We Thrive Mural: YWCA Evanston/North Shore and Metropolitan Chicago, in Partnership with Wintrust, Unveil Public Mural Celebrating Women’s Collective Empowerment
Contact: Marketing & Communications Manager communications@ywca-ens.org | 224-420-3260
We Thrive Mural: YWCA Metropolitan Chicago and Evanston/North Shore, in Partnership with Wintrust, Unveil Public Mural Celebrating Women’s Collective Empowerment
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS — YWCA Metropolitan Chicago and YWCA Evanston/North Shore, in partnership with Wintrust, have unveiled a new public mural designed by Chicago-based Black woman artists Janell Nelson, co-founder and director of Englewood Arts Collective, and illustrator Shiree Davis. The We Thrive mural is YWCA’s public expression of gratitude for women from Englewood to Evanston; from Woodlawn to Waukegan, and every neighborhood in between who all contribute to making our region great. Women are caregivers, block club presidents, parent organizers, business owners, corporate leaders, and civic icons, all centered on ensuring our communities thrive. During this Women’s History Month, we thank them all for the dignity, empowerment, imagination, and collective resilience they bring to communities. Situated along Chicago’s Kennedy Expressway, the We Thrive mural will be on view on the Wintrust mural building from March 9 to April 30.
The bright, richly textural public artwork transforms the building’s west, north, and south panels into a cohesive tapestry, an artistic nod to the women who drive our economy, uplift young people, and strengthen our neighborhoods. The design prioritizes civic art and uses the words THRIVE, DIGNITY, and EMPOWERED, which are foundational to YWCA’s mission, while the vibrant color palette draws directly from YWCA’s brand identity. The intergenerational duo of Janell and Shiree have designed images that mirror women across Chicagoland, symbolizing growth, resilience, and possibility. Both artists have collaborated to design work that reflects the YWCA’s mission to eliminate racism and empower women through art-first storytelling at an architectural scale.
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago and YWCA Evanston both share a powerful mission to eliminate racism and empower women. The We Thrive mural is not only a symbol of women’s empowerment but also captures what is possible when YWCA services are made available to ensure women are free from violence and provided with economic opportunities.
“Our partnership with Janell reflects our values in action,” said Nicole Robinson, CEO of YWCA Metropolitan Chicago. “At a time when thousands of women are experiencing layoffs, caregiving strain, and the policies that protect women unravel, this mural is a tribute and a love letter to them – we see you and celebrate your brilliance and resilience. It affirms that women, especially Black women, deserve dignity, to be seen and heard, and to know that through collective empowerment, they will thrive.”
“This mural is a celebration of the women whose leadership, creativity, and care shape our communities every day. Across Chicagoland, and especially within Black communities, women have long been the visionaries, organizers, and changemakers who hold neighborhoods together and move them forward,” said Cherese Ledet, President & CEO of YWCA Evanston/ North Shore. “At YWCA Evanston/North Shore, we see that strength daily in the women and girls we serve. We Thrive is a powerful reflection of what becomes possible when women are seen, supported, and connected to opportunity.”
Unveiled during March, which is Women’s History Month, the mural serves as a visible expression of hope, unity, and joy, honoring women and girls who too often feel unseen and unheard, while reinforcing the power of collaboration, creativity, and care.
ABOUT YWCA EVANSTON/ NORTH SHORE
Established in 1931, YWCA Evanston/North Shore is a nonprofit social justice organization dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. Serving more than 8,000 people annually across Northern Cook County, YWCA Evanston/North Shore strengthens communities through comprehensive programs including domestic violence services, legal advocacy, violence prevention education, economic advancement, racial and gender equity initiatives through the Equity Institute, and aquatics programming. The organization also operates Shop for Good, its social enterprise resale stores, which generates funding to support life-saving services for survivors while advancing sustainable community impact.
Learn more at www.ywca-ens.org.
ABOUT YWCA METROPOLITAN CHICAGO
Founded in 1876, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is a social enterprise committed to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. As a leading association among a national network of more than 200 YWCAs, YWCA Metropolitan is committed to advancing safety, wellness and belonging; unleashing youth and family potential; and driving economic equity. Among a diverse and broad portfolio of services, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is a leading provider in the areas of sexual violence and community violence support services, early childhood and childcare provider services, family support services, youth STEM programming, and economic empowerment services.
Learn more at www.ywcachicago.org.
ABOUT WINTRUST
Wintrust is a financial holding company with approximately $71 billion in assets whose common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. Guided by its “Different Approach, Better Results” philosophy, Wintrust offers the sophisticated resources of a large bank while providing a community banking experience to each customer. Wintrust operates more than 200 retail banking locations through 16 community bank subsidiaries in the greater Chicago, southern Wisconsin, west Michigan, northwest Indiana, and southwest Florida market areas. In addition, Wintrust operates various non-bank business units, providing residential mortgage origination, wealth management, commercial and life insurance premium financing, short-term accounts receivable financing/outsourced administrative services to the temporary staffing services industry, and qualified intermediary services for tax-deferred exchanges. For more information, please visit www.wintrust.com.