VOICES THROUGH ART
Conclusions & Takeaways
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The event was emotionally resonant and well-received, with attendees reporting inspiration, hope, and gratitude.
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Participants reflected a broad range of cultural identities (18 countries named), with many identifying with more than one.
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Migration stories added depth and meaning, underscoring the event’s relevance.
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Empowerment appeared less frequently than other emotions, suggesting room to further elevate participant agency.
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The environment was emotionally safe and inclusive, though language barriers were noted.
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Survey data suggests strong potential for repeat participation and word-of-mouth growth.
Emotional & Experiential Impact on Artists
Survey responses from five participating artists showed a similarly positive experience. All reported feeling respected by attendees, and all agreed or strongly agreed they felt empowered by the experience.
Most common emotions selected by artists were Inspired, Grateful, and Connected.
Two artists reported barriers to full participation—one cited a language barrier, another mentioned constraints of the political context. Despite this, the overall tone reflected appreciation, belonging, and pride.
Participant Reflections & Engagement Potential
Although the survey did not explicitly ask if attendees would participate again, the strong emotional feedback suggests high likelihood of return.
Many participants expressed gratitude, and one artist specifically requested more inclusion of city officials and non-immigrants in future events.
Impact Summary
The emotional and intellectual impact of Voices Through Art was significant. Post-event survey responses show:
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100% of attendees reported being emotionally moved by the event.
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21 of 22 respondents said the event had a significant, moderate, or life-changing impact on them.
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100% indicated they are likely to take action to support refugees and immigrants following the event.
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21 participants reported gaining new understanding of refugee and immigrant experiences.
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A question about whether the event “challenged” attendees’ views received inconclusive responses due to unclear wording.
Emotional Impact on Attendees
Attendees could select up to three emotions to describe their experience. The most common emotions were:
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Inspired (20 mentions)
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Hopeful (17)
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Grateful (15)
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Curious (13) – indicating engagement and desire to learn more.
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Empowered (6)
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Angry (3)
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Disappointed (2) – suggesting moments of discomfort or unmet expectations.
Overall, the emotional responses suggest the event was powerful and engaging, creating a welcoming space for connection, learning, and growth.
Audience Demographics & Cultural Identity
The audience was demographically and culturally diverse. Fourteen respondents were under 45 years old, and ten were 45 or older; approximately half were men and half were women.
Participants identified with 18 countries in total, with the most frequent one mentioned being the United States (11 mentions). Several individuals also named Afghanistan, Iran, Mexico, and England among others. Seven participants selected more than one country, illustrating complex and multi-layered identities that span cultural, national, and generational lines.
Migration Experiences Reported:
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9 individuals were born in the U.S., though 11 identified the U.S. as part of their background.
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5 immigrated for work, education, or family.
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5 identified as second or third generation immigrants.
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2 are Special Immigrant Visa Holders (SIVs).
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1 individual identified as undocumented.
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This diversity speaks to the richness of lived experiences in the room and reinforces the importance of intentional, inclusive storytelling that reflects the multifaceted realities of refugee and immigrant communities.
Our Impact
Explore the Event
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Lemna
Al
Kadie
Hama Hinnawi is a Palestinian-Jordanian artist, fashion designer, and speaker based in Chicago, specializing in the history of Palestinian embroidery. Her work uses textile, fashion, and visual art as forms of storytelling, exploring identity, memory, heritage, and belonging. For fifteen years she has worked with Palestinian refugee women, preserving traditional embroidery while creating opportunities for financial stability and independence, helping women build lives in violence-free environments. Her work has been presented internationally and recognized by Vogue and global media. She was the first Jordanian designer to open Milan Fashion Week. Her artistic practice brings Palestinian embroidery into contemporary forms, preserving what displacement cannot erase.
Hama
Lemna Parvini is an Iranian-American multidisciplinary executive professional and artist whose work explores identity, migration and cultural preservation. Having lived across Iran, Dubai, Singapore, Monaco and the United States, her experiences navigating different cultures deeply influence her artistic voice. Through expressive portraiture and abstract storytelling, she examines the tension between assimilation and authenticity, using art as a reflection of resilience, displacement and belonging.
Al Peters is a naturalized US citizen, born in the Southwest of the United Kingdom, with British and Dutch nationalities. The child of translators, he is, first and foremost, a linguist. In this regard, he received his undergraduate in Arabic language and Linguistics and Masters in Jewish Studies, with a focus on Hebrew and Aramaic linguistics. In 2009, he moved to Chicago to pursue a doctorate in Semitic Linguistics. Al has always been an avid musician, and during the Covid-19 shutdown, he began exploring visual arts, displaying his art in his community by building an unofficial open-air street-art gallery in the pedestrian underpass at 18th street/Soldier field. Al's artistic practice is thematically concerned with environmentalism and anticapitalism. His work often uses repurposed materials and technical styles involving geometry and recursion.
Risheh INSTITUTE
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