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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Welcome back to one of our favorite events! The 16th Annual Wearing of the Green Dance returns in 2023, on Sunday, March 5th. Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner catered by Ken Harrington, dance music provided by Gerry Haughey and Joe Cullen, joined by the wonderful Teresa Shine. Center favorites the Shannon Rovers and the Trinity […]
Celebrate Pulaski Day virtually with the Polish Museum of America (PMA) on Monday, March 6, 2023. Zapraszamy na wirtualne obchody Dnia Pułaskiego, które odbędą się w poniedziałek, 6 marca 2023 r. w Muzeum Polskim w Ameryce (MPA).
Join Preservation Chicago as they reveal Chicago’s 7 Most Endangered list for 2023. For 20 years, this list of imminently threatened historic buildings and community assets is used to mobilize the support necessary to save these sites from demolition. This program is FREE with advanced registration. Both In-Person & Virtual options are available. Ward Miller, […]
Avid amateur photographer Jan Zawiliński documented Chicago’s Polish Downtown community in 1900-1924, leaving behind a fascinating record of everyday life.
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 […]
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 Livestream Registration Academic historians have sometimes struggled to understand how local and family histories illuminate national histories. Are they just exceptional, or can they provide new insights into […]
LINK TO BE ANNOUNCED ENLACE A SER ANNUNCIADO Las tortugas se reconocen fácilmente por su caparazón óseo y cartilaginoso. Esta carcasa súper resistente actúa como un escudo para protegerlas de los depredadores: ¡algunas tortugas pueden incluso meter la cabeza dentro de su caparazón para una protección adicional! ¡Únase a nosotros mientras exploramos más sobre las […]
Esther Park Solo Exhibition Mar. 10-22, 2023 I am a self-taught artist and have been working for the past 3 years on telling my journey of healing through art. I remember a vision that Jesus had given me years ago; that vision is painting for a time as this. I was diagnosed with stage 4 […]
From digital collage to painting to glasswork to photography, twelve non-male Diasporican artists explore their expansive identities and how they intersect in their own ways.
Organizers: The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture is honored to work with our incredibly talented local Boricua Artists in celebration of Women’s History Month for a collective exhibition. In the spirit of collaboration and inclusivity, NMPRAC strives to highlight our outstanding Boricua artists, while showcasing their extraordinary gifts through their artistic creations. This exhibition […]
Organizers: The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
Join us in-person or virtually on March 10th 5-6:30 PM CST as we discuss the novel, “Our Knowledge is Not Primitive,” with the author, Wendy Makoons Geniusz. Registration Link: https://bit.ly/3Y8rdC9
A collaboration between The Abrahamic Center for Cultural Education and Sabeel Center for Women's History Month. Enjoy a special screening of the film "Monir," - a witty and heartfelt movie exploring the life and artistic practice of Monir Shahroudy Farmanfarmaian. Monir is the first artist to establish a creative approach that weds the geometric patterns […]
Organizers: Abrahamic Center for Cultural Education
Topic: Imaginary Friendship”: John Adams and Jonathan Sewall and their American Revolution Presenter: Professor Dr. Colin Nicolson F.R.Hist.S., Editor of the Bernard Papers, Faculty of Arts and Humanities: History and Politics, University of Stirling, Scotland Select Books: Imaginary Friendship in the American Revolution: John Adams and Jonathan Sewall. Nicolson C & Dudley Edwards O. (Routeledge, New York and London), 2018. The ‘Infamas […]
The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture is excited to offer a youth painting workshop for only $10, thanks to the generous donations of visitors who help keep our Museum free and programming affordable to all. Vanessa Sandoval is a contemporary artist and business owner of Namart Designs (website link). She was born […]
Organizers: The National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture
The Mazarin is an almond filled pastry that is a classic on the Swedish fika table. Not everyone is brave enough to attempt to bake it at home but it is nevertheless a favorite among young and old. In honor of Mazarin Day (3/15) the Museum will host a pop-up café. In addition we will […]
СМИРЕН #накиновмагура Чикаго 11 март от 19:00ч. | 12 март от 13:30ч. MaguraBCS.com/cinema MaguraBCS/movies Със специалното съдействие и по покана на център “Магуара”, екипът на новия български игрален филм “Смирен” ще гостува на премиерата му във Чикаго На 11 март от 19 ч. и 12 март от 13:30ч. Зрителите ще имат възможността да присъстват на […]
"Не се задоволявай само да живееш в едно общество, а го създавай" - К. Таков Защо за доц. Кристиан Таков моралът е доброто? Каква е мисията му? Умее ли да формулира проблемите, но и да посочва решенията им? Има ли българска мечта? Защо за краткия си живот той е направил толкова много? Филмът “Моралът е […]
Topic: Irish Futures: Ireland and Northern Ireland Speaker: Brendan O’Leary, PhD (LSE), FRSA, MRIA (hon), Lauder Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania and Fulbright Scholar to Ireland 2021-22, NUI-Galway, Honorary Professor of Political Science Queen’s University Belfast
Virtuální informační panel se zástupci MŠMT na téma “Zápisy do kmenových škol” Duben je za rohem a s ním i zápisy do kmenových škol! Mnoho českých rodičů v zahraničí přemýšlí, zda své dítě zapsat či nezapsat. Pokud ano, jakým způsobem a do jaké školy? Musí dítě žijící v zahraničí přijmout? Musí jezdit na přezkoušení či […]
This program will be held in-person at the Newberry. Advance registration required. Join military veterans and poets Erika Renee Land, Monty Little (Diné), Dunya Mikhail, and Carlos Sirah for an evening of poetry exploring the disparate impacts of war and the search for a path toward solidarity. This event will also provide a closer look […]
Heritage Center Favorites Byrne and Kelly return – just in time for St. Patrick’s Day – on Thursday, March 16th. As two of the principal singers in the international touring group Celtic Thunder, Neil Byrne and Ryan Kelly sought to navigate their own path into the history of Irish music with the creation of Byrne […]
Friday March 17th is a night of fun at our Open Haus! This month’s theme is Starkbierfest! We will have German Bier on tap and food for purchase! After the debauchery of Faschingszeit (carnival season), we have started into Fastenzeit (lent). Fortify yourself for this time of austereness by trying some "liquid food" - the genius […]
Organizers: DANK Haus German American Cultural Center
The St. Patrick’s Day celebration continues on Friday, March 17th in the Fifth Province Pub! Join us from 3:00pm to 11:00pm for an evening of music and craic, with special activities for the kids presented by our friends Irish Community Services from 3:00pm to 5:00pm. Enjoy the music of Fifth Province favorites the Dooley Band, […]
Animals burrow for lots of reasons. Some burrow simple structures to protect their food and others create homes with multiple rooms and tunnels to live and take care of their young. Join us as we explore more about Burrowing Animals with our friends at Lincoln Park Zoo! In person at Erie Neighborhood House, Little Village! […]
Grammy Award winner Antonio Rey is one of the most renowned guitarists in contemporary flamenco. After a long career accompanying some of flamenco’s greatest singers and dancers (Farruquito, Antonio Canales, La Tana, Manuela Carrasco, Rafael Amargo… among many others), he now takes center stage at this year’s Chicago Flamenco Festival, exhibiting his true guitar artistry, exceptional musical […]
Everyone is invited to for a morning of Swedish Easter crafts and pancakes. This is not a drop in event. We will have crafts for all ages and levels and a Swedish pancake breakfast. Cost: $15 members (adults and children 2 and over); $20 non-members (adults and children 2 and over); $5 children aged 12-24 […]
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 […]
Many remember Jay Frank of Crestline Entertainment from Stammtisch some years ago when he led the group in energetic line dancing sessions. Now Jay is back in a culinary role to share the secrets of traditional Rouladen, based on a recipe his mother used. Are you hungry yet? Jay has tested and perfected this recipe […]
On Sunday, March 19, 2023 Maciej Olchawa will present the topic: Can Poland and Ukraine Unravel the Russian Empire? Maciej Olchawa is the Kosciuszko Foundation scholar at Loyola University Chicago, where he teaches about Polish and Eastern European politics. Between 2008 and 2014, Maciej Olchawa served as a policy adviser on Ukraine in the European […]
Join us for an all ages show staring international touring sensation Shane Hennessy in concert in the Mayfair Theatre at the Irish American Heritage Center, Sunday, March 19th at 6:30pm. Billed as “one of the most exciting live performers of his generation, with an ability to move between styles and genres with ease ” by […]
Date: 2023-03-20 Location: 3001 Central Street Evanston, IL 60201 United States Join us for a day of free admission at the Mitchell Museum on Monday, March 20, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. as we celebrate the first day of Spring! Stay tuned as we announce more free days in the coming months! For more information about […]
Organizers: Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
Join us for a day of free admission at the Mitchell Museum on Monday, March 20, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. as we celebrate the first day of Spring! Stay tuned as we announce more free days in the coming months! For more information about this program, please contact: [email protected] | (847) 475-1030 […]
Organizers: Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
Pop-up books have a longer history than you might think. For centuries, books with interactive flaps, dials, and other moving parts have captivated readers of all ages.
Location: Between 1204 and 1669, Crete (the largest Greek island) was under the control of the Republic of Venice, an upstart maritime power now most remembered for its role in the Italian Renaissance. And Crete was an important part of Venice's late medieval and early modern cultural flourishing. Join this NHM Discussion to learn more […]
Join us on March 21, 2023, for a dialogue facilitated by the Chicago Scots’ President Gus Noble OBE in celebration of the 100th anniversary of Scotsman Eric Liddell’s historic win at the 1924 Olympics. The World Leaders Forum will reflect on Liddell’s life and legacy, which inspired the film “Chariots of Fire.” The World Leaders […]
When we think of stained glass windows, we often think of Churches. Synagogues also have a rich tradition of stained-glass windows. Join us as we explore how these windows beautify sacred spaces across Chicago. In 2021 Chicagoans were alerted to the possibility of the Loop Synagogue closing due to the impact of the pandemic. Fortunately, […]
In the early days of the American Republic the question of Greek Independence was one of the major issues of the day, frequently standing as a proxy for America's own tumultuous internal politics. This included the debate of slavery, where the Turkish occupation of Greek lands was often used as neutral stand-in for the topic […]
In the early days of the American Republic the question of Greek Independence was one of the major issues of the day, frequently standing as a proxy for America's own tumultuous internal politics. This included the debate of slavery, where the Turkish occupation of Greek lands was often used as neutral stand-in for the topic […]
LINK TO BE ANNOUNCED ENLACE A SER ANNUNCIADO The Harpy Eagle's facial disk feathers can be lowered or lifted at will like an owl. This process helps them direct sound waves to their ears to improve hearing. Its eyesight is 8 times better than humans, and when locked on a potential meal, they fly below […]
RSVP Today! Join Us As We Honor 5 Exemplary Women PRAA invites you to attend the 2023 Felisa Rincón de Gautier Distinguished Awards event. This event was created in 2017 to honor Felisa Rincón de Gautier (1897 –1994) who was the first woman to be elected as the Mayor of a capital city in the […]
Location: Join the National Hellenic Museum’s Virtual Book Club! Facilitated by NHM's Resident Scholar Dr. Katherine Kelaidis, each month the NHM Virtual Book Club chooses a book that is either inspired by the Hellenic legacy or by a Greek American author (and sometimes both!). Then we gather to discuss the book on Zoom. Book Club […]
As part of Andersonville InSidewalk Sale the Museum is hosting a mini Tantalizing Treasures Sale. Come find your treasure among things old and new during regular Museum hours. No admission to the sale.
Students in our Kinderschule (Saturday and Weekday Classes) will be presenting their art musings on Umweltschutz/Umweltschmutz (protecting/harming the environment) in our new DANK Treffpunkt. Come and see contemporary German-American artwork at its best, and meet the young artists at our opening reception. Exhibition runs through May 13, 2023. Free parking at 5/3 Bank after 6:00 PM located […]
\Ekskursija po istorines lietuviškas Čikagos vietas ir pasakojimas apie Amerikos lietuvių gyvenimą bei jų veiklą XIX-XX a. Išvykstame: Kovo 25 d., 9 val. ryto iš Pasaulio Lietuvių Centro automobilių aikštelės (14911 127 St., Lemont, IL 60439) Sugrįžtame: Tą pačią dieną 3 val. po pietų. Kelionė patogiu modernišku autobusu Sustojimai 1. Lietuvių tautinės kapinės. Pasivaikščiojimas ir […]
Join Trickster Cultural Center and the Morton Arboretum on Mar 25 from 9:30-11:30 AM to learn about traditional edible native plants at the Morton Arboretum's Visitor’s Center.
Join us for a special STEM festival designed just for girls ages 11-17! Girls will build, learn and network with professionals from more than 15 different STEM organizations. WHAT TO EXPECT AT GIRLS BUILD! DAY The day includes an all-female panel discussion about STEM careers. While drop-in attendance is allowed, we encourage you to plan […]
A Passport to Haiti: An Immersive Cultural Workshop Series is a four-part program happening at HAMOC from March - June, 2023. Each month will feature a different part of Haitian culture. In March we will highlight Haitian cuisine and beverages. This specific program is a 21+ event, ID's will be required and checked upon entry. […]
A Passport to Haiti: An Immersive Cultural Workshop Series is a four-part program happening at HAMOC from March - June, 2023. Each month will feature a different part of Haitian culture. In March we will highlight Haitian cuisine and beverages. This specific program is a 21+ event, ID's will be required and checked upon entry. […]
Join us for the opening of our new Spotlight Series exhibition “What Color Am I” by Sarah Whyte. RSVP HERE Date: March 26, 2023 Time: 1-4pm Venue: Chinese American Museum of Chicago, 4th Fl Address: 238 W 23rd Street, Chicago, IL 60616 Statement About the Art Where does the paradox of being called a China doll and then being […]
Join us for this all ages, free Trickster Ziigwan (Early Spring) Camp with cultural teaching, crafts, storytelling, outdoor games, etc. Registration required: http://bit.ly/3Y1Cbcf Thanks to our sponsor Administration for Native Americans (A.N.A.)
Join HAMOC on March 29th, 2023 as Dr. Courtney Joseph completes a live oral history interview. Dr. Joseph is a professor at Lake Forest College and has been a longtime supporter of HAMOC. Admission to this event is by a suggested $10 donation or free for HAMOC members.
The debate as to whether Demotic (the spoken language of ordinary people) or Katharevousa (a cultivated recreation of Ancient Greek) should be the official language of Greece was a major political and cultural issue throughout the 19th and 20th century. A question of identity, class, and history, the language question has much to tell us […]
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 […]
Join us at the amazing Haymarket House to dance, cheer on fellow singers, and take the stage to sing for our community fundraiser! Sign up and have your name drawn and maybe you'll be chosen to sing your favorite song on the stage!!! Tickets are now available and also raffles, drinks, and ticket bundles. Let […]
We love it when the Boils are here! Join us for the fun traditional and contemporary sounds of the Boils on Friday, March 31st, as they play for us in the Fifth Province. Enjoy our all-you-can-eat Friday Fish Fry with a pint of Fifth Province Ale! Fish Fry opens at 6:30pm, the Boils are on […]
This workshop will be held in-person at the Newberry. Interested in exploring the Newberry’s vast collection of rare books, maps, manuscripts, and primary sources but not sure where to start? Then this session is for you. In an informal orientation, Newberry librarians will introduce you to the Newberry and break down how to use our […]
Ready to start your Spring Cleaning? Don't throw those old items away! Bring them to the DANK Haus and let them become another family's treasure! You can donate items to the DANK Haus to sell in the Flohmarkt (Flea market), or you can rent your own table for $25 to sell your items. Tables are […]
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.