What: Every year the DuSable Park Coalition gathers at the bust of DuSable to host the Annual Commemoration and Wreath Laying Ceremony near the date of DuSable’s death. Faheem Majeed’s Floating Museum featuring the inflatable structure, “Founders,” will be erected at the DuSable Harbor for the event. The Founder’s Trail will end at DuSable Harbor, where the Floating Museum will be displayed, along with drummers from the Sixty Fourth Street Beach Drummers. Starla Thompson, Potawatomi, and Chicago born educator and activist, will perform at DuSable Harbor at 6pm and will be on site during the ceremony.
Who: The current active members of the DuSable Park Coalition includes: DuSable Heritage Association, Friends of the Parks, Harold Washington Legacy Committee, DuSable Park Advisory Council, Bronzeville Children’s Museum, Friends of DuSable, Streeterville Organization of Active Residents (SOAR), American Indian Center-Chicago, DuSable Museum of African American History.
Why: For decades Friends of the Parks has coordinated the DuSable Park Coalition to hold together Mayor Harold Washington’s vision of dedicating the parcel of land at the confluence of the Chicago River and Lake Michigan for DuSable Park. Over thirty years later, the parcel still sits vacant. The DuSable Park Coalition gathers each year to bring recognition for DuSable and his wife Kitihawa with a dream of one day gathering at DuSable Park to host the commemoration. This year, the Coalition inched closer to that dream with commitments from Mayor Lori Lightfoot to provide $25 million in funding along with statues to memorialize DuSable and Kitihawa. This announcement of funding by the mayor is in addition to last year’s $5 million Open Space Impact Fees (OSIF) commitment that passed City Council and a $10 million commitment from Related Midwest. We are especially proud that the Coalition’s annual event has inspired Mayor Lightfoot to express her intent to honor DuSable every summer with a festival in August. While the Coalition feels progress has been made, the DuSable Park Advisory Council (DPAC) is still a homeless lakeshore PAC and is eager to get started on framework and design plans for the park. Over 30 years is too long to wait while other park district investments have been prioritized and completed.
When: Saturday, August 21, 2021 – there will be both in-person and virtual components:
IN-PERSON Program:
11:00 am The "Wreath Laying Ceremony"
12:20 pm "The Founder's Trail Tour," brought to us by the DuSable Heritage Association
1:15 pm The Sixty Fourth Street Beach Drummers
IN-PERSON Performance at Founders Inflatable Near DuSable Harbor
6:00 pm Floating Museum presents TRANSLATOR featuring Starla Thompson
(Potawatomi and Chumash) and Lional 'Brother El' Freeman
VIRTUAL Zoom Platform Presentation:
11:00 am The "Wreath Laying Ceremony" (Live)
12:20 pm Panel Discussion | Black Chicago Past and Present
1:15 pm DHA Presents: "The Founder's Trail Tour Video"
1:40 pm DHA Presents: "The History of Advocacy: DuSable Park Video"
Where: 401 N. Michigan Avenue by the Apple Store and the stairs to the Chicago River. The Founder’s Trail Tours will start immediately after the ceremony and will end at the DuSable Harbor.
