One of Nekita Thomas’s first creative role models was her mother, who remixed everyday materials like milk crates into bedframes, and so much more. Listen as Nekita shares memories of living in Chicago’s Dearborn Homes, and hear how witnessing the designs of the everyday in public housing—from the innovative to the restrictive—led to her becoming an Associate Professor of Design at University of Illinois. 

Episode transcript here: ⁠Ep. 27 | Nekita Thomas: "The Artsy Kid in the Hood"⁠

For more info and show notes, visit: nphm.org/nekita-thomas-the-artsy-kid-in-the-hood

This interview was conducted by Dr. ShaDawn “Boobie” Battle as a part of her 2025 Chicago Archives + Artists residency with the National Public Housing Museum, sponsored by Sixty Inches from Center.