EVA MARIA’S WORK IS THE WORK OF THE MACHETE.

Eva Maria Lewis is an innovative sociocultural architect, social entrepreneur, artist, and thought leader who uses a multidisciplinary approach to reimagine how societies might function for the most marginalized among us.

Eva Maria’s upbringing on the South Side of Chicago made her aware of the divestment and gap in resources in Black and Brown communities. Instead of shrinking her vision of what was possible for herself and her community, she decided to dream beyond limitations. She decided to fight, like her ancestors had done before her, channeling her African American and Native American heritage. The centrality of machetes in her communities guides her work and advocacy. Historically, we have used machetes to tear down, fight, and then to build once more. This power is purposeful. This power is needed today in Black and Brown communities so that we may create oasis from the rubble of what no longer serves us.

Founder and Executive Director of Free Root Operation, Eva Maria is working to prevent poverty-induced gun violence on Chicago’s South and West sides by centering compassion and opportunity as core values of the organization. FRO reinvests in communities impacted by gun violence to create a Chicago where the most underserved people's needs are met so the necessity to partake in the gun violence infrastructure ceases to exist. The groundbreaking Education Emancipation program intercepts the school-to-prison pipeline and seeks to make learning a safe, redemptive, and joy filled environment for students at a South Shore elementary school. The unconventional Chicago Food Pairing Program dismantles food apartheid by creating access to healthy food, increasing bodily autonomy, and meeting communicated needs without judgement.