Damon Reed
Founder, Still Searching Project
Founded by Damon Lamar Reed (project artist) and Nicole Reed (project manager), the mission of the Still Searching Project is to use art to raise awareness about underrepresented missing women from the Chicagoland area.
After looking at old news stories about the 40 year unsolved case of his aunt (Valerie Pride) and 2 cousins (Shontia and Duana) who were murdered in 1982, Damon began to research other cases. He realized how many women of color were missing. Yet it wasn’t being talked about in the media. After a conversation with Nicole, they knew something had to be done to shine a light on these cases. When the pandemic hit and everything shut down, this gave Damon the opportunity to paint his first portrait, Kierra Coles. It wasn’t just a good idea, but a God Idea…The Still Searching Project was birthed!
The goal is to:
Bring attention to their cases in hopes of finding real answers
Honor the families of the missing
Address the need for public safety
Inspire community organizing and participation
Be a voice for the voiceless