Creating Justice at Oakton celebrates art, community activism

A free public conference will feature discussions, films, workshops, staged readings, food, live music and interactive art projects from 12:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at Oakton Community College's TenHoeve Center, 1600 E. Golf Road, Des Plaines.

Now in its sixth year, Creating Justice is one of the most popular events at Oakton.

"The day invites participants to awaken their imaginations and celebrate our strength as a community," said this year's event organizer, Kristin McCartney, associate professor of humanities and philosophy.

Creating Justice is an event for anyone interested in finding a path to a more creative and just society, bringing to campus artists, poets, filmmakers, musicians, philosophers, students and the general public for a day of sharing, learning, performing and activism. Throughout the day there will be opportunities to explore one's own creativity. Attendees can try their hand at printmaking, podcasting, coloring, knitting and crocheting and more. The day concludes with a shared meal of Indian cuisine and the original jazz-funk sounds of Groove Witness.

Attendees are invited to stay for a staged reading of "Powerless Gods" at 8 p.m. Written by Tina Fakhrid-Deen and directed by Veronda Carey, the play takes an unflinching look at the problems of urban education - public vs. charter, race, respectability politics, class, and identity. Tickets are $8 at the Performing Arts Center box office.

Please register in advance at www.oakton.edu/creatingjustice. For information, contact McCartney via email, kmccartn@oakton.edu.