Changing Worlds began in 1996 as a photo and oral history project at Hibbard Elementary School in Albany Park, a port of entry for immigrants and refugees and one of Chicagos most diverse neighborhoods. Our founder and a team of writers worked with a school committee to produce an exhibit of photographs incorporating 13 multi-generational family histories that spoke of their migration experience to Chicago. The goal was to use family stories and photographs as a vehicle to create connections that valued the diversity represented throughout the school. This project led to the creation of an activity guide, in-school programs and a traveling exhibition of the permanent school exhibit to share with other communities. In 1999, this exciting initiative was transformed into an independent 501c3 nonprofit organization. Today, Changing Worlds is a city-wide resource for schools and communities across the city reaching over 10,000 Chicago area residents annually through our diverse array of programs.

Changing Worlds' mission is to foster inclusive communities through oral history, writing and art programs that improve student learning, affirm identity and enhance cross-cultural understanding. Our unique programming approach integrates cultural, family and community histories with writing and the arts to help program participants explore their own backgrounds and learn about others while strengthening their art and academic learning skills.

Changing Worlds in-school Literacy and Cultural Connections (LCC) program integrates the arts with reading and writing to encourage students to embrace their own identity and appreciation of other cultures, while also improving their art learning and academic skills. The program provides classroom residencies, teacher professional development and school-wide community building activities. Changing Worlds teaching artists and literacy specialists collaborate with teachers to implement residencies that are 1000 minutes in length and span 13-18 weeks in 3-4 classrooms in each participating site. Ongoing support is also provided to teachers, enabling them to continue using culturally responsive approaches in arts learning and literacy, even after the program has ended. The after-school Arts and Cultural Connections (ACC) program engages at-risk youth in high-quality arts experiences and intergenerational oral history/interview projects that use the arts to promote positive social and community interactions and keep young people in a safe environment during out-of-school hours. Modeled on the successful LCC program, the ACC program is led by a Changing Worlds teaching artist and provides arts instruction and cultural awareness experiences that affirm identity, enhance cross-cultural understanding and improve arts learning. Through arts residencies, the teaching artists engage youth ages 6 to 12 in hands-on activities, weekly workshops and reflection sessions. Overall, ten, 10 week residencies will be implemented, providing youth with a combined weekly average of 7 hours of hands-on instruction. Both the ACC and LCC programs are aligned with Illinois state learning standards and the Chicago Public Schools Guide for Teaching and Learning in the Arts. Changing Worlds teacher professional development initiatives provide educators with ongoing professional development support and resources through hands-on trainings, workshops and a week-long summer institute. The training sessions build the capacity of teachers to enhance their curricula by incorporating best practices in arts integration, literacy and multiculturalism into their teaching repertoire. A primary goal is to work with teachers so that they can continue to use Changing Worlds culturally responsive approaches, even after the program has ended. Changing Worlds outreach programs include the Oral History and Photography Traveling Exhibits that incorporate the histories of 13 multi-generational families and speak of their migration experience to Chicago. Hands-on activities encourage participants to share stories and create art and engage in cross-cultural understanding. Changing Worlds also contracts with Chicago-based artists to conduct cultural/ethnic performances in schools, libraries, community organizations and other public facilities. These performances serve to deepen cross-cultural awareness and also provide emerging talents with exposure to larger audiences.