Plans That Did Not Transform

Join us at the National Public Housing Museum for a conversation with author, professor, and community organizer David Stovall.

Stovall's new book, Engineered Conflict: Structural Violence and the Future of Black Life in Chicago, draws together historical and political analysis to shed light on the politics of disposability through housing instability, criminalization, and school closures.

Stovall will be joined by Open Mike Eagle, the museum’s 2026 Artist as Instigator, for a conversation highlighting the second chapter: “Plans That Did Not Transform: the Chicago Housing Authority’s Commitment to Engineered Conflict,” in which Stovall argues that the role of CHA is central in understanding how state-sanctioned violence and abandonment impacts low-income communities.

A book signing will take place after the conversation portion of the event.

About

This event is presented as part of the National Public Housing Museum’s Transformation event series, launched in 2025 to mark the 25th anniversary of the launch of Chicago’s Plan for Transformation, the most ambitious public housing redevelopment initiative in U.S. history.

Artist as Instigator

This event is also part of a year-long event series with Open Mike Eagle as part of his 2026 Artist as Instigator residency, which leverages arts and culture to make creative public policy interventions around housing and related issues.

The Artist as Instigator residency is supported by multi-year funding from the Mellon Foundation, as well as support from the Joyce Foundation, and the Illinois Arts Council.

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