HYDE PARK — The KLEO Center is turning to gold shoes in an effort to tamp down some of the violence during the coming school year.
The community center at 119 E. Garfield Blvd. is partnering with the Golden Shoes Project to paint 433 shoes gold in recognition of the people killed by violence last year in Chicago for its Peace Fest and Back to School Rally Saturday.
“I think we’re bombarded with so much information every single day that sometimes we forget or it’s hard for us to grasp the severity of an issue,” artist Kazandra Santana said in a statement on the Golden Shoe Project. “So my goal is to create a visual for the viewer of what is going on or what the loss of these people really looks like.”
The KLEO Center is asking people from the community to donate shoes and help paint them gold for the large-scale art installation during the rally.
The center has held the rally for the past seven years as a positive kickoff to the school year and to help kids get the last-minute supplies they need for class.
“Every year countless families and communities are destroyed because of violent crimes among young people. KLEO believes that one youth, one woman, one being who falls victim to violence whether by death or incarceration, is one person too many,” said Torrey Barrett, director of the center. “KLEO is dedicated to reducing violence in Chicago and improving the overall quality of life for those living in our communities.”
The KLEO Center will pass out free backpacks and school supplies and will provide free haircuts and dental screenings.
Joffrey Ballet Community Engagement Dancers will perform and Dana Divine will host a special tribute to house music, as well as local musicians and artists.
The rally is from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and all events are free and open to the public.
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