Illustrating Progress

Illustrating Progress was honored to support @thepointcdc , an organization dedicated to youth development and the cultural and economic revitalization of Hunts Point in the South Bronx. For more than 25 years, THE POINT has advanced an asset-based approach to community development through programming focused on Youth Development, Arts & Culture, and Community Development. Recently, Haley McDevitt of Illustrating Progress partnered with THE POINT to support their “Plug Into Justice: The Power is Ours” community event. The gathering brought residents together to share feedback that will help shape projects and decisions affecting the South Bronx, with conversations focused on clean air, public health, and energy access. Participants also received a free DIY air purifier as part of the event. Leslie Vazquez of THE POINT shared: “Haley was phenomenal. Super communicative and kind, and understood exactly what we needed. She exceeded our expectations! Her art skills and creative thinking really blew everyone away, and she captured our conversations so beautifully.” We’re grateful to contribute visual strategy and creative support to initiatives that center community voice and environmental justice. #graphicrecording #justice #southbronx

"Investing in Philadelphia’s Youth Workforce: A Funders’ Guide to Giving" was developed over the past year by Equitable Cities Collaborative, in collaboration with Anavi Strategies. The guide was informed by qualitative research, stakeholder interviews, listening sessions, and an ecosystem-wide review of youth workforce development efforts across Philadelphia throughout 2025. The goal of the guide is to help inform philanthropic partners about how to prioritize funding strategies across the youth workforce ecosystem, offering both a clear framework and practical guidance to support more aligned and effective investment. At the center of the guide is a theory of change, illustrated by Illustrating Progress. The visual framework brings together priorities, challenges, and funding strategies into a single narrative to help readers see both the broader context and the structural relationships across the system. By pairing storytelling with a clear organizing framework, the graphic makes it easier to understand where coordinated investment can have the greatest impact. The illustration highlights four key areas where aligned investment can drive meaningful change: Career Awareness, Work Readiness Skills, Work Experience, and Cross-System Capacity & Innovation. Together, the guide and its visual framework offer timely support for funders seeking to make thoughtful, strategic investments that expand opportunity and strengthen pathways for young people across Philadelphia. Check out the full report here: /file/d/10GJmcCWQW8JoPpchI7LZ6P3cZLuNqenF/view (Above, Theory of Change Infographic by Chrissie Bonner of Illustrating Progress for Investing in Philadelphia's Youth Workforce: A Funders' Guide to Giving. ) #youthworkforce #philly #workforcedevelpment #infographic

“I can’t even count the number of times I’ve been graphic recording in a meeting where someone says something like ‘this is going to catapult us...’ and then looks over at me to make sure I’ve drawn the catapult. At the beginning of my career, I would usually oblige. Someone would say ‘elephant in the room,’ and I’d draw an elephant. To be fair, there is nothing wrong with drawing the catapult or the elephant. This kind of capture has merit and can make people feel heard; it’s just not my approach anymore. Over time, I stopped doing that not only because I’m not good at drawing elephants, but also because I believe my role in those moments isn’t simply to make pictures to match all the words people say. If we focus on the literal language people use, we’ll forget to listen for the deeper shifts happening beneath the conversation. I’ve trained myself to relate to the words differently. That realization led me to think about the work I do as sitting along a spectrum from illustration on one end to something much more strategic and meaningful on the other...” (By Chrissie Bonner) Read on: /blog/f/the-difference-between-illustration-and-visual-strategy

🌟 Celebrating National Community Health Worker Week with an impactful day at Reading Hospital! 🏥 We joined @ecpennahec for a poverty simulation, highlighting the invaluable work community health workers do every day. It’s incredible to see firsthand the dedication they bring to supporting our communities. Along for the ride was the incredible @illustratingprogress , illustrating the thoughts and emotions provoked by the simulation. #chw #communityhealthworker #ahec #paahec

"Haley was amazing and was super responsive. She was wonderful to work with, was helpful, patient, and an excellent listener. Her artwork captured the discussions exactly. It was very impressive to watch...Would work with her over and over." - Adriana Abizadeh, Executive Director, The Kensington Corridor Trust By harnessing the power of images, teams can convey complex ideas in a way that resonates and inspires action. Reach out to learn more today!

"I enjoyed all of it! -- the presenter, the content, the pre-reading, the pace, the participant interaction, and the reflective questions, the atmosphere of curious inquiry, the visual of our conversation....so much." Lu M. ("Cultivating Creativity in Yourself and Others," Illustrating Progress Workshop) Check out our workshops and other services at the link in the bio!

We work in all things involving learning and adaptation. We work with complexity by creating containers for creativity through visual thinking. It's at the heart of everything we do. Our services include meeting design and facilitation, workshops and training, live illustration (a.k.a. "graphic recording"), and illustration and graphic design services. Can you picture it? #learning #adaptation #creativity #design #facilitation #graphicrecording

Boost your team's learning retention by integrating graphic facilitation into your next meeting. Experience how visuals can transform complex ideas into clear, memorable insights that stick with your audience long after the session ends. 🖥️🧬Live graphic recording of @bwcompbio session last spring. #graphicrecording #blackwomen

Visuals serve as powerful tools for simplifying complex ideas, making them more accessible and engaging. In our community, graphic recording and illustration has become an invaluable resource for enhancing understanding in various fields, from education, business and in all facets of the social change sphere. Illustration from Lean In & Let Go: Tools for Reimagining by @chrissie_bonner . Check out the link the the bio to learn more.

Visuals play a crucial role in enhancing creativity and critical thinking. By integrating images into learning environments, individuals can reflect and think more deeply. Illustration by @chrissie_bonner

Philadelphia, known as the City of Brotherly Love, derives its name from the Greek word 'philos' meaning love and 'adelphos' meaning brother. This reflects the city's founding principles of brotherhood and unity among its diverse inhabitants. We love our Philly peeps!

Superpower your storytelling and advocacy toolkit by incorporating creative, relevant, illustration into your messaging. Research indicates that people retain information and complex concepts significantly better when it is paired with images rather than relying solely on verbal communication. Illustration by @chrissie_bonner