Chicago Cultural Alliance

Scottish American History Forum
2024-05-11 10:30 - 11:30 (America/Chicago) | Chicago Scots, 2800 Des Plaines Ave, North Riverside, IL, 60546, United States
Date: May 11 | 10:00 am – 11:30 pm
Location:

Topic: Robert Burns: As He Sees Us and We See Him
Presenter: Gus Noble OBE, President, Chicago Scots and Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care

Rebranding Focus Group: Members/Partners
2024-05-16 11:30 - 13:30 | Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, 3001 central street, Evanston, IL, 60201, United States
As the Mitchell Museum continues the next steps in our community-driven rebranding journey, we will host a series of hybrid focus groups to seek valuable input from the Native community, our members, and partners.
We invite our museum members and partners to help shape the museum’s future and share your input and ideas at our rebranding focus group at the Mitchell Museum on Thursday, May 16, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm. Participants will be asked to provide feedback on our new direction, name, and logo change.
Light refreshments will be available for in-person guests.
Please RSVP. The meeting link will be emailed before May 16 to all virtual guests.

2024 Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate Lecture
2024-05-16 18:00 - 19:30 | S. R. Crown Hall (IIT College of Architecture), 3360 S State St, Chicago, 60616
The Pritzker Architecture Prize and the Illinois Institute of Technology’s College of Architecture present “Community: The Architect as Catalyst for Change,” the 2024 Laureate Lecture and Panel Discussion, in partnership with the Chicago Architecture Center, taking place at the university’s historic S.R. Crown Hall
Riken Yamamoto, 2024 Laureate of the Pritzker Prize, will uncover his personal journey in the discovery of communities throughout the world, inspiring his socially-driven architecture that blurs the boundaries between public and private dimensions.
“Whether he designs private houses or public infrastructure, schools or fire stations, city halls or museums, the common and convivial dimension is always present. His constant, careful and substantial attention to community has generated public interworking space systems that incentivize people to convene in different ways,” states the 2024 Jury Citation, in part.
Following the lecture, Yamamoto will be joined by recent Laureates, David Chipperfield (2023), Francis Kéré (2022) and Anne Lacaton (2021), who will engage in a personal conversation about their very different paths of life. Sharing a deep commitment to the value of the social system, they will discuss the responsibility of the architect as a catalyst for change and debate respective challenges of creating and bridging communities as they shape new approaches to the design of the built environment.
Learn more about Riken Yamamoto and the Pritzker Prize here.
The event is free and open to the public but capacity will be limited and registration is required. Seating is first come, first served, and once the venue is full, attendees will be seated downstairs to view a live stream of the event.

Cranes & Cocktails
2024-05-16 18:00 - 20:00 | Artifact Events, 4325 North Ravenswood Ave,, Chicago, IL, 60613, United States
Mark your calendars for the 2024 Cranes & Cocktails on Thursday, May 16 at Artifact Events from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. What sushi will you choose to eat? Don’t miss this great fundraising event.
$100 individual early bird tickets are on sale through March 31. Starting April 1, individual tickets are $150.
Want to donate an item to the silent auction? Click here for an online form or contact Jenn Trautvetter at the JASC office (ext. 228); jtrautvetter@jasc-chicago.org Items need to be donated by April 29.

On-Site Commemoration: Echoes of Remembrance - The Holocaust in Thessaloniki
2024-05-16 18:30 - 21:30 | Illinois Holocaust Museum, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie, IL, 60077, United States
From the city’s ancient founding until the Second World War, Thessaloniki (Salonika), Greece was home to a large and thriving Jewish community. In 1943, from March to August, approximately 46,000 Jews were displaced from Thessaloniki by the Nazis and their collaborators and deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where 96% of them were murdered. A community that had settled in Thessaloniki before the Christian era was decimated during the Holocaust.
Join Leon Saltiel, Director of Diplomacy, UNESCO, Coordinator on Countering Antisemitism for the World Jewish Congress, and member of the Greek delegation to the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), as he explores through historical accounts, personal narratives, and archival footage, the challenges faced by the Greek Jewish population during the Holocaust, and their enduring strength in the face of adversity still today.

Stammtisch Open Haus, Every 3rd Friday
2024-05-17 19:30 - 2024-05-18 00:00, 2024-06-21 19:30 - 2024-06-22 00:00, 2024-07-19 19:30 - 2024-07-20 00:00, 2024-08-16 19:30 - 2024-08-17 00:00, 2024-09-20 19:30 - 2024-09-21 00:00, 2024-10-18 19:30 - 2024-10-19 00:00 | DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, 60625, United States
Feiern Sie mit uns! Our monthly Open Haus Stammtisch is a great way to meet new friends and enjoy a little Gemütlichkeit over some delicious German food and drink!
Theme TBD
Food and drink will be available for purchase.
Free parking at 5/3 Bank after 6:00 PM located at Western and Gunnison

44th Gwangju People's Uprising Commemoration
2024-05-18 18:00 - 20:00 | HANA Center, 4300 N. California Ave, Chicago, IL, 60618, United States
Please join us at HANA’s Northwest Center on Saturday, May 18th from 6 – 7pm to honor the Gwangju People’s Uprising. This is also our May Membership Meeting which is a great chance to learn about the history of people’s resistance and connect with fellow intergenerational HANA members!
The Gwangju People’s Uprising, also known as the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement of 1980, was in response to Chun Doo-Hwan’s military dictatorship which was backed by the U.S. military.
Curious to learn more about this from those who survived this historical movement of Korea? Seats are limited, so make sure to RSVP here as soon as possible!

Chicago Reflected: A Book Talk and River Cruise with Author Ryan Chester
2024-05-23 17:30 - 20:30 | Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
Step into the world of Architect Ryan Chester, whose passion for the city’s beauty led him to embark on an awe-inspiring project in March 2020. With nothing but a pen in hand, Ryan set out to capture the Chicago River, its architectural marvels, bustling boats, and bridges, culminating in a breathtaking 55-foot-long masterpiece.
Join us on Thursday, May 23 for an exclusive event like no other. Ryan Chester will unveil the secrets behind his magnum-opus, “Chicago Reflected,” at Chicago Architecture Center starting at 5:30 p.m. Get a peek into his creative process, inspirations, and the journey of bringing “Chicago Reflected” to life. The program doesn’t end there, at 7 p.m., set sail with Ryan Chester and the renowned Geoffrey Baer for an iconic river cruise, where you’ll have the unique opportunity to witness the masterpiece of “Chicago Reflected” against the stunning backdrop of Chicago’s skyline. Tickets to this event include the book talk at 5:30 p.m. and the river cruise departing at 7:00 p.m. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable event, where art, architecture, and the iconic Chicago River come together.
Ryan Chester
Ryan Chester is an architect based in Chicago. He grew up in Milwaukee and attended the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (UWM); School of Architecture and Urban Planning where he graduated with a master’s degree in architecture in 2005. Upon graduation Ryan worked in New York and London before returning to the Midwest where he has been since 2011. Along with his work as an architect and drawing projects, Ryan is also an adjunct professor at his alma mater UWM where he has taught design studios and intro to architecture seminars. He lives in the Roscoe Village Neighborhood of Chicago and is planning his next project…
Geoffrey Baer
Geoffrey Baer is an eight-time Emmy-winning Public Television writer, producer, and program host. He has been a fixture on Chicago’s PBS station WTTW for 30 years, best known as the host and writer of WTTW’s popular specials about the architecture and history of Chicago and its suburban areas.
Geoffrey has been a docent for the Chicago Architecture Center since 1987. In addition to his Emmy Awards, he has been honored by the American Institute of Architects Chicago, the Society of Architectural Historians, the American Society of Landscape Architects, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the Chicago Headline Club

“一家之主”：女性，母性，依属&自主 “Reclaim”: Womanhood, Motherhood, and In/Dependence – Movie Screening and Discussion with KAN-WIN
2024-05-25 13:30 - 16:30 | 3500 S Morgan Street, 3500 S Morgan St 3F, Chicago, IL, 60609, United States
Please note that this event is in Mandarin 本次活动将全程使用中文进行。
This event includes a movie screening followed by a discussion about the movie. Centering on a woman in her late 50s/early 60s who has lived her life for others–husband, children, parents–the movie depicts traditional gender roles embedded commonly in Asian families. Through guided discussion, participants will have an opportunity to explore further and deeper experiences and struggles an Asian woman might undergo during her life, especially how to “reclaim” her independence as a capable wife, a caring mother, and a successful career woman.
活動包括電影放映和有關電影的討論。這部電影以一位 50 歲末/60 歲出頭的女性為中心，她為他人（丈夫、孩子、父母）而活，描繪了亞洲家庭中普遍存在的傳統性別角色。透過引導式討論​​，參與者將有機會進一步深入探討亞洲女性一生中可能經歷的經歷和掙扎，特別是如何在一個有能力的妻子、一個有愛心的母親和一個成功的職業婦女的多重角色中重申自己的自主性。
Please note that events may be canceled or postponed due to unforeseen circumstances.
“AAPI Heritage Month Cultural Festival 2024” is sponsored by Chicago Community Trust.
Event Agenda
1:00 Door Open
1:20 Introduction
1:30-3:30 Movie Screening
3:30-3:40 Stretch & Break
3:40-4:20 Discussion
4:20-4:30 Closing Remarks
4:30 End

About KAN-WIN
KAN-WIN’s mission is to eradicate gender-based violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault, especially for women and children across Asian American communities and beyond through culturally competent services, community engagement, and advocacy.
Accessibility
The Heritage Museum of Asian Art’s Entrance is on West 35th Street. Take the elevator to the third floor and turn right to the Museum Reception Desk. Accessible and standard toilets are located on the same floor. Free parking space is available next to the museum, accessed via West 35th Street.
Email at info@heritageasianart.org
Phone at 312-842-8884
Image: Courtesy of Rong Gwan Productions.
*About the photo: https://www.cinemaescapist.com/2022/07/review-reclaim-taiwan-movie/

5 Types of German Genealogy Documents - Webinar
2024-05-28 18:00 - 20:00 | Zoom
5 Types of German Genealogy Documents
Presented by Katherine Schober
in partnership with the German American Heritage Center & Museum
Tuesday, May 28th | 6 PM CST
What kind of documents are available for your German ancestors? What should you be looking for in your research? And most importantly, where can you find these documents? Come learn the answers to these questions and more in this webinar with researcher and genealogist Katherine Schober. Handouts and resources will be provided. The presentation will be around 50 minutes with 10 minutes for questions at the end.
$20 for GAHC&M or DANK Haus members
$30 for non-members
The Zoom link will be sent to registrants one day prior to the event. The recording of the event will be available to view for 30 days after the event.
Katherine Schober will take you through how to research effectively in your genealogy search. Born in St. Louis, she earned her Masterâs degree in the German language through Bowling Green State University/University of Salzburg. She then spent three additional years in Austria, teaching English and translating German (with a focus on history). In 2014, she moved back to the States with her Austrian husband, and, although they are now in America, German is still the main language spoken in their home.
Register
The German American Heritage Center & Museum is located in Davenport, IA. Their mission is to preserve and enrich for present and future generations knowledge of the German immigrant experience and its impact on the American culture.

South Asians On The Mic (Vol. 2)
2024-05-31 18:00 - 19:30 | South Asia Institute, 1925 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60616, United States
After the tremendous success of our first event, South Asia Institute is back with the second event in our bi-monthly open series, South Asians On The Mic, on Friday, May 31!
We are now accepting submissions for artists to participate in this event.
Please submit an application using the button below and support the artists who will be performing that evening by reserving your ticket today!

Haitian Heritage Month Sip, Shop & Workshop
2024-05-31 18:00 - 20:00 | Haitian American Museum of Chicago, 4410 N Clark St, Chicago, 60640, United States
HAMOC is hosting a celebration for Haitian Heritage Month, as well as the May birthdays of staff, volunteers, and friends of the museum on May 31st, 2024 from 6pm to 8pm.
Plus, we will learn more about Haitian Scarves with a workshop led by Jean Julbert Desire.
We will be serving light refreshments. This celebration will be held at 4654 N. Racine Ave., the location of our Vodou store!
* TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR*

An Afternoon of Friendship
2024-06-02 15:00 - 17:00 | Kalapriya Studio, 2101 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, United States
Please join the Kalapriya board and staff on Sunday, June 2 from 3:00-5:00PM for an afternoon of friendship at our downtown Chicago studio. Enjoy Indian classical dance performances, relish Indian street food, and be part of a celebration of unity in diversity with our host Litcy Kurisinkal! To register for the event, please click here or on the button below. Suggested donation of $30.00 online or at the door.

Piyesta Pinoy (Philippine Fest)
2024-06-08 11:00 - 19:00 | Roger C. Claar Performing Arts Center, 375 W Briarcliff Rd, Bolingbrook, IL, 60440, United States
In celebration of the 126th Independence Day of the Philippines, the Philippine American Cultural Foundation (PACF) and the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago (FAHSC) in partnership with the Village of Bolingbrook will host the annual Philippines Festival. We invite you to JOIN US, ENJOY AND HAVE FUN. Everyone is welcome, FREE Admission.
PHILIPPINE FEST (PIYESTA PINOY)
Saturday, June 8, 2024
11:00 AM to 7:00 PM CDT
The Roger C. Claar Performing Arts Center
375 W Briarcliff Rd, Bolingbrook, IL

We are very happy to announce that Piyesta Pinoy will be back in the Village of Bolingbrook. This will be the 11th year of the biggest Filipino American festival of culture, music, arts, games, and food in the Midwest. There will be at least 10 food vendors that will be serving Filipino food and drinks starting at 11am. Visit
our sponsors, non-food vendors and partner organizations under the tents located all around the park. Just like in the past, there will be a parade of costumes starting at 3pm this year. Music and dance performances will be at the beautiful Roger C. Claar performing arts center stage. We are announcing this year’s celebrity performers: 18-year old Twins Justin & Jeremy Garcia from California, fresh from their performance at this year’s THE VOICE and. Marc Tupaz, a former vocalist for the Filipino alternative/pop rock band Shamrock.

Issues in Focus: Two Stadium Do-Overs for Chicago
2024-06-12 18:00 - 19:30 | Chicago Architecture Center, 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, 60601, United States
A pair of stadium proposals from the Bears and White Sox have ushered in supersized dreams for Chicago’s Museum Campus and The 78 megadevelopment site. Are these plans pointing the city toward wins, losses or draws? Get a fresh take from our panel of designers.
Whether you are a fan of professional sports or not, we can all agree it’s big business. The sheer scale of these stadium proposals present opportunities to revisit past urban planning efforts, to analyze major infrastructure needs and to forge new visions for our city.
Our panel brings extensive out-of-town experience to the myriad issues concerning stadium design and sports district planning. Learn about the approaches that have fueled successful stadium rebuilds in other U.S. cities and current design trends that are foregrounding sound urban design and connectivity. This program will help you better understand the complexities and possibilities for city-building with major sports franchises.
This program is part of our Loop as Lab: Reshaping Downtowns exhibition series exploring key themes for the future of downtowns.

Peace Day
2024-06-13 18:00 - 20:30 | The Peace School, 3121 N. Lincoln Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60657
IN THE LANGUAGES OF THE WORLD…
Our voices will carry the energy of love, light and peace to humanity, nature and all living things.
Don’t miss this very special Call to Peace held annually for the Countdown to Peace Day. We’ll honor the countries of the world by speaking in their language(s) as we say together, “Peace in [each country, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe].” Meet peacebuilders from all walks of life, and if you’d like to bring the family there will be a kids artmaking table.
6-7pm: Refreshments and socializing
7-8:30pm: Call to Peace
CLICK BELOW TO TELL US HOW MANY ARE COMING.

"BELIEVE IN UKRAINE" Film and Q&A Discussion
2024-06-14 19:00 - 20:30 | 2249 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL 60612, 2249 West Superior Street, Chicago, IL, 60612, United States
52-minute presentation the BELIEVE IN UKRAINE SHORT FILM PROGRAM featuring 10 Ukrainian-centered narratives specific to this moment in Ukraine’s history by filmmakers whose pre-ward lives differ little from our own.
An audience Q&A with program director Lukia Costello and program curator Anastasia Kirii immediately follows the presentation.
“Full circle is what Ukrainians want for their country: to go through challenges and come out on the other side better and stronger. Safe and free. And have the pre-war topics return to the surface again, becoming the most critical agenda like as in times of peace.” Anastasia Kirii, Program Curator

12th Annual Juneteenth BBQ & Block Party
2024-06-19 | DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, 740 East 56th Place, Chicago, IL, 60637, United States
RSVP for another beautiful day of celebrating our Freedom through a huge Sound Stage, Children’s Activities, Vendors, Food Trucks, citywide libations and flag raising and THE BIGGEST BLACK FAMILY REUNION OF THE YEAR!

"Creative Reflections": Chicago Native Community Pop-Up Art Exhibition
2024-06-21 - 2024-06-28 | American Indian Center, 3401 West Ainslie Street, Chicago, IL, 60625, United States

What You Didn’t Learn on the Boat Tour
2024-06-26 12:00 - 13:00 | Online Event
Although our docents go into great depth covering the history of over 50 buildings on the CAC’s renowned River Cruise, that ninety-minute tour is still not enough time to share all of the interesting facts about the architecture along the Chicago River. Join CAC docents as they share the “extra” stories about the buildings and people that make the Chicago River so special.
This illustrated talk features some of our favorite “deleted scenes” from the CAFC River Cruise aboard Chicago’s First Lady. Explore new thinking that may reverse your opinion of the Chicago River reversal. Meet a Chicago woman who embodied our city’s “I Will” motto. Slip under the glass skin to the concrete bones of a structural marvel. Ponder a question asked by every Chicago driver from 1908 to today. If you’ve ever approached a river cruise docent after your tour and asked, “can you tell me more?” this presentation is for you!
Program Presenters:
Josh Brickman
Josh has a master’s degree in Structural Engineering and practiced in the City of Chicago for seven years. Now working as a software developer, he continues to give architectural tours with CAC, weaving science stories and physics facts into his tales about architecture and history.
Susan Frost
Susan has been giving architecture tours in the Chicago area for 25 years, and has been a CAC docent since 2015. She has a BA in Art History and an abiding love of historic preservation and Chicago history. The question from guests that she can never answer is “what is your favorite building?”
Alison Schlickman
Alison has been a docent since 2015. As a fourth generation Chicagoan, she loves Chicago’s architecture and history. Becoming a docent after a long career with the Federal Reserve has given her the chance to share her enthusiasm for Chicago with guests from far and wide. Being part of the Chicago Architecture Center has been a joy and a privilege for Alison.

Thursday Night Music Sessions
2024-07-25 18:00 - 21:00 | IL
Date: July 25
Time:
7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location:
4626 N Knox Ave. Chicago,IL 60630
Join session leaders Michael Austin and James Conway this Thursday for an unforgettable evening of Irish traditional music! Bring your instrument and join the fun. Or, sit back with some food and drink and enjoy the festive music in front of the hearth in the Fifth Province. Pub and kitchen open at 6PM, the music begins at 7PM

The Stories of Ogden Avenue
2024-07-31 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual, Chicago, IL, United States
Travel down Ogden Avenue, named for Chicago’s first mayor, visiting historic neighborhoods, parks and landmark buildings. This talk will highlight Chicago’s early industrial days, the Civil Rights Movement in the city and new developments for housing, education and healthcare.
William Ogden’s impact on Chicago goes far beyond being the city’s first mayor. This talk covers famous landmarks like the old Cook County Hospital, Stone Temple Baptist Church and 100 years of architectural styles. Explore Douglass Park, one of Chicago’s oldest parks at 150 years, and learn how it came to honor Anna and Frederick Douglass in 2020. This talk also discusses the historic North Lawndale community, from its early Jewish heritage to a predominantly African American community today; and new developments like The Farm on Ogden, connecting its community with fresh food and good health.

Rewilding Chicago’s Waterways
2024-08-02 17:00 - 18:00 | Wild Mile, 905 W Eastman St, Chicago, 60642
The Wild Mile is one-of-a-kind: a floating eco-park in the heart of the city. Visit this steadily growing wonder on the North Branch of the Chicago River for a conversation, walking tour, and optional kayak adventure with co-creators Urban Rivers and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). Backed by the City of Chicago as part of a larger effort to redefine and rehabilitate this channelized section of the river, a team of experts and community partners devised the Wild Mile as proof-of-concept in how industrial waterways can be reborn as wildlife sanctuaries connecting city dwellers to nature. In 2022, the first 400 feet of what will ultimately be an intricate mile-long network of floating boardwalks and wetlands debuted along the North Branch Canal behind the Kingsbury Street REI store. This spring an extension is underway that will double the park’s length. Urban Rivers co-founder and Executive Director Nick Wesley and SOM Partner Doug Voigt will share fascinating details of the design, planning and lengthy negotiations behind this undertaking, and give tours of the new landscape and habitat. Come discover the thriving ecosystem that has quickly taken hold above and below the water’s surface! This program is part of the Chicago Architecture Center’s Loop as Lab: Reshaping Downtowns exhibition series exploring key themes for the future of cities.
Due to space limitations, this event is capped at 40 registrants. Those interested in the kayak tour should reserve an extra hour (until 7pm), which is first come first served with a maximum capacity of 8 participants. This option will be available upon checkout.

New Book Presentation and Discussion on the Origins of Jean Baptiste Point du Sable
2024-09-14 14:00 - 16:30 | IL
In this book discussion, Dr. Rafael Pérez Guerra presents a series of historical documents long accepted as traditional and true until the mid-twentieth century, when several American and Chicago historians replaced the sources with their interpretations and historical fallacies that persist today. The author attempts to clarify these presumptions and demands that the truth be revealed.

History Course: The Germanen At the Crossroads of Antiquity
2024-10-03 19:00 - 21:00 | IL
Date:
Start
Thursday, October 03, 2024
Time:
Location:
Location
DANK Haus: 2nd Floor, Brauhaus Room

The Germanen: At the Crossroads of Antiquity
History Course presented by Mike Haas
Begins October 3, 2024
Thursday nights, 7-9 PM
Western European civilization arose from its encounter with the cultures of Rome, Athens & Jerusalem. It was at these crossroads of antiquity that the ancient Germanen would appear on the world stage as warlike barbariansâto the Romans and Greeksâand soulless pagansâto Jews and Christians. It was at the confluence of these cultures, however, that the identity of Western Europe would gradually take shape.
Indeed, as these ancient cultures clashed, overlapped and intersected, the center of geo-political power in antiquity shifted from the Hellenic East to Rome. It was from the monotheism of Jerusalem that Christianity was derived, and once Rome adopted the fledgling faith, so would the Germanic successor kingdoms in the western half of the former Roman Empire during the 6th, 7th & 8th centuries.
It would be these same ancient Germanen, however, who would not only assimilate Roman culture and Christian religiosity but in time leave their own cultural imprint on what became known as the Holy Roman Empire. A powerful Western European geo-political entity during the Early Middle Ages, it was founded by Karl der Grosse (Charlemagne), a West Germanic/Frankish tribal king into whose hands was laid the defense of Western Christendom by Pope Leo III on Christmas Day in Rome in the year 800. For his vision and endeavors in putting Western Europe on a path leading out of the Dark Ages, Karl would be heralded as the Father of Europe.
Join us, then, for an exploration of Germanic Antiquity and its Kultur to find out what recorded history tells us of these martially vigorous Germanen, who carried mighty and swift swords but few of whom could read or write.
This course will provide participants an excellent opportunity to broaden their general knowledge and basic understanding of early German history. No textbooks, no homework, no papers, no tests or German language skills required. Just a sincere interest to come/learn and come/share in a relaxed, laid-back setting in the DANK Haus itself or on Zoom within the cozy confines of your own abode.
Mike Haas, Course Presenter
