April Doner - Weaving: A Holistic Approach to Societal Transformation
Tuesday, March 24, 2026 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM EDT
REGISTER TO ATTEND ONLINE
On Tuesday March 24, April Doner will kick off the 2026 Next System Speaker Series. Drawing from her background in asset-based community organizing, a lifetime as an community-oriented artist, and direct resistance efforts alongside neighbors in the ICE-targeted neighborhood of Little Village, Chicago, April Doner will speak to both the challenges and the rich potential of this moment to foster deeper social, political and cultural transformation. She will explore the ways in which community, imagination, and the connective, relational work of "weaving" -- within neighborhoods and communities, across change spaces and frameworks, and across sectors -- play a role in a holistic approach to change. This talk will take place online. Registration required.
April Doner is a connector, illustrator, and movement weaver whose work sits at the intersection of art, story, and asset-based, community-led development, grounded in a deep belief in the power of neighbors to shape shared futures. As Director of Programs at the Center for Next System Studies and a Facilitator with Chicago Peace Fellows, she bridges communities, universities, and movements to strengthen self-determination, grow networks of care, and advance a more just and democratic political-economic system. Based in Chicago’s Little Village, April practices community building every day alongside her daughter, Sophia.
