24. How Tonika Lewis Johnson uses Photography for the Social Good

Hi, It's Martine Severin here. Welcome back. We have social justice artist, Tonika Lewis Johnson on the show to talk about how you can use your art to spark compassion, good citizenship and to improve the lives of the people in your neighborhood. The first part of our conversation focuses on Tonika's early life and the second part focuses on how her twenties and her upbringing brought her to create Folded Map as a way to disrupt systemic racism and historic segregation in Chicago. I can't wait for you to dig into to this episode and to get to know the Powerhouse that is Tonika! Tonika Johnson is a photographer/social justice artist and life-long resident of Chicago's South Side neighborhood of Englewood. She is also co-founder of two community-based organizations, Englewood Arts Collective and Resident Association of Greater Englewood, that mobilize people and resources for positive change. She turned the Folded Map project into a non-profit organization where she serves as Executive Director. She was named one of Field Foundation's Leaders for a New Chicago and most recently, she was appointed as a member of the Cultural Advisory Council of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events by the Chicago City Council. Stay Connected with Tonika Lewis Johnson https://www.foldedmapproject.com/interactive-maps IG: https://www.instagram.com/tonikaj/ Personal Site: https://www.tonijphotography.com/ Catch up with your host, Martine Séverin www.martineseverin.com https://www.instagram.com/martine.severin/