What is Listening Across Neighborhoods?
Listening Across Neighborhoods is a unique opportunity to gain skills with audio technology and public speaking while exploring the city of Chicago and learning more about your neighborhood.
- Discover: Learn about Chicago’s unique neighborhoods through sound.
- Engage: Participate in soundwalks, workshops, and public presentations.
- Create: Contribute to the Neighborhood Sound Archive, preserving the acoustic heritage of your community.
Is There Compensation?
Earn $200 for completing the program and making your public presentation.
Why Listen?
- Make a Difference: Identify neighborhood investment and disinvestment through sound.
- Develop Skills: gain life skills in active listening, sound recording, storytelling, and public speaking.
- Build Community: Connect with peers and different neighborhoods and share your findings.
Who Can Join?
High school students and youth: from all Chicago Neighborhoods.
When Is It?
- 4 Workshops between August – September, 2025
- Sound Workshops: August 9, August 16, August 23, 2025
- Public Speaking Workshop: September 6 or 13, 2025
LAN Staff
Mallory Qiu, teaching artist
Mallory Yanhan Qiu is a rising artist and curator based in Chicago, Illinois, born in Chongqing, China in 2000. Her interdisciplinary approach reflects her deep passion and honed expertise in the areas of live video and sound performance, sonic exploration, body movement, poetry, and digital visual art. Qiu has performed at Epiphany Center for the Arts, Elastic Arts, Mana Contemporary, {} () {} ∆ ‡ | () {} Nonation Art Lab, Research House for Asian Art, SAIC.
Sam Anthem, teaching artist
Sam Anthem is an artist working across sound, performance, and media to better understand social patterns of thinking of and being in the world. Through creative approaches to archives and interactive technology, they believe art can reshape how we relate to our natural surroundings and communities.
Phillip Purkett, leadership and public speaking trainer
Phillip Purkett is a senior moderator and leadership coach with over two decades of expertise as a facilitator and instructor specializing in leadership and organizational development, as well as collaboration, effective communication, individual consultation and team training. He serves in leadership roles at the local, district, and regional levels in his church. He is a community activist and neighborhood coordinator.
Marco Guagnelli, teaching artist
Marco Guagnelli specializes in creating, teaching and researching performance, community-based theatre and contemporary art. With over 7 years of professional experience his work uniquely combines methods of scholarly research with creative practice.
Eric Leonardson, project manager, Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology
Eric Leonardson, a Chicago-based audio artist, is President of the Midwest Society for Acoustic Ecology and Vice-President of the World Forum for Acoustic Ecology. He is an Adjunct Professor in Art and Technology/Sound Practices at SAIC. As a performer, composer, sound designer, and inventor, he performs internationally and promotes acoustic ecology, connecting communities through sound, listening, and the environment.
Christophe Preissing, project director, NON:op Arts and Humanities
Christophe Preissing is the founder and artistic director of NON:op Open Opera Works. He is also a composer, sound artist, producer and artistic instigator, whose work tackles social, political, and cultural issues. Since 2020, he and NON:op have been focused on facilitating radical access, experimentation, and creativity across communities while working collectively towards a more just society.
