ZB Chalk Talk

“Chalk Talk” Quotes

“Bringing Chalk Talk to the Zion-Benton Community was a profound experience. To have the creator, Wing Young Huie ask after a discussion on what people saw observing his photographs, “So what is the truth? The truth is, we don’t tend to care about the truth. We make assumptions based on what we see and that becomes our truth. The only way we find out the real truth is by asking, but we don’t ask.” I felt the walls come down in the room. Conversation ensued and people asked. Having residents willing to be so vulnerable in expressing themselves, I felt our community’s heart grow, like the Grinch’s did in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Having the pictures up in the community for an entire month was a reminder of those moments, with a variety of cultures, races, ages, genders and religions taking a moment to connect and show the world who they truly are. I am so happy to have the Chalk Talk Art Walk as a traveling exhibit to remind us to reach out to others….and ask.”
~ Cheri Neal, Zion Township Supervisor

“I found Chalk Talk encouraging because it brought together a diverse group of people and gave them an opportunity to connect. The end result was people becoming comfortable with people they might not otherwise interact with, and realizing that, despite our differences, we have many common values. This is the key to a healthy community – connecting with people and realizing that we have more in common than we think.”
~ Chris Kubic, Community Member, Grayslake North High School Administration

“I found Chalk Talk to be a refreshing personal and professional experience. I admit as I entered I was a touch skeptical! Come on, I’ve done this! As I shared my reflections with community members I found my focus clearing. In this adult world we often are weighted down with obligations, deadlines, duties and routine activities. As I discussed the character values of my community Chalk Talk allowed me to think about my own fundamentals; what I wanted to be known for, what I held as most important to uphold and to be. I kept coming back to integrity, to keep your word or promise and to practice what you preach. I’m still a work in progress but chalk talk reminded me to get that focus back.

After my own experience I took the lessons of Chalk Talk to my ZBTHS after school club SHADES. I centered the discussion around the theme of choosing to participate. Explaining to students that when an event or issue arises you’ll always have a choice to participate; either positively or negatively. How will you participate? We shared many experiences and pictures; often where the choice was challenging and forced someone to go against the crowd or the standard in society. Our kids are remarkable because their vision is always so clear; failure is not an option to them you do what’s right! Sometimes I think I get more out of it then they do but they took the community values and the chalk talk philosophy and made their choices; always in the right direction. These are conversations we should be having as in the next year, or two or twenty they’ll be faced with participating and we’ve given them a bit of insight, the rest is up to you!”
~ Andy Gomez, Zion-Benton Township High School

“Chalk Talk was a deeply moving experience that opened my mind and helped me to connect with people I might never have even met. It was wonderful to find common ground and honor what makes each of us unique and valuable.”
~ Carol Dolin, Director, Zion-Benton Public Library

“Chalk talk proved that ethnicity and skin color should be obsolete. Also that we are all the same and only love can change the world.”
~ Matt Thornton, Zion Police Department

“Chalk Talk” Art Walk

The communities of Beach Park, Winthrop Harbor, and Zion came together to continue an ongoing community conversation about character traits. The Chalk Talk Art Walk gallery took place from 10:00am – 5:00pm on Saturday, May 28 beginning at the Inn at Market Square, 2723 Sheridan Rd, Zion. The community was invited to walk along the streets of Beach Park, Winthrop Harbor, and downtown Zion to view beautiful photography inspired by individuals from the Zion-Benton Community. These images were created during the Chalk Talk events held in early March.

Chalk Talk is a community event inspired by Wing Young Huie, to bridge cultural and communication gaps in diverse communities. While participating in these events, individuals were given an opportunity to reflect on their own character traits and challenged to see one another in a different light.

At the Chalk Talk Art Walk, we celebrated our community’s character traits as showcased through beautiful photography. At this FREE event, attendees discussed the insights gained through these photos inspired by individuals from the Zion-Benton Community.

Chalk Talk is sponsored by Community of Character in cooperation with Coalition for Healthy Communities.