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The Art of HUMANITY

ABJ recognizes the deep need for the Black community to restore its own dignity at all levels. The Dr. Vivian R. Jones Way Training Series honors the organization’s original mission to meet the physical, emotional and social needs of “the whole” person.

Vivian’s Vision

(Summer and Winter) A semi-annual training for those with a budding dream and vision. Dr. Vivian R. Jones is a visionary leader with the spiritual gift of exhortation. She went from being a 15 year old teen mom and high school drop out to working her way through a wealth of challenges to establish and operate one of Chicago’s premiere Black run Child Welfare agencies.  During Dr. Jones’ tenure, ABJ had a staff size of over 100 people most of whom were young adults fresh out of college. Because of this Woman of Substance with a vision, many of these young adults were blessed to hold a professional position, earn multiple certifications and embark on careers that still carry them today. This training is designed to help crystalize the dream of that those dare to embrace what they see and guide them through a visioning process to help them give birth to their aspiration. Whether a person’s dream is to open a business, strengthen their personal family or work on inner healing, Vivian’s Vision will help you believe and rise to achieve that which you see.

Physical Health

ABJ recognizes health as true wealth. Thus, Zumba classes and/or line dancing are offered twice a week for ages 16 years and older. This training was developed to help stimulate physical health as a solution to obesity and a range of adverse conditions often found in the Black community. The classes are fun and engaging and also promote positive relationships between youth, adults and senior citizens.

Emotional & Social Health

Trauma 101 Training
This training will help individuals as well as service providers and all participants to recognize trauma. In addition to recognizing it, participants will receive useful tools to help them address it personally and professionally. A key question for the trauma informed community is not “what is wrong with you” but rather “what happened to you?” This training is offered in a non-judgmental manner and offers all the dignity and respect that everyone deserves while recovering and healing from individual, family and community trauma. Let’s soar together!

DONATE TODAY

Donations are critical to the function of our organization and we rely on our supporters.

ABJ Civic Arts Center is a 501c3 non-profit organization.

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CONTACT US

PO Box 19542

Chicago, IL 60619

P: 773-209-4586

info@abjchicago.org

Pastor Victoria Carol Brady is an Arts/Community Activist, Playwright, Singer,

Artistic Director, and Humanitarian.   She is the second generation President/CEO of Annie B. Jones Community Services, Inc. (now ABJ Center of the Arts), in Chicago, IL that was founded as a Child Welfare Agency by her mother, Dr. Vivian R. Jones.  Under Pastor Victoria’s leadership, ABJ has transformed into a unique center for cross-generational Arts-Entrepreneurialism, Culture, Peace-Building, Activism, and Community Empowerment.  She holds a Master of Arts degree in Applied Professional Studies from DePaul University and BA degrees in Music/Theatre from Columbia College and Biblical Studies from the International College of Bible Theology.

She has worked in the non-profit community for more than 30 years and is an expert in youth engagement. One of her key goals is to help develop a new generation of global leaders.  She recently launched the ABJ Civic Arts Circle Training which is an arts-leadership training model to help emerging leaders become change agents in their communities.  Pastor Victoria is a member of the 003rd District Clergy Sub-Committee which focuses on building a positive relationship between The Chicago Police Department and the community.    She is a board member of The United Black American Progress Association UBAPA.She is very pleased to serve as a Community Advisory Board/Think Tank Member of Our Black Truth which is a 100% Black owned social media platform.  She is also a member of the Faith Social Justice Advisory Committee established by Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s Faith Engagement Office.

 One of Pastor Victoria’s greatest joys is serving as a visionary leader and connector for the further development of the African Diaspora community and mankind.  Her burning desire is to bring a “Ray of Hope” to the next generation of leaders as they take their rightful place in society.  Pastor Victoria is a servant leader at heart and the co-founder of Big Mama Movement Chicago.  If anyone can move and shake things up while developing relevant solutions to life challenges, it is Big Mama.  

As a singer/creative artist, Victoria has performed nationally and internationally.  She has written, produced, directed and performed in a number of plays.  Her performance credits include “Dreamgirls,”  “From Man to God, The Mitty Collier Story,” “The Wiz,”   “Little Shop of Horrors,” and “Ain’t Misbehavin.”  Her directorial works include “Great Nitty Gritty,” “Pieces of a Shattered Dream,” “That’s Love,”  “I Cry – HipHopera,” and “Blair’s Story.”

She is the Founder/Pastor of Restoring Hope Ministries International.  She believes in the power that the remnant has to spark change. She has adopted the phrase, “People count numbers; God make numbers count!!!”  She whole-heartedly believes in the POWER of the ARTS and UNITY.