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The DePaul Art Museum is presenting an exhibition titled "Tengo Lincoln Park en mi Corazón: Young Lords in Chicago," which examines the history and activism of the Young Lords Organization (YLO) in the Lincoln Park neighborhood. The exhibit is part of this year's One Book, One Chicago program, which features "Olga Dies Dreaming" by Xochitl Gonzalez.
The exhibition focuses on the transformation of the Young Lords from a street gang into a civil rights organization during a period when gentrification and urban renewal led to the displacement of Puerto Rican communities in Lincoln Park during the 1950s and 1960s. It highlights how counter-mapping—creating maps that reflect community knowledge and resistance—served as a tool for activism against displacement and invisibility.
Visitors can view archival materials, historical artifacts, photography, murals, and prints by artists such as Carlos Flores, Ricardo Levins Morales, and John Pitman Weber. The show also includes new work by Sam Kirk and a multimedia installation by Arif Smith with Rebel Betty. These works invite engagement with Latinx civil rights history rooted in local struggles.
A key event highlighted in the exhibition is the May 1969 occupation of the Stone Administration Building at McCormick Seminary by the Young Lords. This building now serves as DePaul's School of Music North Building and features a public plaque commemorating YLO activism. The site remains one of few locations directly connected to YLO history in Lincoln Park.
The DePaul Art Museum offers free admission to all visitors. Located at 935 W. Fullerton Avenue, its hours are Wednesday and Thursday from 11am to 7pm, and Friday through Sunday from 11am to 5pm.
Special events related to the exhibition will take place throughout the season; more information can be found on the DePaul Art Museum website.
"One Book, One Chicago thanks longtime partner DePaul University, the DePaul Art Museum, and the Center for Latino Research for their support and partnership this season."
