Welcome to Radical Roots!

This season, Pivot Arts reflects on the lessons of a celebrated literary text and invites world-class Latinx artists with roots in Chicago to share their stories in deeply personal and dynamic ways.

The House on Mango Street serves as a powerful example of how a physical space—a dilapidated house in a Chicago neighborhood—becomes a catalyst for self-discovery, a yearning for belonging, and the development of agency. Esperanza’s experiences within this environment, marked by poverty and social marginalization, fuel her desire for a better future—one that demands courage and resilience.

Our goal is to build on the ethos of Mango Street by examining how Latinx authors and creators interpret the ways their lived experiences and relationship to space shape identity, memory, and our understanding of truth.

Through book discussions, writing workshops with organizations like 2nd Story and The Neo-Futurists, a short-film festival, and a studio art exhibition, we invite you to consider your own relationship to place. Join us as we explore Chicago’s diverse tapestry of neighborhoods—where stories of resilience and discovery come to life.

In Community,

Jorge Silva

Executive Artistic Director