The centerpiece of the Community & Craftivism exhibit is the unveiling of the library's Pride Community Quilt, which began in June 2024 when members of the Arlington Heights community created more than 50 squares for the quilt. Artist and activist Shannon Downey, having previously worked with the Chicago Modern Quilt Guild, fostered a connection with local quilters Maggie Hendricks and Heather Kinion who then assembled the quilt.
The library’s Pride Community Quilt was inspired by the AIDS Memorial Quilt, which is considered to be the largest community arts project in history. Altogether, the pieces displayed in this exhibit not only showcase how art can form community, but also how it can be an impactful way to shed light on important issues.