About The 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
How is this project helping the community?
- Addresses public safety in a creative way
- Starts discussions with residents and law enforcement
- Brings awareness to the quality of life of Chicago residents
- Speaks up for many underrepresented families
- Inspires community organizing, civic engagement and participation


Helpful Links
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) is a national information clearinghouse and resource center for missing, unidentified, and unclaimed person cases across the United States.
https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/
Cook County Sheriff’s Police Department Missing Persons Project
https://www.cookcountysheriff.org/person/
Illinois Missing Persons
https://illinoismissing.org/
Girls Like Me Project — Empowering Girls to Change the World
https://www.girlslikemeproject.org/
Black and Missing
https://www.blackandmissinginc.com/home/