Visions of Justice – IL Humanities

About the Series

What does a truly just society look like? How does it feel? How do we get there?

While these questions evoke the deep inequities and complexities of our present and past, their answers are crucial to shaping our future.

Illinois Humanities presents Visions of Justice, an eight-part video series created in partnership with VAM STUDIO that brings together the perspectives of more than 30 Illinoisans spread over seven towns and cities to examine the far-reaching impacts of mass incarceration in our local communities. Watch the full series to hear from an exciting array of Illinois artists, organizers, scholars, and other local residents working to interrogate the foundation of the criminal legal system and advance justice where they live.

In each edition of the Visions of Justice series, Envisioning Justice Fellow Meredith Nnoka hosts conversations with individuals in the communities of Bloomington-Normal, Carbondale, Chicago, Decatur, East St. Louis, Galesburg, and Urbana-Champaign to explore the conversation through a hyperlocal lens.

Watch the Series

Visions of Justice is produced by Illinois Humanities in partnership with VAM STUDIO and moderated by Illinois Humanities’ Envisioning Justice Fellow, Meredith Nnoka.

About VAM STUDIO

VAM STUDIO is an award-winning production company and film collective behind some of the most disruptive narratives, commercials, and branded content in culture today. VAM is an unapologetic, diverse team of filmmakers working from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and disciplines while standing out on a global scale.

The VAM STUDIO team includes filmmakers and writers Sam Bailey, Fatimah Asghar, Jordan Phelps and founder Vincent Martell.

Black owned.

About the moderator

Meredith Nnoka, the Envisioning Justice Fellow at Illinois Humanities, is a Chicago-based writer, educator, and social justice advocate originally from Southern Maryland. She studied the intersecting histories of Black expressive arts and social movements at Smith College for her BA and later the University of Wisconsin-Madison for her MA, where she first considered the questions now central to her work: What is the power in bearing witness, and how can controlling our own narratives be used toward liberation?

Watch the Trailer

The Series

All eight features in the Visions of Justice series are now available to watch online. Click on a town below to watch the video highlighting that community.

Decatur

Watch Visions of Justice: Decatur, featuring interviews with five insightful contributors from the Decatur area: Dana Anderson, Rev. Courtney Carson, Evelyn Hood, Alex Miller, and Lonnie Williams.

Premiered: Sept. 24, 2021

Watch Now

Bloomington-Normal

Watch Visions of Justice: Bloomington-Normal, featuring interviews with five insightful contributors from the Bloomington-Normal area: Ky Ajayi, Olivia Butts, Heather Canuel, Jenn Carrillo, and Gabe Cripe.

Premiered: Oct. 5, 2021

Watch Now

Chicago

Watch Visions of Justice: Chicago, featuring interviews with local residents working toward justice in their community: Eric Blackmon, Denzel Burke, Alice Kim, and Beth Richie.

Premiered: Oct. 7, 2021

Watch Now

Carbondale

Watch Visions of Justice: Carbondale, featuring interviews with four insightful contributors from the Carbondale area: Najjar Abdul-Musawwir, LaGina Crim, Chastity Mays, and Nick Smaligo.

Premiered: Oct. 12, 2021

Watch Now

Galesburg

Watch Visions of Justice: Galesburg, featuring interviews with four men currently serving long-term sentences at Hill Correctional Center: Brandon, Brian, Cincere, and Omar.

Premiered: Oct. 19, 2021

Watch Now

East St. Louis

Watch Visions of Justice: East St. Louis, featuring interviews with five local residents working toward justice in their community: TraVonn Jones, Tiara Moore, Edna Patterson-Petty, Sandra Pfeifer, Andrew Theising.

Premiered: Oct. 22, 2021

Watch Now

Urbana-Champaign

Watch Visions of Justice: Urbana-Champaign, featuring interviews with six insightful contributors from the Urbana-Champaign area: Bethany Britton-Little, Brian Dolinar, Molly Galloway, Rebecca Ginsburg, James Kilgore, and Marlon Mitchell.

Premiered: Oct. 27, 2021

Watch Now

Illinois | Series Finale

The Visions of Justice series culminates in Visions of Justice: Illinois, a look back at how the conversation about mass incarceration, justice, and healing has taken shape throughout the state. Hear from insightful contributors from across Illinois about the histories and present day advocacy that unite our communities large and small.

Premiered: Nov. 18, 2021

Watch Now

FAQ

How do I attend an event?

All Visions of Justice video screenings and community dialogues will take place virtually so our whole community can join the conversation safely.

Click on the event you’re interested in attending in the event calendar above. If registration is open, you can register to attend the event online. In the week before the event, you’ll receive a reminder email with the link to attend on Zoom and/or an interactive livestream.

I missed an event! Can I still watch it?

What accessibility accommodations are provided?

What is a 'community dialogue'?

Follow the Conversation

The Visions of Justice series brings together Illinoisans from all walks of life to share how the carceral system impacts our communities. Join the conversation on social media by following @ILHumanities on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, and use the hashtag #EnvisioningJustice to share your experience.