Beyond the Redline

Open Communities strives to create more inclusive communities by ensuring everyone has equal access to safe, stable housing. On April 25, 2026, Open Communities will launch Beyond the Redline, a self-guided walking tour and exhibition exploring the history and contemporary expressions of housing discrimination and instability in Evanston and its surrounding communities. Highlighting first-person narratives of how housing discrimination and instability have shaped our neighbors’ everyday lives and the scope of opportunity available to them, Beyond the Redline is a call to action to intensify advocacy for both equal access to safe, stable housing and for a more inclusive Evanston. Protecting our rights and the rights of our neighbors to fair housing requires a community effort. This instillation is brought to you in collaboration with the National Humanities Center, as part of the Being Human Festival.