A three-person exhibition featuring new and recent works from Chicago-based artists Ajmal ‘Mas Man’ Millar, Lola Ayisha Ogbara, and R. Treshawn Williamson exploring homeplace through sculpture, self-imaging, & materialism. …of the land: acts of refusal and ratification features new and recent works from Chicago-based artists Ajmal ‘Mas Man’ Millar, Lola Ayisha Ogbara, and R. Treshawn Williamson […]
Through experiential art installations “Unbearable Memories, Unspeakable Histories” investigates the Partition of India in 1947. This year marks 75 years since the Partition of India in 1947, which created Pakistan, and eventually, Bangladesh in 1971. Pritika Chowdhry’s experiential art installations are temporary 'anti-memorials' to the Partition. Often described as the Holocaust of South Asia, the […]
Our August Reel Film Club highlights Argentina through film and food! Sand Eyes (an official selection of the 37th Chicago Latino Film Festival) is a heart-wrenching psychological drama that turns into a powerful unnerving thriller about a couple in search for their kidnapped son. The film is projected in Spanish with English subtitles. The event […]
6th Floor Skyline Lounge & Terrace Need a night out, but don’t know what to do with the kids? DANK has you covered! Join us on Thursday, September 1st from 6-8 pm for a parent's night out. We will provide childcare and fun, enriching activities at the Haus for your kids, while you get to […]
Organizers: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
Join us for a night of lively discussion and discovery of Bronzeville citizens' history, culture, and creativity. About this event About the project: Bronzeville residents, alumni, elders, and interested scholars will participate in workshops at the Jacob H. Carruthers Center to tell, write, and share what we know or have learned about Bronzeville's rich history. […]
All levels - BEGINNERS WELCOME! DANK Haus 6th Floor, Terrace General Public: $5 | Friends of DANK: Free Enjoy gentle Yoga classes on the 6th floor skyline terrace at DANK-Haus. In this class we will be flowing from pose to pose and linking movement with breath. We will combine elements of Hatha and Yin-Yoga as […]
Organizers: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
All levels - BEGINNERS WELCOME! DANK Haus 6th Floor, Terrace General Public: $5 | Friends of DANK: Free Enjoy gentle Yoga classes on the 6th floor skyline terrace at DANK-Haus. In this class we will be flowing from pose to pose and linking movement with breath. We will combine elements of Hatha and Yin-Yoga as […]
Organizers: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
For the first time in Chicago, Sidi Wacho will put on a performance you can't miss! The group hails from Chile, France, and Algeria, but claim to be from all over the world. Sidi Wacho has produced four acclaimed albums and have toured the world with their Cumbia, Hip-Hop, Balkan fusion in the vein of […]
D-Composed brings their Music in Color experience to life at South Side Community Art Center! About this event Founded in 2017 by Kori Coleman, D-Composed is a chamber music experience that celebrates & honors Black creativity and culture through the music of Black composers. To date, D-Composed has gained national recognition with appearances on The […]
The Chinese American Museum of Chicago (CAMOC) is excited to announce the fourth exhibition of the Spotlight Series, featuring artist Yuge Zhou. Please join us on Saturday, September 3, from 3pm-6pm CT for the opening reception. This exhibition will run from September 3 through October 16. Collateral programs of the exhibition include a poetry session in collaboration with the […]
Ethiopian New Year Celebration Event! Please join us for our New Year events. The celebration event will take place at the Daley Plaza, 50 West Washington Street, Chicago, IL 60602, on Thursday, September 8th, 2022. We can't wait to see everyone!
Organizers: Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago
COME ENJOY A BEVERAGE WITH A SPECTACULAR EXPERIENCE IN OUR ICONIC 6TH FLOOR SKYLINE LOUNGE & TERRACE A perfect place to meet your neighbors and socialize! Each 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month from 7-11 PM. Proceeds support the DANK Haus Museum
Organizers: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
For centuries, handwriting served as a powerful tool for communicating information, preserving knowledge, shaping identity, and building empires. In our digital world, however, fewer and fewer people can read handwritten words. Handwriting has survived disruptive technologies before. The invention of printing did not diminish the need for handwriting. Instead, it created new markets for ambitious […]
All levels - BEGINNERS WELCOME! DANK Haus 6th Floor, Terrace General Public: $5 | Friends of DANK: Free Enjoy gentle Yoga classes on the 6th floor skyline terrace at DANK-Haus. In this class we will be flowing from pose to pose and linking movement with breath. We will combine elements of Hatha and Yin-Yoga as […]
Organizers: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
Learn how to make Autumn-themed Nerikiri with Wagashi Master, Toshiko Sugii Steffes. Attendees will make colorful Chrysanthemum designs of Nerikiri sweets. This design is called “Kisewata(着せ綿)” and is a special design for “Chō yō no sekku(重陽の節句)” which means chrysanthemums celebrations or longevity celebration on September 9th. Chrysanthemums are believed to have the power to purge […]
On display in the Main Gallery Sept. 9 – Nov. 27, 2022 Exhibit Opening, Friday, Sept. 9, 6 p.m. Gallery walk with artists and lecture by Pieper Bloomquist starting at 6:30 p.m. The opening is in person but the lecture can be joined via Zoom. Link can be found at registration link. Master folk artists […]
Join us as we march in the annual Von Steuben Parade! The DANK Haus will have a float in the parade to showcase all we offer at the Haus and Kinderschule. Don your Dirndl, Lederhosen, German Chicago T-Shirt, or any of your favorite German gear! This is a fun opportunity to share the Haus and […]
Organizers: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
Join art professor Alison Aune in a Swedish folk art Family workshop. Alison will lead participants in creating Fantastical Kurbits. Alison will give a brief gallery tour to share the background of Dalmålning, also known as kurbits painting or Dala painting, which flourished in Sweden in the 18th and 19th centuries. The kurbit was a fantastical gourd plant […]
The Chinese American Museum of Chicago (CAMOC) is excited to host two free public programs for the Spotlight Series exhibition Yuge Zhou: Moon Drawings. The first of these programs is a poetry session in collaboration with the Chicago Poetry Center on Saturday, September 10, from 12pm-1pm CT, coinciding with the Mid-Autumn (Moon) Festival. The poetry session will start with a […]
Åse Larsjos will hold a kurbits painting workshop for adults. This workshop is suitable both for beginners and those more experienced. Acrylic paint will be used for practical reasons. Cost includes all materials needed. $20 Museum members and $25 everyone else. Maximum of 10 participants.
Join the Haitian American Museum of Chicago (HAMOC) and Crossing Borders Music for the one-day outdoor exhibition We Walk: A Celebration of Black Community. This community exhibition highlights the excellence and contributions of Black America in the local community and beyond. Featuring exhibits on Black artists, history, food, and more! Plus, a LIVE Crossing Borders […]
Organizers: Haitian American Museum of Chicago, Crossing Borders Music
Livewire is your Open Mic platform to jam, tell us a story, act your heart out, enthrall with a verse, drop the mic... You bring the talent we’ll bring the cheers! When? Thursday, September 15, 2022 at 5:30 PM Where? National Indo-American Museum, 815 S Main St, Lombard, IL 60148 You'll have 3 minutes for any kind of […]
All levels - BEGINNERS WELCOME! DANK Haus 6th Floor, Terrace General Public: $5 | Friends of DANK: Free Enjoy gentle Yoga classes on the 6th floor skyline terrace at DANK-Haus. In this class we will be flowing from pose to pose and linking movement with breath. We will combine elements of Hatha and Yin-Yoga as […]
Organizers: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
Join the National Hellenic Museum’s Virtual Book Club! In September, we will be discussing Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr, Pulitzer Prize-Winning author of All the Light We Cannot See. Book Club is free to join and meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7 PM CDT via Zoom More about Cloud Cuckoo Land: From the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of All […]
Join us for the grand reopening of the National Hellenic Museum this fall with the world premiere of a major photography exhibition Resilience By HRH Prince Nikolaos September 16 – December 30, 2022 Prince Nikolaos is an accomplished photographer whose work has been exhibited in major global cities including Athens, London, Copenhagen, Doha and Melbourne—and […]
In this new exhibition, the Chicago-based Greek American photographer presents 80 historic works showcasing Chicago’s Greek American celebrations alongside other ethnic and cultural festivals and parades, primarily from the 1970s and 1980s. Depicted events include the Greek Independence Day Parade, Bud Billiken Day Parade, Chinese New Year Parade, Mexican Civic Society Parade, Jewish Festival and […]
Join us for the grand reopening of the National Hellenic Museum this fall with the world premiere of a major photography exhibition Resilience By HRH Prince Nikolaos September 16 – December 30, 2022 Prince Nikolaos is an accomplished photographer whose work has been exhibited in major global cities including Athens, London, Copenhagen, Doha and Melbourne—and […]
BOMBA is the oldest musical tradition of Puerto Rico and one of the greatest expressions of the Island’s African ancestry. Since its establishment in Chicago in the late 1980's and early 1990's, enthusiasts, practitioners and teachers of Bomba had come through SRBCC to develop, share and cultivate their craft and honor this ancestral art form […]
Join us for the grand reopening of the National Hellenic Museum this fall with the world premiere of a major photography exhibition Resilience By HRH Prince Nikolaos September 16 – December 30, 2022 Prince Nikolaos is an accomplished photographer whose work has been exhibited in major global cities including Athens, London, Copenhagen, Doha and Melbourne—and […]
Performative activations from current exhibiting artists R. Treshawn Williamson & Lola Ayisha Ogbara, with special guest artist Jada-Amina. About this event Borrowed from Lola Ayisha Ogbara’s video work 'Bound For Glory' from her continuing series The Perfect Servant, THE GESTURE ITSELF IS PROTECTION SPELL proposes questions of the body, disruption, labor, acts of looking, and materiality through […]
Balzekas Museum welcomes the Kalnas Ensemble string quartet featuring original compositions inspired by ancient Lithuanian folk music On Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, the Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture welcomes the Kalnas Ensemble to Chicago for what promises to be a memorable concert and exploration of the origins of Lithuanian music. "Kalnas" means "hill" in Lithuania […]
Join us for the grand reopening of the National Hellenic Museum this fall with the world premiere of a major photography exhibition Resilience By HRH Prince Nikolaos September 16 – December 30, 2022 Prince Nikolaos is an accomplished photographer whose work has been exhibited in major global cities including Athens, London, Copenhagen, Doha and Melbourne—and […]
Bestselling illustrator Nikkolas Smith hosts a Kids & Family Workshop on creating art that aligns with and highlights activism. About this event Nikkolas Smith, Artivist and #1 New York Times Bestselling illustrator, will show you how to become an Artivist. Do you have something you want to better or change in your community or in the world? […]
Peace Day brings together communities and cultures as a vital step towards building peace in Chicago and the world. The interactive World Peace Flag Ceremony accompanied by world music gives every audience member a voice as 193 beautiful country flags are presented by flag bearers (many in traditional dress) as we call out Peace for […]
Concert featuring Martin Vydra (Czech Republic) and Ricardo Itaborahy (Brazil). Concert guest violinist Klára Moldová. Voluntary admission. Event duration 60 minutes. Czech Nepomuk (birthplace of St. John of Nepomuk) and Brazilian São João Nepomuceno – two cities that connect St. John of Nepomuk across the ocean. Classic music in honor of St. John of Nepomuk […]
Nostalgia for My Island: Puerto Rican Paintings from the Museo de Arte de Ponce. The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture is excited to partner with the world-renowned fine arts museum, The Museo de Arte de Ponce (El Museo), to present a unique exhibit of Puerto Rican paintings on the U.S. mainland. This […]
Organizers: The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
Join us for another cooking class series. In September we will be making Pytt-i-panna and Bondomelett. Two dishes to cook when you have a little bit of everything in your fridge. You will receive the recipe in advance. You can then either cook alongside or watch and try later. It is an interactive Zoom so […]
Join us for another cooking class series. In September we will be making Pytt-i-panna and Bondomelett. Two dishes to cook when you have a little bit of everything in your fridge. The in person class is limited to four participants. Price for the class is $25 for members and $35 for everyone else.
Free Summer Screenings Program Wednesday, September 21 at 6:30pm | Chicago Cultural Center (78 E. Washington St.) Claim your free ticket: https://bit.ly/Chi_MFM My Father Marianne (Min pappa Marianne) Dir. Mårten Klingberg, 2020, Sweden, 110 min. Newly single, twentysomething aspiring journalist Hanna leaves Stockholm to move back in with her parents in her small hometown. Already feeling […]
Did you know humming birds are the only birds that can fly backwards? Join us as we explore more about Humming Birds with our friends at Lincoln Park Zoo! Contect Here: https://bit.ly/ArtecitoColibri ____________________________________ ¿Sabías que los colibríes son los únicos pájaros que pueden volar al revés? ¡Únase a nosotros mientras exploramos más sobre los colibri's […]
Organizers: OPEN Center for the Arts, Lincoln Park Zoo
This 60-minute online lecture will explore the 1922 Smyrna Catastrophe within the context of the tumultuous year of 1922. 1922 was one of the most eventful and significant years not just of the 20th century, but of human history. Therefore, it is impossible to completely understand the Smyrna Catastrophe without understanding the events at Smyrna […]
September 22, 2022 | 6:30pm CDT On-Site & Online David Seymour – better known as “Chim” — is widely remembered as the first human rights photographer. One of the cofounders of photojournalism’s famous cooperative Magnum Photos, Chim’s work was poignant and emphatic – transcending generations, making him one of the 20th century’s quintessential photographers. […]
Are you ready to attend a community meal and support a good cause? Based on the idea of Soup & Bread community meals, we are hosting our own community meal and gathering. How does this work? Volunteer soup makers bring a crock pot of their favorite soup to share. JASC provides rice, bowls and […]
Symbio is regarded as one of the most prominent new bands from the Swedish Folk and World Music scene. With their strong stage presence, original compositions and a magical interplay of hurdy-gurdy and accordion – The duo surprises their audience and takes them on a moving and dreamy musical journey. Dinner will be served at […]
Kulturküche: Decorating Lebkuchenherz 5th Floor Kitchen Friday, September 23rd 6:30 PM Join Zimt Bakery for a chance to decorate your very own Lebkuchenherz (gingerbread heart) with naturally colored glaze on our very own house made, large-format gingerbread cookies. You will learn a variety of decorating techniques and have a rainbow of colors to choose from. […]
Organizers: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
The feature documentary 80 YEARS LATER explores the racial inheritance of Japanese American family incarceration during World War II through multigenerational conversations with survivors and their descendants. In the 80th anniversary of Executive Order 9066 that imprisoned 120,000 Japanese Americans in World War II, families still grapple with the legacy of their experience. How does […]
360-degree view of Afghan culture through music, poetry, art and cultural heritage. About this event South Asia Institute Presents HEART OF AFGHANISTAN X QAIS ESSAR Saturday, September 24, 2022 Seated Free The Heart of Afghanistan features four brilliant Afghan musicians: famed singer and Afghan TV star Ahmad Fanoos on vocals & harmonium, his sons Elham […]
A reception will take place prior to screening with appetizers and wine provided, and a conversation regarding the film will proceed the screening. 6:00 PM - Dominican Rep. Appetizers and Wine 7:00 PM - Film screening (Spanish with English subtitles) Parking at 33 W Ontario ($10 with validation) Sun in the Water / Sol en […]
Join CJE SeniorLife Holocaust Community Services and Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center (IHMEC) for an evening with Dr. Martin Dean, renowned Holocaust historian, author, former war crimes investigator, and researcher with the Babiy Yar Holocaust Memorial Center. Dr. Dean will examine the complex history of the Babiy Yar ravine, where more than 33,000 Jewish men, […]
Enjoy an evening learning to dance Salsa at the National Puerto Rican Museum. About this event The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture is excited to provide a FREE Salsa Dance Lesson. A professional dance instructor will teach you the basic steps and have you dancing before the night is over. Bring a friend to partner […]
Organizers: The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
Do you want to tell stories to connect with people emotionally and to create intimate communities with others? Do you want to tell stories that reflect upon urgent social concerns of our time? There are two parts to this workshop/circle. During the first part of the session, we will discuss central tenets of this art […]
Friday, September 30 - Saturday, October 1, 2022 Ragamala: A Celebration of Indian Classical Music - Celebrating 10 Years! Chicago Cultural Center, Preston Bradley Hall 78 E. Washington St., 3rd Flr, Chicago, IL 60602 6pm-8am All Ages, Free! Presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events in collaboration with South Asia Institute, South […]
BOMBA is the oldest musical tradition of Puerto Rico and one of the greatest expressions of the Island’s African ancestry. Since its establishment in Chicago in the late 1980's and early 1990's, enthusiasts, practitioners and teachers of Bomba had come through SRBCC to develop, share and cultivate their craft and honor this ancestral art form […]
Come experience Sisterhood: a solo exhibition created by Alma Domínguez, co-founder & core artist of OPEN Center for the Arts. This moving exhibition is Domínguez's homage to women who have changed the world. Premiering a series of 7 powerful portraits, showcasing Sisterhood, and recognizing the strength of migrant women and their contribution to our society. […]
Artistic residence of Colectivo Moriviví at SRBCC for the design and execution of a mural in honor of Julia de Burgos in Chicago. About this event English Meet the artists and discover the creative process and proposed design of the mural dedicated to Julia de Burgos by Colectivo Moriviví, coming directly from Puerto Rico to […]
HOMECOMING will be SSCAC's first large-scale outdoor program, intended to be a city-wide call and response to Black artists! About this event HOMECOMING will be SSCAC's first large-scale outdoor program, intended to be a city-wide call and response to Black artists to further celebrate our legacy as the first Black arts center in the nation, reconnect with […]
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.