: A Screening & Discussion
The former Woods Academy- Englewood. Photo by David Schalliol.
The documentary Beyond Closure (2024) by On The Real Film and Borderless Studio recalls the history of Chicago’s 2013 school closures—the largest mass closure in U.S. history—and shares inspirational stories of community reclamation. Join us at Kennedy-King College in Englewood for a screening and panel discussion, in partnership with Go Green on Racine.
Taking a deeper look at three schools in Austin, Bronzeville, and Englewood, Beyond Closure amplifies community voices leading the repurposing of Emmet, Woods, and Overton schools. They reflect on the local impact of these closures, the struggle to reclaim school buildings for the public good, and the intertwined inequity, racism, and injustice that led to shuttering of 50 neighborhood schools all at once, mainly in low-income communities of color.
After the film, a panel discussion will bring together architects and community developers working on “The Regenerator,” a nexus for housing, healthcare, and jobs within the former Woods Academy, to address challenges overcome in the adaptive reuse. Borderless Studio’s Paola Aguirre Serrano moderates.
Keynote speaker
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SPEAKER
Asiaha Butler is a longtime Englewood resident and the co-founder and CEO of R.A.G.E. (Resident Association of Greater Englewood) in Chicago. Through education, youth programs, civic engagement, and economic development, R.A.G.E. uplifts and redefines her neighborhood. Butler played a key role in repurposing schools closed in 2013, organizing tours for officials and developers that inspired CPS’s School Repurposing Committee. She also chaired the Englewood Quality of Life Housing and Public Spaces Task Force and launched the Buy the Block Homeownership Program. Her R.A.G.E. Economic Upliftment Program (The Re-Up) promotes real estate development and wealth-building. A founding member of the Greater Englewood CDC, she continues to lead community-driven planning and educational initiatives. Asiaha is a key leader and member of the community partnership Go Green on Racine which is working on the redevelopment of former Woods Academy into The Regenerator.
Sana Syed is the Chief Growth & Strategy Director at the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), where she leads big impact, innovation, and mission advancement opportunities such as Weekend Warriors, Fresh Market, Go Green on Racine, and the Health & Wellness Corridor Vision. Trained as an architect, theologian, permaculturist, and community organizer, Sana has worked with diverse global communities through several nonprofits in Sweden, Egypt, Yemen, Spain, Somaliland, India, Switzerland, and the United States. Sana is a graduate of the 2022 Civic Leadership Academy at the Harris School of Public Policy and a recipient of the Emerging Leader Award by Caux Dialogue for Land & Security, Switzerland, and the Extraordinary Service in Leadership Award by the Chicago Theological Seminary. Born in Mumbai, Sana has lived in Chicago since 2008 and loves to travel, garden, bake, and be. Sana is a key leader and member of the community partnership Go Green on Racine which is working on the redevelopment of former Woods Academy into The Regenerator.
Paola Aguirre Serrano is a native of the US-Mexico border, urban designer, educator and partner at Borderless Studio. Borderless is an architecture and urban design practice with a presence in Chicago and San Antonio invested in spatial justice and equitable design through collaborative approaches. Paola also leads Creative Grounds, an initiative focused on Chicago's closed public schools, and is the executive producer for “Beyond Closure” film.
Deon Lucas is a Chicago-based architect and entrepreneur dedicated to fostering economic growth and community development. He is the co-founder of E.G. Woode, a collective that empowers minority entrepreneurs by providing access to capital, operational support, and branding resources to establish sustainable businesses. Through The Beehyyve, his architectural firm, Lucas collaborates with small design practices to take on larger projects, creating opportunities for underrepresented professionals in the industry. His work focuses on revitalizing Chicago’s South Side by promoting local ownership, innovative urban design, and wealth-building initiatives that empower communities. With a commitment to social impact, Lucas leverages architecture and entrepreneurship to transform neighborhoods, ensuring that development is both inclusive and community-driven. His vision is shaping a more equitable and self-sustaining future for Chicago’s underserved communities. Deon is a key leader and member of the community partnership Go Green on Racine which is working on the redevelopment of former Woods Academy into The Regenerator.
Cecile De Mello is a community organizer, urban planner, and policy advocate dedicated to equitable development. Born and raised on Chicago’s South Side, she holds a Master’s in Not-for-Profit Management and a Master’s in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Cecile previously served as Co-Executive Director of Blocks Together, leading citywide efforts in economic development, school reform, and participatory budgeting. As Executive Director of Teamwork Englewood, she champions initiatives in youth leadership, job training, and community-driven investment, including the Englewood Quality of Life Plan, which has secured over $100 million in public and private funding. Under her leadership, Teamwork Englewood launched the neighborhood’s first Community Legal Clinic and transformative workforce programs, fostering a safer, more vibrant community. Cecile is a key leader and member of the community partnership Go Green on Racine which is working on the redevelopment of former Woods Academy into The Regenerator.
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