We live between fences. We may hardly notice them, but they are dominant features in our lives and in our history. Built of hedge, concrete, wood and metal, the fence skirts our properties and is central to the American landscape. We use them to enclose our houses and neighborhoods.

When people participate in sports they are often interested in the health benefits or in competition. But, for American Indian and East African communities, physical activity can also act as a vehicle for advancing community as well as personal goals.

The American Indian Center and the Swahili Institute of Chicago will show us how "The Long Walk" and long-distance running, respectively, uplift each community in spiritual, political, and practical ways.

This event is part of the "Bodies in Motion" series.

The "Bodies in Motion" series explores the cultural significance of athletic activities for Chicago's different ethnic communities. This series is offered through Cultural Connections, a public-education program developed by The Field Museum to offer cross-cultural, public events based in an anthropological framework of Common Concerns, Different Responses. The program also offers continuing professional development courses for Chicago Public School teachers.

"Bodies in Motion" Schedule