Do Your P'Art Foundation

The work of the 320 students who participated in 2003-2004 was displayed at the Chicago Historical Society. Students from Skokie School and Hanson Park made Japanese kimonos from painted squares they produced in collaboration. The Washburne team that paired with Talman Elementary created quilts about Civil Rights (8th grade) and Native Americans (7th Grade). The other Washburne team worked with juniors and seniors from Jones College Preparatory School, and prepared dramatic reenactments and interpretations of the outcome from the landmark Brown vs. Topeka decision (it was also the 50th Anniversary of the decision). Mr. John Brown, a World War II Navajo code talker and Congressional Medal of Honor winner, along with David James, a Tuskagee airman of World War II gave moving speeches at the event. Mr. Brown explained the Navajo alphabet and how the Japanese could not break the code they developed from their alphabet. Mr. David James described his role as an African American in the Armed Services.