June 2, 2020

Dear Madeleine Grynsztejn,

It has recently come to our attention that the MCA is closely tied with the Chicago Police Department. We have become aware of the donation made to the 18th district precinct in 2019. We want to make it clear that these actions are staunchly against the beliefs and efforts of the Teen Creative Agency as stated in our mission statement, “We do not accept ageism, racism, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, or ableism; all non-liberatory ideologies are not welcome. We challenge those who do not agree with our ideas to meet us where we are at with compassion.” Now, our duty is to ensure that these values transform into physical change within our community. 

We challenge the MCA to acknowledge the systematic abuse of power and overt brutality exhibited by the police. In order to pursue justice in every respect, the MCA must take a stand and cut ties completely with the Chicago Police Department. We urge MCA leadership to be forthcoming and fully transparent with all employees about the extent of the MCA’s involvement with the flawed police system. This includes any contracts or formal agreements with the CPD, all monetary contributions that have been made to CPD, all information and surveillance the MCA voluntarily shares with CPD out of informal agreements, and what kind of police cooperation is legally required of the MCA. Further, we urge MCA leadership to pursue immediate divestment from the Chicago Police Department. 

Considering that TCA is composed mostly of people of color, the MCA’s actions in this regard are hypocritical at best. And the hypocrisy of the MCA’s actions span beyond TCA, whether it be Seeing Chicago, Water After All, Prisoner of Love, or Figures of Speech; the MCA has garnered mass amounts of money from the creative work of black people and people of color. It is frankly insulting that the MCA has such a close relationship with the CPD while having used footage of police brutality for profit during the Prisoner of Love exhibit. Even further, the MCA has gained massive profits from the figures of speech exhibit, which featured merchandise made by Virgil Abloh that sold for exorbitant amounts of money.

With this in mind, the Teen Creative Agency will be abstaining from any work involving 21Minus until you can assure ties with Chicago Police Department shall be cut. If you cannot assure ties will be cut by 21minus (June 13th) we will also abstain from making decisions on who will be the next generation of TCA. Furthermore, we will take all the art we have already made in preparation for 21minus and publish it personally. The MCA has repeatedly claimed that they would like to include youth opinions and be champions of progress in the art world. Despite these claims, and despite the MCA obviously having funds to compensate CPD, TCA members have always been compensated well below minimum wage. This is yet another example of how the MCA profits off diverse voices without properly giving back. How can this continue when 47% of MCA funding is said to be earned by family and education programming? We demand that any further funding assured to the Chicago Police Department will be redirected to family and education programming. This way the MCA can stay true to its word without disrespecting its employees of color. 

We want to make it known how betraying these discoveries are to the Teen Creative Agency. We have used the platform of the MCA to talk deeply about the injustice we see within the world and in institutions,  only for the MCA to involve itself in the same behavior. It has not gone unnoticed that the MCA has yet to mention its support of the Black Lives Matter movement nor has it acknowledged the deep plagues within the black community and how it might help uplift in these times of struggle. This is not a suggestion. This is a demand and protest in lieu of our ability to physically protest the vile deaths of people of color perpetrated by police. 

Sincerely,

TCA, TCA Alums and 21Minus Artists