Southern Illinois Pathways is an arts-based project of SIP Arts Foundation, supporting inclusive pathways for families and individuals navigating disability, mental health, and special education systems in the Metro East region of Illinois.
SIP is launching a public storytelling pilot that equips community members, families, and local newsrooms with tools to build genuine relationships with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). The workshop format uses structured listening, authentic story-sharing, and participant-led narration — a replicable model that helps under-covered voices be heard in their own words.
Through free workshops, participants use storytelling, visual art, and collaborative projects to transform lived experience into meaningful works of art. The project culminates in community art books that amplify these voices, reach broader audiences, and sustain ongoing programming.
All workshops are free and publicly accessible, with partnerships across local libraries, family support organizations, and community spaces.
Learn More: https://sipartsfoundation.org