Project Osmosis 25th Celebration

Osmosis Education Mentoring Initiative (“Project Osmosis”) will present its 25th Anniversary Celebration Friday October 25, 2024, featuring the presentation of 25th Anniversary awards, music, food, and the sharing of 25 years of programming, mentoring, and serving Chicago youth interested in entering the design profession. For over two and a half decades Project Osmosis has proudly exposed, identified, introduced, mentored, and supported Chicago teens/youth who are interested in pursuing careers in the design profession. Our work supports young people from economically disadvantaged, high crime and violence prone communities throughout Chicago, draws attention to the work of design professionals from the African American/Latino/Female communities, and provides opportunity and space for those from underrepresented segments of the design community to hone their talents while being mentored and supported by veteran design professionals. We have empowered and uplifted aspiring artists as they create new images and visions of themselves and their communities. We proudly live out our mantras, “The World is Designed by Design” and “We All Have the Human Right to be Creative” and we accept that as design professionals, we have the ability, duty, and power to transform our communities, families, and world.


We continue to supplement and support the art departments of Chicago Public Schools and community-based organizations who struggle to maintain design/creativity programming. We choose to educate and edify our young people rather than vilify and condemn them. We have created a place where potential and opportunity meet for aspiring design professionals.



We will be presenting Osmosis 25th Awards to 6 individuals, innovators whose outsized contributions have empowered our community to be more creative.

The 25th Anniversary awardees/honorees include:

- Jean Coyne, The Richard and Jean Coyne Family Foundation – Silver Supporter Award, accepted by Patrick Coyne
- Marcia Lausen, former Director and Professor Emeritus of the University of Illinois Chicago – School of Design – Co-Recipient of the Inaugural Jean Coyne Memorial Award
- Peggy Montes, Founder/President of the Bronzeville Children’s Museum – Co-Recipient of the Inaugural Jean Coyne Memorial Award
- Abraham D. Lacy, President, Far South Community Development Corporation – Community-Based Organization Partnership Award
- Asia Mitchell, Executive Director of Admissions, School of the Art Institute Chicago – Community Partner Award
- Keith Purvis, Filmmaker, Director, Multimedia University of Chicago, Design Professional – Design Explorer/Original Osmosite Excellence Award

Please join us for a wonderful evening to honor these people and celebrate art and design education and mentoring in Chicago!

Category: Community | Fundraisers | Charities