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  • December 2024

  • Sat 7
    December 7, 2024 @ 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm Constructing Jathi Choreography with Harini Nilakantan

    Constructing Jathi Choreography with Harini Nilakantan

    • Dance
    Kalapriya Studio 2101 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, United States

    Weekly Saturdays 1:15 - 2:15 PM Harini Nilakantan is a student of Aacharya Choodamani Guru Smt. Roja Kannan, and has over two decades of experience in this art form. In […]

  • Tue 10
    December 10, 2024 @ 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Marche De Noel

    Marche De Noel

      Pioneer Court Equitable Building 401 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, United States

      A Charming European Market Experience in the Heart of Chicago Immerse yourself in the magic of this European-style market on the Magnificent Mile™. Discover a delightful array of unique finds […]

      Free
    • Tue 10
      December 10, 2024 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

      Photographing the Salt Shed: The Intersection of Art and Labor

      • Talks and Gatherings
      Chicago Architecture Center 111 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL, United States

      Originally constructed in 1929, the Morton Salt Company Warehouse Complex is a familiar and beloved Chicago Landmark along Elston Avenue near Goose Island. For decades, its enormous hand-painted sign has […]

      Free
    • Wed 11
      December 11, 2024 @ 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Marche De Noel

      Marche De Noel

        Pioneer Court Equitable Building 401 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, United States

        A Charming European Market Experience in the Heart of Chicago Immerse yourself in the magic of this European-style market on the Magnificent Mile™. Discover a delightful array of unique finds […]

        Free
      • Thu 12
        December 12, 2024 @ 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Marche De Noel

        Marche De Noel

          Pioneer Court Equitable Building 401 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, United States

          A Charming European Market Experience in the Heart of Chicago Immerse yourself in the magic of this European-style market on the Magnificent Mile™. Discover a delightful array of unique finds […]

          Free
        • Thu 12
          December 12, 2024 @ 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm Artecito Virtual

          Artecito Virtual

          • Online Events
          Online Event

          Artecito es un proyecto criado por OPEN Center for the Arts y Lincoln Park Zoo para explorar diferentes temas de la naturaleza y conservación del medio ambiente a través de […]

        • Thu 12
          December 12, 2024 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

          Terroir and Territory: ART WORKS Project Year-End Event

          • Exhibitions and Gallery Events
          • Food and Drink
          625 North Kingsbury Street Chicago, IL 60654 625 North Kingsbury Street, Chicago, IL, United States

          ART WORKS Projects is delighted to invite you to a special celebration as we prepare for the 10th anniversary of the Emerging Lens Fellowship Program in 2025. To commemorate this […]

        • Thu 12
          December 12, 2024 @ 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm Neighborhood Nights

          Neighborhood Nights

          • Food and Drink
          DANK Haus German American Cultural Center 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

          Date: Start Thursday, January 11, 2024 Time: Location: Location DANK Haus, 6th Floor Skyline Lounge enjoy a beverage with a spectacular EXPERIENCE in our haus A perfect place to meet your […]

        • Fri 13
          December 13, 2024 @ 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Marche De Noel

          Marche De Noel

            Pioneer Court Equitable Building 401 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, United States

            A Charming European Market Experience in the Heart of Chicago Immerse yourself in the magic of this European-style market on the Magnificent Mile™. Discover a delightful array of unique finds […]

            Free
          • Sat 14
            December 14, 2024 @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Last Chance Craft and Art Fair @ C.O.D.

            Last Chance Craft and Art Fair @ C.O.D.

            • Cultural Festivals and Fairs
            College of DuPage PEC Arena College Rd and Park Blvd, Glen Ellyn

            Named as one of the Top 50 classic & contemporary craft shows in the US by Sunshine Artist Magazine! Last Chance Craft and Art Fair @ COD Saturday, December 14 10am-4pm […]

            $5 – $16
          • Sat 14
            December 14, 2024 @ 10:30 am Kino, Kaffee und Kuchen

            Kino, Kaffee und Kuchen

            • Music, Film, and Theater
            DANK Haus German American Cultural Center 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

            Date: Start Saturday, January 06, 2024 Time: Location: Location DANK Haus Room 206, 2nd Floor KINO, KAFFEE UND KUCHEN  Saturdays at the DANK Haus in Room 206 10:30 - 11:00 […]

          • Sat 14
            December 14, 2024 @ 10:30 am - 2:30 pm Puerto Rican Arts Alliance: Studio Arts Program

            Puerto Rican Arts Alliance: Studio Arts Program

            • Workshops and Classes

            El Rinconcito is a free open art space for creative expression for people ages 12-25. You can meet people like you who are interested in arts, painting, drawing, printmaking, and […]

          • Sat 14
            December 14, 2024 @ 11:00 am - 3:00 pm FREE Guided Tours at the National Hellenic Museum

            FREE Guided Tours at the National Hellenic Museum

            • Exhibitions and Gallery Events
            National Hellenic Museum 333 S. Halsted St., Chicago, IL, United States

            Join us for our FREE, limited-time offer guided tours every Saturday at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. These one-hour tours offer a comprehensive journey through the museum's rich exhibitions and […]

          • Sat 14
            December 14, 2024 @ 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

            Weihnachtsmarkt Indoor Christmas Market

            • Cultural Festivals and Fairs
            DANK Haus German American Cultural Center 4740 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL, United States

            Come join us for a warm indoor Weihnachtsmarkt with German-inspired Christmas shopping, Glühwein, food, music and more! Our Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) takes place on Saturday, December 14th, 2024 from 11:00am to 5:00pm. We will have German […]

            $5
          • Sat 14
            December 14, 2024 @ 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Marche De Noel

            Marche De Noel

              Pioneer Court Equitable Building 401 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL, United States

              A Charming European Market Experience in the Heart of Chicago Immerse yourself in the magic of this European-style market on the Magnificent Mile™. Discover a delightful array of unique finds […]

              Free
            • Sat 14
              December 14, 2024 @ 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm Constructing Jathi Choreography with Harini Nilakantan

              Constructing Jathi Choreography with Harini Nilakantan

              • Dance
              Kalapriya Studio 2101 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago, United States

              Weekly Saturdays 1:15 - 2:15 PM Harini Nilakantan is a student of Aacharya Choodamani Guru Smt. Roja Kannan, and has over two decades of experience in this art form. In […]

            • Sat 14
              December 14, 2024 @ 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

              Sistah Scrooge – Red Carpet Movie Premiere – a CoquieHughes film

              • Music, Film, and Theater
              Malcolm X College 1900 W Jackson Blvd, Chicago

              🎄✨ Experience the Holiday Magic Like Never Before! ✨🎄 Join us for the highly-anticipated Chicago premiere of Sistah Scrooge, a bold and modern twist on the classic redemption tale of […]

              $30
            • Sun 15
              December 15, 2024 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Last Chance Craft and Art Fair @ C.O.D.

              Last Chance Craft and Art Fair @ C.O.D.

              • Cultural Festivals and Fairs
              College of DuPage PEC Arena College Rd and Park Blvd, Glen Ellyn

              Named as one of the Top 50 classic & contemporary craft shows in the US by Sunshine Artist Magazine! Last Chance Craft and Art Fair @ COD Saturday, December 14 10am-4pm […]

              $5 – $16
            • Sun 15
              December 15, 2024 @ 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm

              Building the Table (Pt. 4): Celebrating Culture in Policy, Advocacy, and Social Justice

              • Talks and Gatherings
              Nobody's Darling 1744 West Balmoral Avenue, Chicago, I, United States

              "Building the Table" is an in-person extension of ‘The Table On Air’ talk show, designed to culturally explore intersectional identities and highlight the dynamic lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ community members. […]

              Free
            • Sun 15
              December 15, 2024 @ 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm

              7th Annual Hibernian Hooligan Ball

              • Cultural Festivals and Fairs
              10618 S. Western, Chicago Barney Callaghan's Irish Pub, Chicago, United States

              Hibernian Media presents the 7th Annual Hibernian Hooligan Ball! It's the only fundraiser of the year! Sunday, December 15, 2024, 4 pm - 8 pm Barney Callaghan's Irish Pub • […]

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            J. Gibran Villalobos

            Board Member

            J. Gibran Villalobos is an arts administrator, educator, and cultural worker. He has served as Senior Program Officer for the Institute of Museum and Library Services, as the Interim Executive Director of the Chicago Artists Coalition, and faculty lecturer at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Previously, he has held posts as Assistant Curator at the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Partnerships and Community Engagement Manager for the Chicago Architecture Biennial, Cultural Liaison for the Chicago Park District, and Curator-in-Residence for the Chicago Cultural Center. In 2016 he attended the Advocacy Leadership Institute and was invited to the White House Office of Public Engagement, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to speak to issues affecting Latinos in Chicago. In 2017 he launched an inaugural summit of Latinx artists and administrators across the U.S; for this project he was awarded the Act Up Award by the Chicago Community Trust. His work has been presented at the Fabrica de Arte Cubano during the 2017 Havana Biennial. In 2019 he was an inaugural recipient of the Field Foundation’s Leaders for a New Chicago Award as well as the Americans for the Arts 2019 Leaders of Color Fellowship. In 2020, he joined the Civic Leadership Academy at the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy where he worked with government and nonprofit sector participants to think about effective policy for Chicago’s cultural industries. He helped establish the Auxiliary Board at the National Museum of Mexican Art. He has taught graduate and undergraduate courses at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in the Department of Arts Administration & Policy.

            Gibran holds a BA in Art History and a BS in Public Relations from Northern Arizona University and an MA in Arts Administration & Policy and MA in Modern Art History & Theory from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

            He has contributed to exhibitions such as Direct Message, presenting the artwork of Chicago artistic collectives and their relation to language and civic engagement. As part of an international project, he has convened the MCA Chicago with the Tate Modern, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Queens Museum and other institutions to create dialogue on civic engagement within contemporary art institutions. He has written catalog entries for Iñigo Manglano-Ovalle, Rodrigo Lara Zendejas, and Jeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford. In 2021, he is contributing to the upcoming retrospective on the work by artist Andrea Bowers focusing on the activism and archives of Emma Lozano. He is curator of the symposium Fractures: Creating Around Devastation focusing on water ecology, civic engagement, activism, and architecture.

            Loreal Robertson

            Board Member

            Loreal Robertson is a native Chicagoan who recently returned home in 2021 where she began working at the University of Chicago. In her role she oversees and monitors a range of programs, services, and resources to support the retention, wellness, belonging, and success of graduate students. Additionally, her role includes informing strategic priorities, diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, professional development, student advancement and the support of students who may be experiencing financial academic, or personal challenges, including students with disabilities and international students.

            Loreal has over 10 years of experience in higher education and student affairs. In 2021 she received the Inclusion and Diversity Champion Award from Texas A&M University-Kingsville (TAMUK), where she was previously employed. Loreal’s personal and professional philosophy is creating and promoting spaces and opportunities where everyone can see themselves as part of an experience and feels represented.

            Loreal holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Arkansas, a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from TAMUK.

            Loreal is a financial and active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, an avid reader, and enjoys traveling with family and friends.

            Warren Frank

            Treasurer

            Warren Frank is a retired CPA and CFO, and current Adjunct Professor at Columbia College.

            Warren worked at such CPA firms as KPMG, PwC, and Deloitte, and Not For Profit organizations as National Association of Realtors, Chicago Associations of Realtors, Anixter Center, and Chinese American Service League.

            Warren is a Chicago resident in the Lakeview neighborhood. He attended Loyola University of Chicago for his bachelor degree and Northwestern University for his master degree.

            Colleen McGaughey

            Board Member

            Colleen McGaughey (she/her) is the director of development at the National Public Housing Museum, where she leads the strategic direction of the museum’s fundraising efforts with a focus on creative and community-centric approaches.

            Mario Longoni

            Board Member

            Mario Longoni is a cultural anthropologist (“Lead Environmental Social Scientist”) in the Keller Science Action Center at the Field Museum. For over 20 years, he has worked with individuals and organizations to surface and activate cultural and natural assets (specific strengths and characteristics) to help communities meet the challenges they face.

            Rob Fojtik

            Board Member
            Rob Fojtik is Vice President for Neighborhood Strategy at Choose Chicago, the city’s official tourism and convention promotion bureau. In this capacity, Rob oversees efforts to promote and support Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods to visitors from near and far. Programs include the award-winning Neighborhood Content Creator program that leverages resident-made digital content, and Chicago Alfresco, a $2.5 million placemaking initiative created in partnership with the Chicago Department of Transportation to transform public spaces into community plazas for outdoor enjoyment.

            Before coming to Choose Chicago, Rob was a Senior Advisor to Mayor Lightfoot on economic development and international relations at City Hall, as well as LGTBQ+ affairs and the expanded outdoor dining program. In this role, he also worked to recommend and place over 150 civic leaders and residents onto City boards and commissions. Prior to government service in the Lightfoot administration, Rob ran her winning campaign in the crowded 2019 Chicago mayoral race as Chief of Staff. In past lives, Rob has worked as a public affairs manager for a Fortune 500 company downtown; had misadventures in management consulting, art sales, and personal cheffing; and spent time in Washington DC working for former Secretary of Defense William Cohen. Rob also served a one-year appointment at the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence as a policy advisor on Central and Eastern Europe. In this role, he was part of the NSC’s interagency process to develop a comprehensive sanctions regime on Russia as a consequence of its 2014 invasion of Crimea and Eastern Ukraine.

            After receiving his BA in Slavic Languages and Literature at Northwestern University, Rob lived and worked in the Czech Republic teaching English and tending bar before moving to Washington, D.C. to pursue a MA from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service Center for Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies (CERES). He enjoys cooking, learning foreign languages, hiking with his partner and their dog, and visiting Chicago’s many neighborhoods.

            Paul Durica

            Board Member

            Dr. Paul Durica is the Director of Exhibitions at the Chicago History Museums and worked in a similar capacity at The Newberry Library. From 2015-2020, he served as the Director of Programs and Exhibitions with Illinois Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

            Prior to that he drew upon his work as a writer, researcher, and teacher to produce a series of free and interactive talks, walks, and reenactments focused on narratives from Chicago’s past that resonate with its present.

            These public history programs led to collaborations with cultural institutions in the city such as the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum, Chicago History Museum, Newberry Library, Chicago Architecture Foundation, Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Chicago Cultural Center among others.

            Each program made use of both his original research and the skills of the arts organizations, community groups, local businesses, and publications that acted as my partners. Some of these programs, such as the full-scale reenactment of the Haymarket Affair in 2011, involved recruiting and directing over 300 volunteers and 1,000 participants.

            To produce these programs successfully, he wrote grants; managed budgets; generated web content; worked closely with program partners of varying sizes and resources; and identified, engaged, and sustained a diverse multi-generational audience.

            Lynessa Rico

            Board Member

            Dr. Lynessa M. Rico is the Associate Chair of the Business Psychology Department at the The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Chicago campus. She is also a business mentor at 1871.

            Lynessa is a results-driven Strategic Consultant with over 25 years of experience enabling leaders to meet strategic business objectives by identifying and aligning business growth opportunities with strategic direction of culturally diverse organizations. By leveraging her strategic experience in identifying and impacting business growth opportunities and maximizing profits in retail firms and higher education institutions, Lynessa leads workshops focused on the creative mindset, women’s entrepreneurship, emotional intelligence, and the value and application of design thinking within entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial ecosystems. Her services also include consulting with and educating leadership on emotional intelligence, the power of design thinking and the creative mindset, and leadership styles to support inclusive, creative workplaces. She has presented to leadership and innovation teams in small, mid-size, and Fortune 500 companies.

            Lynessa received her undergraduate degrees in Marketing and Management from Wichita State University. She then went on to earn a master’s degree in Business Administration from Wichita State University with a focus in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. After earning her master’s degree, Lynessa received her doctorate in Business Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology where she successfully completed her dissertation titled, “The Relationship Between Personality Types and Color Preference for Color Combinations.” Her current research interests include women’s entrepreneurship, design thinking, creativity, emotional intelligence, and entrepreneurship self-efficacy.

            Outside of work and research, Lynessa enjoys mentoring start-ups and judging pitch competitions. Lynessa currently resides in Chicago, Illinois with her four cats. She is an avid long-distance runner, having completed 5 full marathons (and counting), and enjoys watching musical theater.

            Briana Thomas

            Board Member

            Briana Thomas is the Museum Associate at the Abrahamic Center for Cultural Education (a core member of the Chicago Cultural Alliance). She wears many hats including developing exhibition content, facilitating community programs (children and adults), liaising with visitor artists, and other responsibilities. Her previous experience in the nonprofit space includes her tenure as the Financial Empowerment Coordinator at AMERICORPS Sharing Life Center as well as engaging with the public at the Dallas Arboretum. Her past professional experience has remained rooted in marginalized communities. It is their needs, discourse and histories that she has routinely been tasked with protecting and showcasing in the face of poor infrastructure, and willing ignorance. Creating safe spaces is an ancestral practice she has inherited.