Event Details
Date & Time:
Thu October 29, 2026
3:30 PM-4:15 PM
Audience:
Open to the public
Details:
In Fall 2026, The Living Room highlights a multi-year campus partnership with the Northwestern Department of Athletics and Recreation and the student-athletes they support. Each month, an artwork selected by student-athletes, coaches, and staff will be on view, accompanied by reflection prompts inspired by their own experiences of teamwork, leadership, and identity, on and off the field. Together, they invite every visitor to discover how close looking can spark curiosity, reflection, and connection.
From Wednesday, October 28 through Sunday, November 15, Old People Drink At The Bar, Young People Drink in The Streets by artist Kachelle Knowles will be on view.
Join Demetrius Fields (Director of Player Engagement, Football) and Maria Sanchez (Senior Associate Athletic Director, Strategic Impact, Leadership, and Student Engagement) for a discussion about what they see when they look at Old People Drink At The Bar, Young People Drink in The Streets, and learn more about how the Block Museum’s collection is used to spark dialogue across campus. Erin Northington, the Block’s Susan and Stephen Wilson Associate Director, Campus and Community Education and Engagement will introduce the artwork and facilitate the discussion. Coffee and tea will be offered beginning at 3:00 pm.
The Living Room is a drop-in space at The Block Museum that invites students and other visitors to gather, reflect, and connect with one artwork in the museum’s collection, rotating each month. Stop by for a warm drink and a conversation —Wednesdays from 3–5 PM, the coffee and tea is on us.
The Block Museum of Art acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council.
Programs are open to all, on a first-come first-served basis. RSVPs are appreciated, but not required.
About the Speakers:
Demetrius Fields is the Director of Player Engagement for Northwestern Football, where he leads initiatives that support the personal, academic, and professional development of student-athletes. A former Northwestern football student-athlete, Fields draws on his own experiences to create programming that prepares athletes for success during college and beyond.
A native of Dallas, Texas, and graduate of South Oak Cliff High School, Fields oversees programs focused on leadership development, career readiness, financial literacy, alumni engagement, community outreach, and first-year student-athlete transition. He has established strategic partnerships with corporate, nonprofit, and community organizations to expand educational and professional opportunities for student-athletes while strengthening relationships between the football program, alumni, and the broader community.
Fields has also played a leadership role in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across Northwestern Athletics, collaborating with campus leaders and serving on departmental hiring committees. Known for his relationship-centered leadership style, he is passionate about empowering student-athletes through mentorship, meaningful partnerships, and intentional programming. His work focuses on developing well-rounded leaders equipped to excel in their careers, serve their communities, and make a lasting impact long after their playing days have ended.
Maria Sanchez has been a dedicated member of Northwestern Athletics since 2011 and currently serves as Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Impact, Leadership and Student Engagement, a role she holds as part of the department's executive staff. In this position, she spearheads strategic initiatives shaping the culture and community within Northwestern's Department of Athletics and Recreation, fostering a high-performance environment for student-athletes, coaches, and staff. She also oversees INVEST NU, Northwestern's Student-Athlete Development Team, which leads efforts in leadership development, personal enhancement, community engagement, and career readiness. Sanchez serves as a key liaison to university leadership and works closely with the Vice President of Athletics and Recreation to lead the Stronger Together Platform, upholding its core values of connectivity, respect, accountability, and excellence across all teams, staff, and coaches.
Sanchez is the sport administrator for Northwestern's field hockey team and program administrator for the Spirit Squad.
Contact The Block Museum of Art for more information: (847) 491-4000 or email us at block-museum@northwestern.edu