Tempestt Hazel is a Bronzeville-rooted archivist and writer who works to redefine who and what is conserved as art history. She’s also the co-founder of Sixty Inches From Center, a collective of writers, artists, curators, librarians and archivists who have published and produced collaborative projects about artists, archival practice and culture in the Midwest since 2010. Tempestt and Sixty Inches From Center work to create a space to explore the definitions of history and preservation through collaborative projects and residencies across the city.

This episode of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was produced by Ari Mejia. To learn more about Tempestt Hazel and Sixty Inches From Center, visit their website sixtyinchesfromcenter.org and follow them on Instagram @tempestthazel and @sixtyinchesfromcenter.

Christopher LeMark is the founder and CEO of Coffee, Hip-Hop & Mental Health, a Chicago-based nonprofit working to destigmatize mental health struggles, specifically in the Black community. They use a coffee shop model as a financial conduit for the organization to provide mental health resources. LeMark and the organization aim to discuss what inspired him to create Coffee, Hip Hop and Mental Health, bridge the gap between mental health resources and the Black community — and emphasize the power of escape LeMark found through his first form of therapy: hip-hop. This is what his Chicago sounds like.

This segment of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was produced by Ari Mejia. To learn more about Christopher LeMark and Coffee, Hip-Hop & Mental Health, visit their website chhamh.org and follow them on Instagram @christopherlemark and @coffeehiphopandmentalhealth.

zakkiyyah najeebah dumas-o’neal is a multidisciplinary artist, co-founder and co-organizer of Concerned Black Image Makers, and the public programs and engagement manager at the South Side Community Art Center in Bronzeville. As her art centers on themes of exploring and finding community connection, her work at CBIM and the SSCAC serves to build community connection — and preserve the legacy of Black artistic achievement. This is what her Chicago sounds like.

This episode of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was produced by Ari Mejia. To learn more about zakkiyyah’s work, visit zakkiyyahnajeebah.com.

James Kao is co-director and co-programmer of Hyde Park’s 4th Ward Project Space, a local space for Chicago artists to exhibit their work with full creative freedom. Kao aims to build the city’s artistic community through his work at the exhibition space and his painting and drawing classes. This is what his Chicago sounds like.

This episode of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was produced by Ari Mejia. To learn more about James Kao and 4th Ward Project Space, visit 4wps.com.

Antonio Díaz Oliva, or ADO, is a bilingual professor, writer, father and dog owner from Chile living in Bucktown. His work centers around encouraging academic conversations about Chicago and U.S. multilingual culture, and his new book ‘Campus’ serves as a Latinx-focused novel about higher education — a niche already saturated with English-centric works. This is what his Chicago sounds like.

This episode of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was produced by Ari Mejia. Learn more about Antonio Díaz Olvia at antoniodiazoliva.com, or on Instagram @TheAntonioADO.

Marcela Gallo is a music manager, cultural promoter and the owner of Tonantzin Gallery Shop in Pilsen. Through amplifying music, art and presenting hand-picked items in her shop inspired by her travels to Mexico, her goal is to preserve Pilsen’s culture. This is what her Chicago sounds like.

This episode of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was produced by Ari Mejia. To learn more about Marcela Gallo and Tonantzin Gallery Shop, check out @tonantzinarts on Instagram or visit the shop on W 18th Street in Pilsen, Chicago.

Samer Owaida is an aspiring liberatory abolitionist psychologist. By day he works as a supportive housing case manager, and by night attends grad school studying to become an art therapist for children of color. He hopes to become a positive male role model for kids, like he yearned for throughout his childhood. This is what his Chicago sounds like.

This episode of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was produced by Ari Mejia.

Luis Tubens, AKA Logan Lu, is a poet, musician, mural historian and co-founder of Pilsen Public Art Tours. His work centers around themes of social justice and immigration. This is what his Chicago sounds like.

This episode of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was produced by Ari Mejia. To keep up with Luis Tubens, follow him on Instagram @loganlupoetry. Learn more about Pilsen Public Art Tours at www.ppat.space.

Filmmaker Paige Taul uses analog and digital formats, plus archival film, to make her "experimental nonfiction" works — oftentimes exploring definitions of Blackness and Black identity. The purpose of her films are not to inform, rather to share her own lived experiences for others to relate to on whatever levels they can. This is what her Chicago sounds like.

This episode of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was produced by Ari Mejia. To learn more about Paige Taul, visit Paigetaul.com.

Anjal Chande is the founder and artistic director of Pilsen-based Soham Dance Space, where she is able to foster her own creative endeavors and build community through teaching. Soham serves as an anticapitalist atmosphere to explore creativity free from commodification. This is what her Chicago sounds like.

This episode of “This Is What Chicago Sounds Like” was produced by Ari Mejia. To learn more about Anjal’s work at Soham Dance Space, visit sohamdancespace.org.