Rending of the billboard on the Kennedy Expressway
This mural is a testament to the resilience of our scholars and the traditions they participated in while at Hope Ignites Chicago
Drivers along the Kennedy Expressway now pass a new sight rising above the city: a mural celebrating Hope Ignites Chicago, formerly known as Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois. The installation is part of the Wintrust Building Mural series, which highlights organizations making an impact across Chicago.
For Hope Ignites Chicago, the mural serves several purposes. It introduces the organization’s new name; spotlights accomplished alumni and celebrates the values of ritual and routine that help scholars feel safe and supported as they pursue their goals.
Santonio and Michallé pose with the images inspired by their personal stories
Stories in Symbolism
The mural’s design centers on the experiences of two alumni, Santonio and Michallé. Their stories became the foundation for the imagery.
Santonio’s journey began with his role as a caregiver. As a child, he took responsibility for getting his younger brothers to school each day, navigating two train rides to make it happen. After graduating from high school, he attended college in Wisconsin, where he wrestled on the varsity team. Today, he works as a senior analyst at a major bank. Two of his younger brothers are now scholars in the program and appear at the table in the dinner mural. Santonio often described joining Hope Ignites as receiving a “golden ticket,” a metaphor that became a defining element in the mural’s design.
Michallé’s story reflects the weight of responsibility she carried from a young age, often babysitting for her family at all hours. She would dream of being a high schooler who would finally have the time to fully participate in its activities—a hope symbolized in the mural through the dream board design element. Michallé later attended Marquette University, represented by the pennant in the mural, and today serves as the principal of an elementary school.
Rituals That Ground a Community
Alongside these personal narratives, the mural highlights one of the organization’s most important traditions: the shared dinner table. For scholars, the evening meal is a ritual that fosters belonging, stability, and community. A photograph taken during a staff-and-Student dinner inspired the central panel of the mural, grounding the design in an authentic moment.
Image of the shared dinner table, an imporant tradition at the Hope Ignites houses
A Collaborative Creative Process
The mural was brought to life through a partnership with Morning Walk, a Chicago creative agency that donated its time and talent. To fully capture the heart of the mission, designers studied alumni speeches, watched a video on rituals at Hope Ignites Chicago, and even joined a scholar dinner in person after taking a tour of the Hope Ignites Chicago houses.
Morning Walk combined photos, custom illustrations, and new design tools to create the composition. Details such as the golden ticket, Marquette pennant, hairstyles, and clothing were added with care, ensuring the final work reflected the warmth and vibrancy of the community.
Image of the mural featuring Santonio’s story caring for his brothers and wrestling in college.
A Collective Achievement
For a nonprofit like Hope Ignites Chicago, projects of this scale are only possible through collaboration. Wintrust provided the platform, Morning Walk shaped the vision, and the scholars and alumni gave the mural its heart.
“This mural is a testament to the resilience of our scholars and the traditions they participated in while at Hope Ignites Chicago,” said Karen Croteau, President of Hope Ignites Chicago. “It reflects their experiences, the moments that were important to them, and the community that surrounds them as they reach their goals.”
Image of the mural featuring Michallé’s story, caring for her siblings and attending Marquette.