The Rambler Alliance for Equity (RAE) organized a department-wide visit to the Chicago History Museum in April. The experience, aimed at fostering dialogue around identity, inclusion and social awareness, brought together coaches, student-athletes and staff to explore the city's rich and complex history through a new lens.
The Chicago History Museum, founded in 1856 and now located in Lincoln Park, is a leading center for exploring Chicago and U.S. history. Through exhibitions, events and educational programs, it connects people to the city's past and to each other. The museum preserves millions of historical items and is supported by the Chicago Park District.
Ramblers explored "Designing for Change: Chicago Protest Art of the 1960s–70s," an exhibit highlighting key voices and movements of the era. Topics included Ebony magazine, Curtis Ellis' bookstore, Margaret Burroughs, The Chicago Seed, the National Alliance of Black Feminists (NABF), Mountain Moving Coffeehouse, the gay liberation movement and more — each offering a powerful glimpse into the art and activism that shaped Chicago's history.
"Since joining the athletics staff, RAE trips have been one of the most rewarding parts of the job," said Alex Austin, one of RAE's program coordinators. "The RAE team includes staff from across the university, not just athletics, which brings diverse perspectives to our planning. Our leadership felt this exhibit was powerful for our athletes, as the themes — racism, war, gender inequality and LGBTQ rights — still resonate today. The museum showcased impactful posters, articles and imagery from that era."
The visit to the Chicago History Museum provided a meaningful opportunity for the Loyola Athletics community to engage in shared learning and reflection. As participants explored the "Designing for Change" exhibit, the experience sparked personal connections and important conversations about ongoing social justice movements. The power of the exhibit lay not only in the stories it told, but also in how those stories resonated differently with each member of the group. From staff to student-athletes, the trip highlighted the value of diverse perspectives and the importance of creating spaces where identity, history and equity intersect.
"It was really interesting, especially since our team is so international," said James Howell, a Loyola track and field student-athlete. "It was cool to see how they engaged with American history — like the women's rights movement and African American history. We looked at Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech and other exhibits, and it was great to see how everyone connected with different parts of the museum. We're a diverse team, so everyone brought their own perspective. For me, I related a lot to the sections on Black history and the impact of figures like Malcolm X. It was powerful to see how each of us interpreted what we saw based on our own backgrounds."
Loyola Athletics' trip to the Chicago History Museum is the third department-wide outing RAE has piloted. Last spring, the group organized a department trip to the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center. In 2023, the group organized a trip to the Illinois Holocaust Museum.
To learn more about the Chicago History Museum and how you can visit, click here.
"I'm proud to be part of a department that values initiatives like RAE," continued Austin. "It was an incredible experience, and we're grateful to the RAE team and generous Loyola alumni who make it all possible."
