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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Nine Black women artists engaged in collaborative efforts to create artworks that transcend and transform events in the year 2020. In their eyes, art-making became a transgressive act through activism, documentation and vision. Utilizing book-making, craft-making and works on paper, 9 Artists/9 Months/ 9 Perspectives presents a birth of vision under hardship felt worldwide, collectively […]
Please join us to celebrate the art of Akina Curley. A very impressive show by a talented young Native artist. Seeking Sonder showcases work by Akina Curley (Ojibwe/ Diné) to explore other capacities/disciplines of expression that missions to challenge audiences about Native art today through a contemporary aesthetic. These new works by Akina will perform, […]
Join us in "Celebrating Native American Heritage Month" with a Trickster Open House on November 29 from 5-7 PM and special guests, Larry Yazzie and Iron Bear.
Víctor has lived by himself, tending to his cows, in the mountains of Costa Rica for decades. He believes his neighbors have ordered their one indigenous employee to spy on him and that they have stolen his favorite cow. His 12-year-old grandson has been sent by his mother to live with Víctor just as the […]
Greek may well be the world’s oldest continuously spoken linguistic tradition. In this hour-long class, we will explore the long life of the Greek language, from Proto-Greek speakers arriving in the Greek peninsula thousands of years ago to the "Greeklish" of the Greek diaspora.
Renowned printer and type designer Russell Maret will discuss the creation and use of script fonts, past and present, with Jill Gage, curator of the exhibition A Show of Hands: Handwriting in the Age of Print. SPEAKERS Russell Maret is a letter designer and letterpress printer working in New York City. Jill Gage is the Newberry’s Custodian of […]
The Haitian American Museum of Chicago (HAMOC) is celebrating its 10th Anniversary at its Annual Gala Fundraiser, Leve'L 2022! "Leve'L" roughly translates to "Uplift" in Haitian Creole. Join us in uplifting the accomplishments of the museum over the past 10 years! This year will also be our first in-person Gala celebration since 2019. This memorable night will be […]
Holiday CASH Bingo! Tell your friends, family, and neighbors! The higher in attendance, the higher the payout per game. Coverall will be $200! Food TBD! Mark your calendars!
Bring your passion for Scotland and be part of history as Chicago Scots, the first and oldest charity in Illinois, returns to the Chicago History Museum for our grandest evening of the year! Throughout the evening you’ll have access to the Chicago History Museum’s exhibits including City on Fire: Chicago 1871, Vivian Maier: In Color, and the new Treasured Ten: […]
Julmarknad is the Museum’s annual Christmas Bazaar, where traditional Scandinavian and modern handicrafts will be available for purchase. Visit the Children’s Museum for crafts, games and a special visit from Santa. It is entertainment for the whole family and includes kaffestuga, Lucia processions and folk dancers.
Calligraphy evolved into a fine art practice in the mid-20th century, and it continues to be reimagined by artists today. To keep the art of beautiful lettering alive, it must be practiced. Join us and the Chicago Calligraphy Collective for an interactive and family-friendly event focused on the history of handwriting. Enjoy demonstrations of different […]
Sharing Our Wisdom, Values & Diverse Cultures In celebration of the Association on American Indian Affairs’ 100th anniversary, the Association is honored to announce the first annual Tribal Museums Day to be held on Saturday, December 3, 2022. We are engaging Tribal Museums and Cultural Centers across Indian Country to share our collective wisdom, values and diverse cultures! The Association’s vision is to create a world where diverse Native cultures and values are […]
Organizers: Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
Deck the IAHC halls at the annual Christmas Bazaar on Sunday, December 4th from 9am-9pm. Festivities include Mass, breakfast, craft and bake sale, music, dance, children’s activities and visit from Santa. Tickets for breakfast are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. The breakfast begins at 10:00am, and reservations are required. Entry […]
Julmarknad is the Museum’s annual Christmas Bazaar, where traditional Scandinavian and modern handicrafts will be available for purchase. Visit the Children’s Museum for crafts, games and a special visit from Santa. It is entertainment for the whole family and includes kaffestuga, Lucia processions and folk dancers.
Orphaned and torn apart at the age of 3, twins Adam and Ida Paluch survived the Holocaust without knowing what had happened to each other. Adam endured life in a concentration camp and was later adopted. Ida evaded capture as a hidden child in Nazi-occupied-Poland. Both children were baptized, issued fake birth certificates with new […]
Since the Greek state declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1821, the Greek-Turkish conflict has in many ways defined the history of modern Greece. In this NHM Discussion, we will explore the history of this conflict from the Ottoman Empire to the Balkans War to Cyprus. If you feel like you are missing […]
Come and make your own hand-dipped candle, it’s a fun part of making Christmas crafts at the Museum. While the candles are drying we make other Swedish decorations. Hopefully we will have time for a special treat as well. Come prepared with a pair of scissors. Coffee and sandwiches are served. Cost is $20 for […]
Join us the evening of Tuesday, December 6th at the DuSable Museum for a special advance screening of the season three premiere episode of HBO Max’s South Side. The screening will be followed by an intimate conversation with series co-creators, executive producers, directors, writers and cast Bashir Salahuddin and Diallo Riddle, moderated by WBEZ’s Reset […]
In this hour-long class, we will explore the history of the Greek diner and its profound influence on American food culture. On the eve of World War I, Greek immigrants began buying up the diners abandoned by German Americans facing anti-German persecution brought on by the war. In these kitchens, the new Greek owners would […]
Pure heart and soul. That’s how you can best describe Hobo Cane. Born as Javier Alberto Mendoza in the state of Virginia to a Spanish mother and Mexican/American father, Javier’s love for music burned bright from a young age. He started his musical career joining Warner-Chappell as a staff writer in Miami, FL. There he […]
A national bestseller, D-Day Girls draws from recently declassified files, diaries, and oral histories to share a thrilling story about the remarkable women recruited by Winston Churchill’s elite spy agency. These female spies destroyed train lines, ambushed Nazis, plotted prison breaks, and gathered crucial intelligence to pave the way for Allied victory. Don’t miss our program with […]
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
One of our most popular family event of the year! Join us on either Saturday or Sunday for a Swedish pancake breakfast with traditional crafts, a special visit from Tomten, and more. The event will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at approximately 11 a.m. It is recommended that you arrive as close to 9 […]
Symposium 3: "How Artists with Disabilities Fit into the Greater Art World" Artists First Conversations: Inclusivity for Artists with Disabilities is a three-part symposium series held in tandem with the Chicago Cultural Center exhibition Artists First: Twenty-five Years of Studio Art at Thresholds. The primary goals of the symposium series are to increase scholarship in the field […]
Organizers: Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
CHRISTMAS ORNAMENTS WORKSHOP Prepare for the Holidays with the PMA Saturday, December 10, 2022 RSVP by December 6 The Polish Museum of America will offer its annual Christmas workshop on the art of ornament making on Saturday, December 10, 2022, at 10am-12pm. Workshop fee: $10 per person (includes free Museum tour, day of […]
One of our most popular family event of the year! Join us on either Saturday or Sunday for a Swedish pancake breakfast with traditional crafts, a special visit from Tomten, and more. The event will begin at 9 a.m. and conclude at approximately 11 a.m. It is recommended that you arrive as close to 9 […]
December 10 - 11, 2022 12 pm - 5 pm $5 admission Ticket prices also include complimentary water donated by Open Water and beer donated by Solemn Oath Brewery and Revolution Brewing (while supplies last). Stay tuned for updated about our raffles! Participating makers: Alice’s Crystal Palace Arceo Press & Studio Alex Remeniuk Asrai Garden […]
The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art cordially invites you to attend a holiday concert, “FESTIVAL OF CAROLS…WE STAND WITH UKRAINE” on Sunday, December 11th at 1PM, at St. Nicholas Catholic Cathedral. Choral groups from four local ethnic groups including Lithuanian, Polish, Swedish, and Ukrainian will participate in this holiday fundraising event that echoes all of our resounding support for Ukraine, its people, […]
The American Indian Center is currently accepting donations for our Holiday Donation Drive from now until December 20. Items we are currently accepting include: food, gift cards, new toys, and new or gently used clothing items. Donations may be brought to the American Indian Center, 3401 W Ainslie St., Monday through Friday between the hours […]
Join NHM Discussions as we explore the lives and legacies of three of the Byzantine Empire's most influential figures: Empress Theodora, Anna Komnene, and St. Kassia. Theirs are stories of palace intrigue, spiritual seeking, and intellectual vibrancy. In the man’s world of the Byzantine Empire, these three women left a legacy for us today.
Ikebana Workshop In Person at JASC building! Explore the art of Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) by creating your own holiday centerpiece with instructor Mrs. Yuko Inoue Darcy of the Ohara School of Ikebana. Take home your beautiful arrangement after the workshop. All flowers and materials are included in the class fee. Free parking in the lot north […]
Palini Ramnarayan is a versatile musician with a music minor from Cornell University. Palini started singing when she was five years old, training in Hindustani classical under Aparna Pai and later Saili Oak. She currently follows the traditions and style of the Jaipur Gharana. Palini performs frequently at temples and community events, and has also […]
The Korean Cultural Center of Chicago (KCCoC) invites you to give a brief greeting at the 12th Annual Benefit Gala, “Hope to the New Future.” The gala will be held on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at the Chevy Chase Country Club in Wheeling, Illinois with a cocktail reception at 5 p.m. and program beginning at […]
Join Intuit for Art After Work, a free series of facilitated art-making workshops inspired by outsider and self-taught art and artists from the museum's collections and exhibitions. This month, Chicago-based self-taught artist Roman Villarreal will facilitate a workshop inspired by his exhibit South Chicago Legacies. In the in-person workshop, participants will carve figures (e.g., animals, birds, faces) […]
Organizers: Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art
Did you know: while humans are dreaming of sugar plums and chocolate abuelita, animals in hibernation don't! During hibernation, an animal’s body is too cold to produce the electric currents related to dreaming. Join us as we explore more about Animals in the Winter with our friends at Lincoln Park Zoo! Contect Here: https://bit.ly/ArtecitoBurr ____________________________________ ¿Sabías que […]
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 […]
Open Haus Stammtisch: Christmas Party 2nd Floor Brauhaus Room Friday | December 16th | 7:30 PM Come and join us as we celebrate an early Weihnachten at the Haus! This is our annual Christmas party for our volunteers, friends and supporters, and the public alike! Cozy up beside the Christmas Tree with Glühwein, cookies and […]
Organizers: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
Enjoy gentle indoor Yoga classes at DANK-Haus. The class will be taught primarily in German, with the intro and outro in English. Those with little or no German experience are encouraged to come and follow along! In this class we will be flowing from pose to pose and linking movement with breath. We will combine […]
Organizers: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
SSCAC is thrilled to partner with ILA Creative Studio for their G-to-G Coaching Sessions in a 3-part series of artist development resource workshops that intend to help close the gap of limited, sustainable business resources, specific to the needs of Black artists. Each session will is led by coaches and teaching artists who will provide […]
We will start our journey at the historic Chicago Cultural Center in Downtown Chicago, where the Ruiz Belvis Collective (youth jazz ensemble) will perform. After the musical performance, we will make our way to Hermosa with stops at various Latino/a-owned restaurants. Each stop will include an appetizer, ending with a closing traditional "asopao" at SRBCC. […]
Scandinavian Jam, where we practice what we teach. Join Mary Allsopp and Paul Tyler online on the first and third Sunday of every month. Enjoy an afternoon of traditional roots music. We teach by ear, review and share tunes. We are happy to take suggestions and love meeting new people. It’s a friendly group and […]
Cherish the Ladies have shared timeless Irish traditions for more than three and a half decades. Join us in the Mayfair Theatre on Sunday, December 18th to continue the tradition! Their continued success as one of the top Celtic groups in the world is due to the ensemble’s ability to take the best of Irish […]
In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, gather with us on-site at the Museum for a live opera performance of the first act of Two Remain: Out of Darkness, in partnership with Chicago College of Performance Arts, Roosevelt University. Her Jewish identity hidden, Krystyna Zywulska was a political prisoner at Auschwitz-Birkenau. In secret, she composed lyrics to […]
Join us for the first ever cookie contest at the Swedish American Museum either as a participant or as a judge (all visitors are judges). It is time for the great Swedish bakeoff. Admission for judges (people eating cookies) is $10 with a maximum of 80 participants. If you want to compete, you need to […]
*english below* ¡¡¡Estás invitado a nuestra tradicional Posada!!! ¡Únete a los peregrinos que saldrán a la noche cantando villancicos en busca de posada y encontrándola aquí en OPEN! En el cálido interior de la galería estaremos celebrando con piñatas, deliciosos tamales y ponche. Los esperamos este 22 de diciembre de 4 a 7 p.m. ¡Ven […]
Updated Holiday Powwow flyer! Same time, same place, but more info... We'll have spot dances, community art vendors, an ugly sweater contest, a raffle, 50-50s, and a Native Santa Claus! We'll also be handing out our holiday gift donations to families who register. Can't wait to see you there! Thursday, December 22 at the AIC […]
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
Love summer camp? Want to lead a group of campers from Chicago to California for the experience of a lifetime? JASC is partnering with Yo! Camp to offer a one week overnight camp experience in California this summer to rising 5th to 9th graders. We are actively recruiting chaperones (18+ years old) to travel with the campers […]
While the youth are out of school, have them join us for a few days full of cultural learning activities and fun! This year's winter camp is called Niijii Camp which translates to Friend Camp. Please RSVP here: https://bit.ly/niijiicamprsvp Location: American Indian Center of Chicago, 3401 W Ainslie, Chicago, IL 60625 Dates: December 28-30th and January […]
The Waterloo Center for the Art (WCA)'s current exhibition will be closing on Wednesday, December 28th. Join us for a Curator Talk about the exhibit in-person at HAMOC! Hear directly from WCA on the significance of the exhibit before it heads back to Iowa!
While the youth are out of school, have them join us for a few days full of cultural learning activities and fun! This year's winter camp is called Niijii Camp which translates to Friend Camp. Please RSVP here: https://bit.ly/niijiicamprsvp Location: American Indian Center of Chicago, 3401 W Ainslie, Chicago, IL 60625 Dates: December 28-30th and January […]
Love summer camp? Want to lead a group of campers from Chicago to California for the experience of a lifetime? JASC is partnering with Yo! Camp to offer a one week overnight camp experience in California this summer to rising 5th to 9th graders. We are actively recruiting chaperones (18+ years old) to travel with the campers […]
While the youth are out of school, have them join us for a few days full of cultural learning activities and fun! This year's winter camp is called Niijii Camp which translates to Friend Camp. Please RSVP here: https://bit.ly/niijiicamprsvp Location: American Indian Center of Chicago, 3401 W Ainslie, Chicago, IL 60625 Dates: December 28-30th and January […]
Rock in the New Year with us and Chicago favorite, The Rolling Clones! The Fifth Province Pub will be rocking with the sounds of Mick & the boys. The Rolling Clones are so good that you’ll swear you’re hearing the Stones live! Join us as we ring in 2023 with the Rolling Clones in a rare […]
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.