The trauma experienced by the continuous heinous acts of racism and profound inhumanity are undeniable. It's heavy, and it hurts. We cannot be silent as injustices of these times, and of historical times, persist. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

It is with deepened heartache that we all have to process this grief and despair while being physically apart, as this vicious pandemic ravishes Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities at disproportionate rates.

Marwen is here. We will hold space for all of our communities to process together and to learn. We will lean on art as an inherent form of self expression, healing, and mobilization. Together we will strengthen, restore, and rebuild.

In solidarity, peace, and wellness,

Akilah Halley, Executive Director

The trauma experienced by the continuous heinous acts of racism and profound inhumanity are undeniable. It's heavy, and it hurts. We cannot be silent as injustices of these times, and of historical times, persist. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

It is with deepened heartache that we all have to process this grief and despair while being physically apart, as this vicious pandemic ravishes Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities at disproportionate rates.

Marwen is here. We will hold space for all of our communities to process together and to learn. We will lean on art as an inherent form of self expression, healing, and mobilization. Together we will strengthen, restore, and rebuild.

In solidarity, peace, and wellness,

Akilah Halley, Executive Director

 
Marwen Community Connections
Let's get together (virtually, of course)! Marwen is hosting several weekly social spaces for members of our community -- a time to come together, to be in conversation, to share how you are doing, and to see each others' faces.
Just because we are distant does not mean that we have to be alone. Join us for the full hour, or just pop in to say hi - we hope to see you there! SEE FULL LIST OF MEET-UPS

 
Marwen Community Connections
Let's get together (virtually, of course)! Marwen is hosting several weekly social spaces for members of our community -- a time to come together, to be in conversation, to share how you are doing, and to see each others' faces.
Just because we are distant does not mean that we have to be alone. Join us for the full hour, or just pop in to say hi - we hope to see you there! SEE FULL LIST OF MEET-UPS

Marwen's College & Career Online Resources

Dear Marwen students and families,

We at Marwen’s College and Career Center understand that this is a challenging time for everyone, considering the evolving news about COVID-19. In particular, we know that navigating college decisions without the opportunity to visit colleges or to speak with advisors in person can be difficult. We are sad to have canceled our spring break programming to go on college field trips. However, we are excited to provide online college and career resources that you can access from your devices. SEE RESOURCE LIST

Marwen's College & Career Online Resources

Dear Marwen students and families,

We at Marwen’s College and Career Center understand that this is a challenging time for everyone, considering the evolving news about COVID-19. In particular, we know that navigating college decisions without the opportunity to visit colleges or to speak with advisors in person can be difficult. We are sad to have canceled our spring break programming to go on college field trips. However, we are excited to provide online college and career resources that you can access from your devices. SEE RESOURCE LIST

(Este mensaje se puede encontrar en español a continuación.)

Dear Marwen Community,

We hope that this email finds you well. We are writing in regard to increasing concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 virus through community contact.

Since our last communication, confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to increase in our city. To our knowledge, no Marwen young person, family member, staff member, or teaching artist has been diagnosed with COVID-19 as of today.

As we stated in our last email communication regarding COVID-19, Marwen has been taking every precaution within our capacity to prevent the spread of the virus.

As of Friday, March 13th, Marwen will close our art center and cancel all programming through the end of Spring term, which is Saturday, April 4th. Additionally, plans to offer Spring Break programming have been cancelled the week of April 6-10. Staff are currently working to create online opportunities for young people to engage during this time. We will share updates through email, on our website news page, and through social media.

Marwen remains committed to supporting our staff, teaching artists, and studio facilitators during this time. All contracts for Spring term and Spring Break programming will be honored. Staff will remain in touch to offer support and share new information with teaching artists and studio facilitators.

We appreciate your support and partnership as we do our best to keep our community safe during this time of uncertainty. If you have questions, please reach out to Aurora King, Director of Education at Marwen, at aking@marwen.org or 312.374.2952.

In community,

Akilah Halley

Executive Director, Marwen

-------------------------

Querida comunidad de Marwen,

Esperemos que este mensaje los encuentra bién. Les estamos escribiendo en referencia a las preocupaciones crecientes sobre la propagación del virus COVID-19 por contacto de la comunidad.

Desde nuestro ultimo mensaje de comunicación, los casos confirmados de COVID-19 han aumentado en nuestra ciudad. Que sepamos, ningún estudiante de Marwen, familiar, empleado o instructor de arte ha sido diagnosticado a partir de hoy.

Como hemos comunicado en nuestro ultimo mensaje de correo electrónico sobre el virus COVID-19, Marwen ha tomado todas las precauciones dentre nuestra capacidad para prevenir la propagación del virus.

A partir del Viernes, 13 de Marzo, Marwen cerrera nuestro centro de arte y cancelará toda nuestra programación hasta el final del término de la primavera, cual es el Sábado, 4० de Abril. Adicionalmente, planes para ofrecer programación sobre las vacaciones de la primavera han sido cancelados la semana de Abril 6 -10. Los empleados de Marwen están trabajando para crear oportunidades para que estudiantes participen sobre en línea durante este tiempo. Compartiremos actualizaciones sobre correo electrónico, nuestra página de noticias en nuestro sitio y por nuestras redes sociales.

Marwen permanece cometido ha apoyar nuestros empleados y instructores de arte durante este tiempo. Todos los contratos del término y vacaciones de la primavera serán honrados. Empleados estarán en contacto para ofrecer apoyo y compartir nueva información con todos los instructores de arte.

Apreciamos su apoyo y colaboración como hacemos el mejor esfuerzo para mantener nuestra comunidad sana durante este tiempo de incertidumbre. Si tiene alguna pregunta, no dude en comunicarse con Aurora King, Directora de Educación de Marwen, al aking@marwen.org o 312. 374.2952.

En comunidad,

Akilah Halley

Directora Ejecutiva, Marwen

(Este mensaje se puede encontrar en español a continuación.)

Dear Marwen Community,

We hope that this email finds you well. We are writing in regard to increasing concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 virus through community contact.

Since our last communication, confirmed COVID-19 cases continue to increase in our city. To our knowledge, no Marwen young person, family member, staff member, or teaching artist has been diagnosed with COVID-19 as of today.

As we stated in our last email communication regarding COVID-19, Marwen has been taking every precaution within our capacity to prevent the spread of the virus.

As of Friday, March 13th, Marwen will close our art center and cancel all programming through the end of Spring term, which is Saturday, April 4th. Additionally, plans to offer Spring Break programming have been cancelled the week of April 6-10. Staff are currently working to create online opportunities for young people to engage during this time. We will share updates through email, on our website news page, and through social media.

Marwen remains committed to supporting our staff, teaching artists, and studio facilitators during this time. All contracts for Spring term and Spring Break programming will be honored. Staff will remain in touch to offer support and share new information with teaching artists and studio facilitators.

We appreciate your support and partnership as we do our best to keep our community safe during this time of uncertainty. If you have questions, please reach out to Aurora King, Director of Education at Marwen, at aking@marwen.org or 312.374.2952.

In community,

Akilah Halley

Executive Director, Marwen

-------------------------

Querida comunidad de Marwen,

Esperemos que este mensaje los encuentra bién. Les estamos escribiendo en referencia a las preocupaciones crecientes sobre la propagación del virus COVID-19 por contacto de la comunidad.

Desde nuestro ultimo mensaje de comunicación, los casos confirmados de COVID-19 han aumentado en nuestra ciudad. Que sepamos, ningún estudiante de Marwen, familiar, empleado o instructor de arte ha sido diagnosticado a partir de hoy.

Como hemos comunicado en nuestro ultimo mensaje de correo electrónico sobre el virus COVID-19, Marwen ha tomado todas las precauciones dentre nuestra capacidad para prevenir la propagación del virus.

A partir del Viernes, 13 de Marzo, Marwen cerrera nuestro centro de arte y cancelará toda nuestra programación hasta el final del término de la primavera, cual es el Sábado, 4० de Abril. Adicionalmente, planes para ofrecer programación sobre las vacaciones de la primavera han sido cancelados la semana de Abril 6 -10. Los empleados de Marwen están trabajando para crear oportunidades para que estudiantes participen sobre en línea durante este tiempo. Compartiremos actualizaciones sobre correo electrónico, nuestra página de noticias en nuestro sitio y por nuestras redes sociales.

Marwen permanece cometido ha apoyar nuestros empleados y instructores de arte durante este tiempo. Todos los contratos del término y vacaciones de la primavera serán honrados. Empleados estarán en contacto para ofrecer apoyo y compartir nueva información con todos los instructores de arte.

Apreciamos su apoyo y colaboración como hacemos el mejor esfuerzo para mantener nuestra comunidad sana durante este tiempo de incertidumbre. Si tiene alguna pregunta, no dude en comunicarse con Aurora King, Directora de Educación de Marwen, al aking@marwen.org o 312. 374.2952.

En comunidad,

Akilah Halley

Directora Ejecutiva, Marwen

(Este mensaje se puede encontrar en español a continuación.)

Dear Marwen Community,

We hope that this email finds you well and healthy. We are writing in regard to heightened concerns about the spread of the COVID-19 virus through community contact.

Late last week, CPS informed families that the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) has recently alerted the district to a confirmed case of COVID-19 involving a staff member at Vaughn Occupational High School.

Marwen is currently taking precautions to prevent the spread of the virus and is also setting up a plan in the event that the spread of the virus directly impacts our community of young people, families, teaching artists, studio facilitators, and staff.

Some important details to note about COVID-19 can be found here and here.

We are also aware that fear about the spread of COVID-19 has led to a rise in anti-Asian, specifically anti- Chinese sentiment across our communities and across the country. We are aware that our Asian American families may be encountering this in their lives. Marwen is committed to fostering and holding a community of artists and staff that proactively addresses xenophobia and racism and will be collaborating with our educators and staff to ensure that they are able to support every young person at Marwen during this time of uncertainty. Click here for more about how to address anti-Asian xenophobia and racism associated with COVID-19.

Additional actions for each of us and for our shared space at Marwen:

Please consider your proximity to exposure. While you may have more protected immunity and be at low risk of exposure, it is important to consider factors such as if you live with someone who has less protected immunity. This puts you at increased risk.

Other factors to consider include living with someone who works in a school, healthcare facility, or other community space where COVID-19 has been detected. This also puts you at increased risk.

If you have experienced an increased risk of exposure due to one of the factors above or other factors, this could increase the risk for our community at Marwen. We ask that you let us know as soon as you can so that we can take precautions to keep our community informed and healthy.

If anyone close to you, including family, friends, colleagues, etc come down with COVID-19, the risk of exposure is significantly increased. In the event of this occurrence, please be in touch with Aurora King, Director of Education at Marwen, as soon as possible at aking@marwen.org or 312.374.2952. All communications will be treated with confidentiality and care.

For young people, staff, teaching artists, and studio facilitators who experience this, there will be a plan made to assure that you remain offsite for a period of time. Young people will not be dropped from courses due to COVID-19. For staff, teaching artists, and studio facilitators, there will be a plan in place to mitigate adverse impact due to exposure to the virus.

Practices that Marwen staff, teaching artists and studio facilitators are utilizing to keep ourselves and our community healthy:

Stay home and consult with a health care provider when we are sick or if we have been directly exposed to someone who is. If you need support accessing health care, please contact the CPS Office of Student Health & Wellness oshw@cps.edu or by calling the Healthy CPS Hotline at 773.553.5437. If you are not a CPS student or parent, you can visit the City of Chicago Health Services resource page.
Wash our hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing our nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Avoid touching our eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Cover our cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Stay hydrated.
Utilize hand sanitizer frequently. Marwen has placed accessible sanitizer in every studio and in common spaces.
Wipe desks, keyboards, phones, doorknobs daily to disinfect. Wipe down common meeting space tables after every meeting and before every day of programming.

Marwen is currently building a plan in the event that a community member becomes ill with COVID-19 and/or we have to close Marwen for a period of time. We have been and will continue to be in contact with the Chicago Public Health Department, Chicago Public Schools, and other non-profit partners to monitor this situation. As always, the safety and well being of our entire community is our top priority. We will continue to communicate developments as they arise. Thank you for your patience and cooperation during this time.

In community,

Akilah Halley

Executive Director, Marwen

_______

Querida comunidad de Marwen,

Esperamos que al recibir este correo electrónico se encuentren bien y sanos. Les estamos escribiendo con respecto a las crecientes preocupaciones sobre la propagación del virus COVID-19 a través de transmisión comunitaria.

A fines de la semana pasada, las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago (CPS) informó a las familias que el Departamento de Salud Pública de Chicago (CDPH) recientemente alertó al distrito sobre un caso confirmado de COVID-19 que involucra a un miembro del personal de la Escuela Secundaria Ocupacional Vaugh.

Marwen está actualmente tomando precauciones para prevenir la propagación del virus y también está estableciendo un plan en caso de que la propagación del virus afecte directamente a nuestra comunidad de jóvenes, familias, artistas docentes, facilitadores de estudio, y/o el personal.

Algunos detalles importantes para tomar en cuenta sobre el COVID-19 se pueden encontrar aquí y aquí.

También somos conscientes de que el temor a la propagación del COVID-19 ha llevado a un aumento en sentimientos anti-asiáticos, específicamente anti-chinos, en nuestras comunidades y en todo el país. Somos conscientes que nuestras familias asiático-americanas pueden estar enfrentado esta situación en sus propias vidas. Marwen se compromete a fomentar y mantener una comunidad de artistas y personal que aborda de manera proactiva la xenofobia y el racismo, y colaboraremos con nuestros educadores y el personal para asegurar que ellos puedan apoyar a cada joven en Marwen durante este tiempo de incertidumbre. Haga clic aquí para obtener más información sobre cómo abordar la xenofobia y el racismo anti-asiático asociado con el COVID-19.

Medidas adicionales para cada uno de nosotros y para nuestro uso del espacio compartido en Marwen:

Por favor considere su proximidad a la exposición del virus. Mientras usted pueda tener una inmunidad protectiva mayor y un bajo riesgo de exposición, es importante tener en cuenta factores como el vivir con alguien que tiene menos inmunidad protectiva. Esto lo pone en mayor riesgo.

Otros factores a considerar incluyen vivir con alguien que trabaja en una escuela, centro de salud, u otro espacio comunitario donde se ha detectado el COVID-19. Esto también lo pone en mayor riesgo.

Si ha tenido un mayor riesgo de exposición debido a uno de los factores anteriores u otros factores, esto podría aumentar el riesgo de nuestra comunidad en Marwen. Le pedimos que nos haga saber lo más pronto posible para que podamos tomar precauciones para mantener a nuestra comunidad sana e informada.

Si alguien cercano a usted, incluyendo familiares, amigos, colegas, etc contrae el COVID-19, el riesgo de exposición aumenta considerablemente. En el caso de que esto ocurra, por favor póngase en contacto con Aurora King, la Directora de Educación de Marwen, lo más pronto posible por correo electrónico aking@marwen.org o por teléfono al 312.374.2952. Todas las comunicaciones serán tratadas con confidencialidad y cuidado.

Para los jóvenes, el personal, los artistas docentes y/o los facilitadores de estudio que pasen por esta situación, habrá un plan para garantizar que ustedes permanezcan fuera del área por un periodo de tiempo. Los jóvenes no serán dados de baja en los cursos debido al COVID-19. Para el personal, los artistas docentes, y los facilitadores de estudio, habrá un plan en marcha para mitigar el impacto adverso debido a la exposición al virus.

Las prácticas que el personal de Marwen, los artistas docentes y los facilitadores de estudio están utilizando para mantenernos sanos nosotros mismos y nuestra comunidad:

Nos quedamos en casa y consultamos a un proveedor de atención médica cuando estamos enfermos o si hemos estado directamente expuestos a alguien que lo está. Si necesitas apoyo para obtener atención médica, por favor contacta a la Oficina de Salud y Bienestar Estudiantil de CPS por correo electrónico oshw@cps.edu o llamando a la línea directa de CPS Saludable al 773.553.5437. Si no eres un alumno o padre de CPS, puedes visitar la página de recursos para aprender más sobre los Servicios de Salud en la ciudad de Chicago.
Nos lavamos las manos con frecuencia por al menos 20 segundos con agua y jabón, especialmente después de ir al baño; antes de comer; y después de soplarse la nariz, toser, o estornudar.
Nos evitamos tocar los ojos, la nariz, y la boca antes de lavarnos las manos.
Nos cubrimos nuestra tos o estornudo con un pañuelo de papel, y luego tiramos el pañuelo a la basura.
Nos mantenemos hidratados.
Utilizamos gel desinfectante con frecuencia. Marwen ha puesto desinfectantes accesibles en cada estudio y en las áreas comunes.
Limpiamos los escritorios, los teclados, los teléfonos, y las manijas de las puertas para desinfectar diariamente. Limpiamos las mesas en las áreas comunes después de cada reunión y antes de cada día de actividades.

Marwen actualmente está construyendo un plan en caso de que un miembro de la comunidad se enferme con el COVID-19 y/o tengamos que cerrar Marwen por un período de tiempo. Hemos estado y seguiremos en contacto con el Departamento de Salud Pública de Chicago, las Escuelas Públicas de Chicago y otras organizaciones sin fines de lucro para monitorear esta situación. Como siempre, la seguridad y el bienestar de toda nuestra comunidad es nuestra máxima prioridad. Seguiremos comunicando los acontecimientos a medida que surjan. Gracias por su paciencia y cooperación durante este tiempo.

En comunidad,

‌

Akilah Halley

Executive Director, Marwen