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 […]
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, […]
Eleven artists with ties to North and South of the Mason-Dixon Line respond to just how much Black life has always been in transit. The Great Migration was one of the largest movements of people in United States history. It has transformed cities like Chicago, Detroit, New York and Pittsburgh between 1916 and 1970. […]
This exhibit discusses the exploitation of Indigenous land and how imposed borders of nation-states have erased the natural land borders used by Indigenous peoples. Nine Sami artists and three Indigenous artists from Canada and the United States want to use this exhibit to start a dialogue, raise questions, and establish waypoints between their culture and […]
“The Negro Motorist Green Book” guided Black Americans to thousands of businesses for over thirty years. When the first “Green Book” was published, the American road was a metaphor for freedom: freedom to change your present situation, determine your destiny, and travel. Yet, in 20th-century America, this same road was a dangerous place for Black travelers. The […]
After some delays we are excited to finally open “Arctic Highways.” Admission to see the exhibit is free between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. This exhibit discusses the exploitation of Indigenous land and how imposed borders of nation-states have erased the natural land borders used by Indigenous peoples. Nine Sami artists and three Indigenous artists […]
For the price of one ticket join us for a night of Film and Food from Colombia. A reception with food and a glass of wine starts at 1800 and "Crazy About You" by Director Felipe Martinez will begin at 1900. Lucas and Simón, friends who work in a creative agency in Bogotá, throw a […]
Join 3G Chicago, a newly formed group made up of grandchildren of Holocaust Survivors, for its inaugural virtual event. As antisemitism is on the rise, sharing stories about the Holocaust and its Survivors is more important than ever. Join us for an intimate conversation with one of the Holocaust’s youngest concentration camp Survivors, Sam Harris, and […]
This winter the CAC will be transforming our galleries into a temporary cineplex and welcoming the New York City-based Architecture & Design Film Festival. The line-up includes 15 feature films and more than a dozen free film shorts from all across the world, each sharing a unique story of innovation and sustainability in architecture, design and […]
For this Black History Month, we're thrilled to partner with photographer Seen Lynn to offer free family portrait to our community! The Black family portrait, throughout history to the present, has always been an accessible, but vivid practice of self-representation that offers a more genuine and realistic portrayal of Black identity and dignity. Whether being […]
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.
Thursday, Feb. 2, 5 p.m. dinner and 5:30 p.m. movie We have the great opportunity to be able to show “Historjà – Stitches for Sápmi” at the Museum. The movie has won numerous awards in Sweden. Britta Marakatt-Labba is part in “Arctic Highways” on display in the main gallery. It is in Swedish and Sami […]
This program will be held in person at the Newberry and also livestreamed on Zoom. Free and open to all. Advance registration required. In-Person Registration Livestream Registration Join us for a conversation with historians Tara Zahra and Kevin Boyle about Dr. Zahra’s new book, Against the World: Anti-Globalism and Mass Politics Between the World Wars. They will […]
Let's welcome spring together! JASC hosts a day camp for children to experience traditions for the Japanese holiday of Setsubun (節分). February 3 is Setsubun (節分); the last day of winter in the 24 solar terms that divide a lunar calendar year. Campers will learn about traditions for bringing good luck. They will do a […]
Come celebrate La Candelaria Day with us!!! Food and Art Workshops! We are waiting for you this February 3 from 4 to 6 p.m. In 2017, parent leaders from 4 local schools, (Kanoon Elementary Magnet, Saucedo Scholastic Academy, Spry Elementary Community and Hammond Elementary), came to us for support on recreating the Traditional Mexican Winter […]
The Korean Cultural Center of Chicago presents a variety of traditional Korean games and crafts. Learn to play Ddakji Making, Jegi-chagi or Tuho or make a mask or kite. Drop in to participate anytime between 2-4 pm. Registration not required. All ages.
The Chicago Scots are partnering with the Gorton Center and the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff to host the celebration of 18th-century Scottish poet Robert Burns! Click Here To Purchase Tickets
Среща с Богдан Дарев/ Bogdan Darev - продуцент, сценарист и режисьор на филма. "Кавал парк" преплита в себе си документалното кино с художествено произведение. Прожекцията в Чикаго е част от световното турне на филма. Документален, САЩ, България, 100 мин., цветен, HD, английско и българско аудио, български и английски субтитри. КОГА: 4-ти февруари @ 19 ч. […]
KLUB MASARÝČEK pro předškoláky ve věku 3–5 let vstupuje do druhého pololetí! K zaregistrování jsou vítáni jak stávající žáčci, tak nové tváře! Pro rodiče máme dobrou zprávu, program byl o hodinu prodloužen. Od 7. února se výuka češtiny skrz hry, aktivity na školní zahradě, písničky a pohádky bude konat od 10 do 12:30. O přihlášky […]
The Spotlight Series at the Chinese American Museum of Chicago is pleased to present UNITY, Maggie Wong’s first solo exhibition in Chicago. Through various manipulations of newsprint via sculptural and print interventions pulled from the artist’s collection of Unity Newspaper, the show depicts a version of childcare that supported revolutionary action, particularly the publishing of […]
About the Exhibit: The Spotlight Series at the Chinese American Museum of Chicago is pleased to present UNITY, Maggie Wong’s first solo exhibition in Chicago. Through various manipulations of newsprint via sculptural and print interventions pulled from the artist’s collection of Unity Newspaper, the show depicts a version of childcare that supported revolutionary action, particularly […]
The seventh charity vernissage of Dr. Blazej Lojewski for the benefit of the School and Educational Center for Blind Children in Laski. During the vernissage – psychism, an innovative concept of art where the viewer becomes the creator, will be presented. Created in 2016, the concept permits the viewer to see what he wants to […]
For twenty years violinist/fiddler and composer Andrew Finn Magill has been pursuing parallel careers in traditional Irish music, Brazilian choro, jazz and American fiddle, the result of many years living abroad and a childhood growing up at The Swannanoa Gathering in Asheville, North Carolina. He now takes his folk background and his exploration of Brazilian music to […]
Over 36 years ago members of the Irish American Community had a vision to create a place that would hold the spirit of the past, the energy of the present and to keep their culture alive for the future. This non-for-profit organization brings the best in artistic avenues, and arts are an important part of […]
Women & Children First, in partnship with the American Indian Center, is excited to welcome New York Times bestselling author, Stephen Graham Jones for a reading, conversation, and book-signing in honor of Don't Fear the Reaper, the riveting sequel to My Heart Is a Chainsaw. For this event, Jones will be in conversation with Gus […]
Enjoy traditional Native American stories about nature & learn about the role of storytelling in Indigenous culture virtually with the Morton Arboretum & Trickster Cultural Center. $10 Morton Arboretum member / $17 guest. Age: 16 and older. Purchase Zoom Access Here: https://bit.ly/3kzeg5Q
CYKLUS ONLINE WORKSHOPŮ PRO UČITELE ČEŠTINY naší kolegyně Kristýny Horáčkové láká čím dál tím větší počet účastníků nejen ze Severní Ameriky (na druhý workshop se přihlásilo 26 učitelů češtiny). Třetí (a zatím) poslední workshop na téma JAK NA ONLINE VÝUKU DĚTÍ A DOSPĚLÝCH proběhne ve čtvrtek 9. února. Rezervační formulář zveřejníme o víkendu na webu: […]
This program will be livestreamed on Zoom. Free and open to all. Register in advance here. Join us as Joan DeJean and Jack McCord use maps from the Newberry collection to recreate the European settlement of the vast territory in North America that the French named Louisiana, and to tell the story of one remarkable […]
‘Saekdong & Fashion’ Solo Exhibition 김윤 개인전 덕성여자대학교 의상디자인전공 부교수 Exhibition: Feb. 10-Feb. 23 @KCCoC Gallery 9925 Capitol Dr. Wheeling, IL. 60090 Inquiry: (847) 947-4460 패션디자인의 표현 영역 중 하나인 패션일러스트레이션은 기존의 패션 드로잉(일러스트레이션)이라는 인식에서 벗어나 빠르게 변화하는 패션 산업 속에서 패션의 새로운 장르로 발전하고 있다. 패션일러스트레이션의 융합적 표현기법 개발을 통해 패션디자인 영역의 대중화와 표현의 […]
From 1908 to the mid 1930’s, Hilma Ljung photographed the village of Svalöv with her 4×5 glass plate view camera, showing us a rural Swedish woman's life.
Make a beautiful arrangement just in time for Valentine's day! Mrs. Yuko Inoue Darcy (Ohara School of Ikebana) will lead a flower arranging workshop on February 10, 2023 from 6 - 8 pm. All flowers and supplies included in the class fee, and you take your creation home at the end of the workshop. Come […]
Гонг медитация с гонгове и пеещи купи. Водещ: Валентина Чалъкова Заповядайте на 10-ти Февруари от 18:30ч. в залата на КЦ “Магура”! Терапията със звук е сакрален древен инструмент за изцеление, подмладяване и трансформация. Днес е един от най- ефективните методи за подобряване качеството на живот. Звукът на Гонга твори вълшебство. Той произвежда силна звукова вълна, […]
Розколяда — наш оберіг на добрий початок року! Подяка Богу і всім добрим Людям, які з Україною сьогодні! Прохання, щоби цей рік був родючим і благословенним, а найголовніше переможним, щоб швидше гоілися рани нашої землі і поверталися живими наші воїни-захисники, а ті, що Янголи, боронили небо від проклятих московитів… Розколядуймо тишу, що причаїлася у кишені […]
Topic: Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland Presenter: Bruce S. Allardice, J.D., Instructor Social & Behavioral Science, History, Political Science, South Suburban College, South Holland, Illinois This event is complimentary. To attend, please RSVP below
Admission to the special exhibit is free on Sunday, Feb. 26, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Tilling the Past Photography by Hilma Ljung Between the years 1908 and the mid 1930’s armed with her 4×5 glass plate view camera, Hilma Ljung photographed the lives and land that surrounded her and her family in the small […]
Paint never-before-seen artifacts while sipping tea made in the traditional gongfucha style. All proceeds go to sustaining our museum. Join the Chinese American Museum of Chicago's Associate Board for paint and tea time! Ticket Tiers Tier 1 Donation $30 - Choose one item from the 4th floor public display to paint Tier 2 Donation $50 […]
Do you have any plans next Monday? How about a MOVIE NIGHT with tons of snacks! Stay after the movie to have an honest conversation about relationships and love
The Music Program's artist-in-residence for the spring 2023 semester, Kaoru Watanabe, will present a recital with special guest Angel Bat Dawid. The solo performance features taiko drums, shinobue flutes, and vocals, mixed with electronic loops and samples as Watanabe explores the dual uses and meanings of the piece's title—burning and calming, smoldering and healing, provocation and […]
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 […]
Welcome back to our Members’ Night! Current members can enjoy special gift shop discounts, family crafts, and view our new exhibit. Members will need to provide their name or proof of active membership at the door. Not a member? We will be offering special membership discounts during the event! Members’ Night will be held at […]
Organizers: Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
Narrated by award-winning Israeli performer and son of Holocaust Survivors Dudu Fisher, Baltic Truth exposes key facts of the first months of World War II in the Baltic States and how almost the entire Jewish community of the occupied Baltic Nations was eliminated via “Holocaust by Bullets” with assistance from the local population. Ultimately, Baltic […]
Join session leaders James Conway and Michael Austin this Thursday for an evening of Irish traditional music – as a musician if you care to! – and tasty bites and pints from the Fifth Province menu. Enjoy the festive music in front of the hearth in the Fifth Province! Pub and kitchen open at 6:00pm, […]
Friday February 17th is a night of fun at our Open Haus! This month’s theme is Karneval! Get in the mood and come wearing a festive hat of your choice. We will have German Bier on tap and food for purchase! This is a great way to meet new friends, or bring your friends and […]
Organizers: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
Welcome troubadours Jimmy Moore and Peter Brady back to the Fifth Province Friday, February 17th. Traditional Irish Music, perfect for a pint and a bite! Pub and kitchen are open at 6:00pm. Jimmy and Peter play at 8:00pm.
AESTHETICS OF LOSS is a collection of work by seven artists who have experienced loss of family members recently. Their studios became places for grieving and understanding the sudden vacuum of losing loved ones either suddenly or over a long period of illness. Caregiving, memory, helplessness, loss and the ultimate mystery of death are explored […]
AESTHETICS OF LOSS is a collection of work by seven artists who have experienced loss of family members recently. Their studios became places for grieving and understanding the sudden vacuum of losing loved ones either suddenly or over a long period of illness. Caregiving, memory, helplessness, loss and the ultimate mystery of death are explored […]
Come one! Come all! We at the South Asia Institute are thrilled to announce our next community event: The Maker's Bazaar and Craft Market! This Market is open to all. To apply, please fill out the Google Form attached below! Applications are due by February 18 at 5 PM CST. Please spread the word! All […]
GRAND OPENING Interested in learning about Vodou? Looking to add some artwork to your collection? Join the Haitian American Museum of Chicago (HAMOC) as we open the HAMOC Studio and Vodou Store. This will be a space for artists to create and sell their work, as well as a place to purchase and learn about […]
Location: 4455 S. King Drive Suite 103, Chicago, IL 60653 Brilliant filmmaker, activist, humanitarian Amandilo Cuzan will share his first hand experience during his 2022 visit to Uganda and Zimbabwe. Cuzan will present his firsthand look at Africa's beauty, opportunities and challenges. Bronzeville Historical Society is honored to host his film. FREE to the PUBLIC! […]
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 […]
Заповядайте на 17-то издание на детска Олимпиада “Левски” - 2023, посветена на 150 годишнината от гибелта на Апостола! 19 февруари от 14:30ч.- 16:30ч. North Gym 2121 S. Goebbert Rd., Arlington Hgts, IL 60005 За поредна година Културен център “Магура”- Българо- американски център за културно наследство и библиотека, организира Олимпиадата с участието на българските училища в […]
We are so excited to bring back Free Museum days! For the first time since 2020, we welcome you to visit us with Free Admission on Monday, February 20, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thank you to Brett Nicholas for sponsoring our 1st free day of 2023! For more information about this program, please contact: [email protected] […]
Organizers: Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
Semlor (Lenten buns) were originally consumed on fettisdagen, or Fat Tuesday, as a celebration before the Christian fasting period of Lent. In modern Sweden, since strict adherence to Lent has waned, semlor make their appearance in bakeries from about January through Easter. However, Semla Day (semmeldagen) is still celebrated on Fat Tuesday every year. King […]
Join Trickster Cultural Center and the Morton Arboretum for some maple tapping at the Morton Arboretum grounds on Feb 21 from 4:30-6:00PM. Registration closes on Feb 15 at 5PM. Sign-up here: https://bit.ly/3WJbp7M
Learn fun facts about significant Chicago buildings and key architectural terms, styles and materials with CAC's Director of Interpretation, Adam Rubin. A must-see for architecture enthusiasts! Chicago is synonymous with architecture and Chicagoans love to share their knowledge of architecture with family and friends. Gain fascinating insights about Chicago’s architecture that you’ll want to share […]
The Teotlecuilli Aztec Dance group invites all indigenous people, Aztec dancers, and followers of these beautiful teachings and traditions that commemorate the birth of Huey Tata Cuauhtémoc at Trickster Cultural Center on Wed Feb 22 from 5-8 PM CST.
Guitarrist, singer, composer Cecilia Zabala was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1975. Throughout her career, she has expressed her musical creativity using her guitar and her voice, creating original compositions that blend sensitivity, emotion, technique and intuition. Her music draws on a rich mixture of influences, from Argentinian folklore, the contemporary language of the […]
This program will be held in-person at the Newberry and livestreamed on Zoom. The online version of this event will be live captioned. Please register below. In-Person Registration: https://reg.learningstream.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0057-0014-c6849d7a4009468cac94034db4dedaba Livestream Registration: https://reg.learningstream.com/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0057-0014-57115b0b9ef94f9cb8575ce316f2dfdb Join us as historian Kaya Şahin, author of Peerless among Princes: The Life and Times of Sultan Süleyman, and art historian Elizabeth Rodini discuss the sixteenth-century ruler, during […]
On February 23rd, join TIES for a special reading and conversation with Kai Minosh Pyle! Kai was one of the first TIES readers, and they are returning to share their new work. Kai is a 2spirit Métis and Baawiting Anishinaabe writer originally from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Currently living in the once and future prairielands known […]
Believed to be inspired by the earlier Jewish Vacation Guide, which catalogued hotels that welcomed Jewish travelers, The Green Book was cherished by Black travelers and touring Black musicians: it was a guide to vibrant neighborhoods like New York City’s Harlem, Chicago’s Bronzeville, and Washington, D.C.’s U Street. As the Black middle class emerged across […]
Join us for this all ages, free Trickster Bbon (Winter) Camp with cultural teaching, crafts, storytelling, outdoor games, etc. Registration required: http://bit.ly/3hZNAu6 Thanks to our sponsor Administration of Native Americans (A.N.A.)
Over 36 years ago members of the Irish American Community had a vision to create a place that would hold the spirit of the past, the energy of the present and to keep their culture alive for the future. This non-for-profit organization brings the best in artistic avenues, and arts are an important part of […]
The CAC’s newest exhibition highlights the Bronzeville Lakefront megadevelopment slated for the former Michael Reese Hospital campus and how a reimagined Singer Pavilion can help bridge this site’s past and future. Join us for a conversation with designers, architects and educators on the promise of collaborative neighborhood development. This program is FREE with advanced registration. […]
Based on the idea of Soup & Bread community meals, we are hosting our own series of monthly gatherings this winter. Join the fun ~ Volunteer soup makers bring a crock pot of soup to share. JASC provides rice, bowls, and spoons. Attendees may donate any amount and all funds raised at the February meal […]
The family-favorite Irish American Heritage Center Fish Fries return on Friday, February 24th! Bring the whole family out during Lent for our traditional Irish Fish Fry. Meals include fried cod, French fries, coleslaw and peas. Movies and coloring for the kids, and the Fifth Province Pub is open. Food is served between 6:30pm and 9:00pm, […]
*EARLY REGISTRATION ENCOURAGED HERE* https://forms.gle/7VZPWq8z2C1dQ81G6 *NO ENTRANCE FEE* *ALL AGES WELCOME* Saturday, February 25, 2023 9:30 am - 6:00 pm Edward Crown Center for the Humanities, Loyola University, Chicago Free, validated parking at Main Parking Structure (1110 W Sheridan Rd, Chicago, IL 60660) Sponsored by Call to Action to Address Racism & Social Injustice Research […]
Our annual Engineering Fest is back! Join us for a day of discovery, as children ages 8-14 are invited to build and learn, view the CAC's special exhibitions, meet engineers and explore how architecture and engineering partner to create the cities we know and love. The theme for this year's festival is Engineering Neighborhoods. Over […]
Information will be available shortly. Cost is free for Swedish American Genealogical Society members; $10 for non-members to participate (use PayPal button below). Reservations for members can be made via email to [email protected] or by calling the Museum at 773.728.8111.
Stop by the Museum for a fika in our pop-up café. Try a Swedish Cinnamon Roll, Sandwich or other baked goods in the Museum's pop-up café in the main gallery while enjoying our temporary exhibit on display.
Family Art Fair host by Patricia Stepniak Art Studio The Chicago Cuatro Orchestra Annabelle Shaw – piano Adela Skowronski – cello Serdecznie zapraszamy na wyjątkowe spotkanie artystyczne podczas "Chopin in the City Festival". To wspaniałe popołudnie będzie pełne muzyki Fryderyka Chopina, w wykonaniu niezwykle utalentowanych artystów. Oprócz koncertu, mamy również wiele atrakcji dla dzieci. […]
First in a series of workshops by James Sanders & Conjunto where inspiration for original music is found in the memories of Latino Chicago. Feat. Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre. Share your story and be a part of the creative process! Presented by SRBCC with generous support from the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special […]
In February we will be making stew and variations of the Swedish Lenten bun “Semla.” For this online class you will receive the recipe in advance. You can then either cook alongside or watch and try later. It is an interactive Zoom so you will be able to ask questions. Cost is $10. Use PayPal […]
Pairing historic works and contemporary art, this exhibition reflects on the persistence of anti-colonial resistance, from the so-called "Indian Wars" to the "Global War on Terror".
Chinese migrants Lei and Wong clandestinely arrive in Ecuador. Lei plans to travel all the way to New York; Wong wants to settle in Latin America and bring his son to live with him. Uncertain of their future, they rely on other Chinese migrants to navigate this new land and culture. Chang, a local mobster, […]
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.
Exhibition Parallel Worlds, Opening March 3,2023 at 7:00 p.m. Admission $10.00 March 3rd-25th, 2023 Ukrainian Artist Luna Prysiazhniuk debut Exhibition Parallel Worlds opens March 3, 2023 at the Ukrainian National Museum. The artist's heart is divided into two parts, one forever in Ukraine and the other- her current city Chicago. Luna conveys on canvases the […]
Create a Hina-ningyo (Emperor and Empress doll set) made of Suhama, a type of Wagashi (Japanese sweets) Celebrate Hinamatsuri learning to make suhama (a type of Japanese sweet wagashi) with Wagashi Master, Toshiko Sugii Steffes at the JASC! Hinamatsuri (Dolls Day) is March 3 and what better way to celebrate than learning to make a […]
Join Trickster Cultural Center and the Morton Arboretum on Mar 4 from 9:30-11:30 AM to learn about traditional edible native plants at the Morton Arboretum's Visitor’s Center. Purchase Access Here: http://bit.ly/3DsC02d
Invasive species are primarily spread by human activities, often unintentionally. People, and the goods we use, travel around the world very quickly, and they often carry uninvited species with them. Join us as we explore more about Invasive Species with our friends at Lincoln Park Zoo! In person at OPEN Center for the Arts! 2214 […]
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.