Photography, sisterhood, and play as healing
Talk given at TEDxChicago 2024
Chicago, September 27th, 2024
Scheherazade Tillet
Artist
About the Talk
How do we heal? Through an intimate exploration of trauma and healing, photographer Scheherazade Tillet shares how documenting her sister's recovery from sexual assault transformed both their lives while also inspiring her to work with similarly Black girls and young women. Two decades later, Tillet reveals that she discovered how photography and play can become powerful tools for healing intergenerational trauma. Through stunning visuals and compelling storytelling, she demonstrates how healing can start with an individual, only to ripple outward to transform entire families and communities. Her work, spanning from intimate family photographs to public art installations, shows how creative documentation can break silences and create spaces for collective recovery.
Source: TEDxChicago
About Scheherazade
Scheherazade Tillet is an artist, curator, and feminist activist focusing on Blackness, play, freedom, trauma, and healing. She is the Executive Director of A Long Walk Home—an arts organization she co-founded in 2003 with her sister, Salamishah Tillet—which combats violence against girls and women and empowers young people to create a more peaceful world.
Tillet’s efforts center Black girls and young women who are vulnerable to gender violence and racial inequality, as she is a strong advocate for their healing and protection through systemic changes in our society. Her work has been showcased at distinguished institutions and featured in various major publications. She was a consultant for the impactful Lifetime documentary series Surviving R. Kelly and was pivotal in leading the #MuteRKelly campaign in Chicago. Scheherazade is also the lead artist and curator of The Black Girlhood Altar installation, the founder of The Rekia Boyd Monument Project, and a co-curator of “Picturing Black Girlhood: Moments of Possibility,” the largest exhibition dedicated to Black girls and genderqueer youth. A leader in the global feminist movement, Tillet's impact is evident throughout the African Diaspora and in her ability to use art to shift cultural narratives and advocate for policies that promote gender and racial equality for young people.
Source: TEDxChicago
TEDxChicago 2024
TEDxChicago is Chicago’s biggest stage for ideas + connection at the convergence of our culture, innovation, and democracy. Rooted in the vibrant and dynamic city of Chicago, a hub of innovation, culture, and resilience, TEDxChicago celebrates the city’s unique spirit and its history of fostering groundbreaking ideas and movements. Our event serves as a beacon of hope and progress, reflecting Chicago's legacy as a place where visionaries and change-makers converge to make a difference. As we gather in this great city, we honor those who are Lighting the Way toward a brighter tomorrow, both on the stage and among all of you. Join us at TEDxChicago 2024: Lighting the Way in this extraordinary journey of discovery, where the power of ideas will illuminate our path and inspire us all to become leaders in our own right.
Source: TEDxChicago
Coach’s Reflections
Reflections coming soon!
Dustin Huibregtse
Founding Principal
Talks & Speaker Coach
