Celebrating Community Leaders in Action
Southwest Creative Studio presents SEEDS OF SERVICE–Sowing Change:
Celebrating Community Leaders in Action, an immersive pop-up museum celebrating community leaders, advocates, educators, and changemakers whose service has shaped Chicago and inspired communities around the world. The exhibition runs August 28– November 13, 2026 at Southwest Creative Studio, 2609 W. 63rd St., Chicago, IL.
Created in partnership with the International Servant Leaders Museum and supported by DCASE’s Neighborhood Access Grant and We Like Clean, Seeds of Service explores servant leadership through interactive education labs, traditional museum exhibits, historical artifacts, and workshops highlighting stories of people who have created lasting change through service. The exhibition highlights Chicago leaders curated in collaboration with Former Deputy Minister of Education for the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party, Billy Ché Brooks and comerades at the Movement and Justice Gallery. Features include Harold Washington, Gwendolyn Brooks, Marion Stamps, Nancy Jefferson, Hazel M Johnson, and small, robust, grassroots organizations alongside global figures such as Mahatma , Dolores Huerta, Wangari Maathai, and Fred Rogers.
Visitors can enjoy free community programming, including workshops, teach-ins, youth leadership activities, art classes, and conversations led by local organizations and community members throughout the exhibiton. The exhibition is free and open to the public.
The space is ADA accessible and includes audio tours, accessible parking, and drop-off access.
OPEN HOURS THURSDAYS 11am-2pm and by appointment. FREE
"Seeds of Service celebrates the people who strengthen our communities through compassion, action, and leadership. The exhibition invites everyone to see how they can contribute to positive change.”
August 28th, 2026 - November 13th, 2026
Southwest Creative Studio - 2603 W 63rd St, Chicago, IL
WE ARE HONORED
—and excited—to announce this project that we’ve been developing alongside our community for many months.
Seeds of Service — Sowing Change: Celebrating Community Leaders in Action, is a three-month immersive pop-up museum exploring the lives, legacies, and impact of leaders, advocates, organizers, educators, neighbors, and changemakers from Chicago and around the world.
Developed by Southwest Creative Studio in partnership with the International Servant Leaders Museum, and made possible through the City of Chicago’s Neighborhood Access Grant and We Like Clean, this project celebrates the people who have devoted their time, energy, and patience to uplifting others, amplifying overlooked voices, and advocating for the rights, well-being, and dignity of those around them.
Throughout the exhibition, Southwest Creative Studio will host workshops, teach-ins, guest speakers, roundtable discussions, classes, celebrations, and more — creating a space for Chicagoans to gather, connect, and learn from one another. The project will highlight both historical and present-day leaders, while also recognizing local residents who are creating positive change today and exploring what it means to be a servant leader in action.
THE EXHIBITION
—interactive education for all ages, learning styles, and backgrounds featuring programs and workshops.
Working alongside the community advocate and former Black Panther Billy Brooks, our partner the International Servant Leader’s Museum local historians, educators, artists, and youth, we are curating a collection of stories that highlight people whose work has made a lasting impact. The exhibition will feature artifacts and materials from the International Servant Leaders Museum alongside a Chicago-focused collection honoring individuals, organizations, and movements that have shaped our city through advocacy, education, justice, and care for others.
The exhibition is interactive and immersive, offering multiple ways to engage with and learn from the material. Rather than simply displaying photos on a wall, the museum features colorful environments, hands-on activities, and exhibit designs created by our mentorship artists that invite exploration and participation. Our programming offerings feature local leaders and small organizations, including topics of CPR training, urban farming, youth leadership, round table discussion, social issue teach-ins and crisis response, art and creativity classes, and more. Our space is ADA-compliant, offers audio tours, and includes accessible drop-off and handicapped parking directly in front of the studio.
WHAT IS SERVANT LEADERSHIP?
listening, empathy, healing, stewardship, community circle orientation, and a hopeful vision for the future.
— are the 6 principles of servant leadership.
Despite its name, servant leadership is not a religious concept. It is a leadership philosophy rooted in listening, empathy, stewardship, and a commitment to helping others thrive.
Developed by Robert K. Greenleaf, servant leadership is based on the idea that the best leaders are servants first — focusing less on power and status and more on supporting others, building stronger communities, and creating opportunities for growth.
We were introduced to these ideas through our project partners, Dr. Hamid Akbari and Azar Khounani, founders of the International Servant Leaders Museum (we’ll introduce them soon!). Inspired by their work celebrating leaders from around the world, we are bringing this concept home by highlighting Chicago leaders whose service, advocacy, and dedication continue to shape our neighborhoods.
Featured Chicago stories include inspirations such as Harold Washington, Gwendolyn Brooks, Marion Stamps, Nancy Jefferson, Irma Ruiz, the Illinois Prison Project, and the American Indian Center of Chicago. International figures include artifacts from the International Servant Leaders Museum featuring Mahatma Gandhi, Morrie Turner, Wangari Maathai, Mr. Rogers, Dolores Huerta, and many more.