Legacy Speaks: Mapping Ida B. Wells' Imprint – A Tribute to Ida B. Wells on Her Birthday


Legacy Speaks: Mapping Ida B. Wells' Imprint – A Tribute to Ida B. Wells on Her Birthday

A Collaborative Tour hosted by Girls Like Me Project and Essence McDowell, author of “Lifting As They Climbed”

Chicago, IL – July 11, 2025 – On Wednesday, July 16, 2025, Girls Like Me Project (GLMPI) will host Legacy Speaks: Mapping Ida B. Wells' Imprint, a special bus tour in tribute to the life and legacy of Ida B. Wells on her birthday. This tour will honor Wells' unwavering commitment to social justice and the power of using one’s voice for change.

For nearly a decade, GLMPI has led excursions to Ida B. Wells’ historic home and other landmarks in Bronzeville, where La'Keisha Gray-Sewell, GLMPI’s founder, grew up. These excursions have always focused on elevating the voices and stories of powerful Black women, and this year’s tour will expand beyond Bronzeville to include key sites in the Loop and West Sides of Chicago that shaped the herstory of Black women in the city.

The tour features a partnership with Essence McDowell, co-author of Lifting as They Climbed and director of the documentary Invisible Giants. This expands the visits to significant sites, including the Ida B. Wells-Barnett House, Gwendolyn Brooks Park, and the library where Vivian G. Harsh served as Chicago's first Black woman librarian. The route will also honor other Black women like Lucy Parsons, a labor organizer and radical activist, and Agnes Lattimer, a prominent educator. This expansion provides a more comprehensive mapping of the contributions of Black women across Chicago.

“This tour is for anyone who believes in the power of story, justice, and the continued work of building a world where our voices are not only heard but celebrated,” states La’Keisha Gray-Sewell. “Legacy Speaks is about celebrating the legacy of using your voice for social justice and pride. These spaces are more than just historical sites—they are testaments to the power of Black women’s stories and their undeniable impact. This tour is a call to honor their contributions, reflect on their legacies, and remind ourselves that the fight for justice continues through generations."

Following the tour, a small reception will be held at the GLMPI headquarters, accompanied by a screening of Invisible Giants. This documentary, running 42 minutes and 24 seconds, highlights the extraordinary lives of Black women who have shaped our communities and world.

“Girls Like Me Project is about liberation, addressing the systemic root of the societal issues Black girls face. By amplifying herstory lessons and experiences that connect girls to their true identity, this tour becomes a ritual for healing and reclamation,” asserts Gray-Sewell.

The event is open to community members, educators, historians, and advocates who are passionate about preserving and amplifying the stories of Black women. The tour is a culmination of a program supported through the Healing Illinois Fund, Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies, Black Beauty Cutie, and Kemtiyu Arts & Media.

Event Details:

● Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2025

● Tour Departure Time: 10:00 AM from 5504 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60637

● Reception & Documentary Screening: 2:00 PM

● Location: 5504 S. Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60637

● RSVP: [Register at Girlslikemeproject.org]

Questions or General Information: info@girlslikemeproject.org | 773-599-3490

For more information on Legacy Speaks: Mapping Ida B. Wells' Imprint and to register, please visit Girlslikemeproject.org.

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