With a literal boom, bang and flash, Chicago Ideas Week (CIW) kicked of its CIW YOU(th) 2013 program Wednesday with about 450 high school students at the Museum of Science and Industry (MSI).

“In this auditorium, you guys see the cool kids,” said Brian Babylon, local radio host and stand-up comic who was the evening’s host. “These are the cool kids who got the awesome GPAs, kids who know how to handle business and kids who are the future of Chicago.”

CIW YOU(th) empowers at-risk Chicago Public School students by connecting them with positive role models, influential leaders and special events year-round and during CIW’s annual October event. They’ll be attending several Talks and Labs, meeting speakers backstage or at their schools, networking with business and community leaders – and even participating in the exclusive, invitation-only Edison Talks.

During the kick-off event, students received a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum before taking their seats for a fire-driven chemistry demonstration – pink and green flames shot in the air and an ear-buzzing explosion shook the room before Mayor Rahm Emanuel took the stage.

“I want you first and foremost to have exposure,” Emanuel said. “I want you to see what’s happening in companies, ideas and public policy – what’s happening across a spectrum of issues. And I can’t thank the folks at Ideas Week enough for making sure that the kids of the city of Chicago – our future – are participating in it, because everyone of you have a potential invention, a new idea that’s going to rock the world.”

Emanuel said Chicago’s goal is to make 100 percent of the city college bound. And there’s no better space to be motivated than MSI, where many Nobel laureates, scientists and astronauts launched their careers.

“It’s a great tribute to have you all here in a place that’s made up of ideas,” said David Mosena, MSI president and CEO. “This is the place to look for ideas, to turn you on, get you excited and spark your curiosity…The future of our city, the future of our country, is in your hands.”

And that has its perks. This year CIW YOU(th) will hear from NBA All-Star Grant Hill, one of the first men who stepped on the moon, best-selling authors, entrepreneurs and other speakers who will inspire them to follow their dreams.

“Your team goal during Chicago Ideas Week is to open your mind to new experiences and find a new mentor, someone that can inspire you to do something great,” said Jessica Malkin, CIW’s executive director. “We’re handing this week to you on a platter, and it’s up to you to take advantage of this opportunity.”

In addition to Talks on everything from storytelling to work to cities, the teens will roll up their sleeves for VIP experiences at different organizations across the city. This includes a Willy Wonka-style tour of a chocolate factory during the Vosges Haut-Chocolat Lab and a glimpse of life behind the court during The Chicago Bulls Lab.

“I’m excited…those are things I thought I’d never be able to do,” said Alonzo pace, 18, of Wendell Phillips Academy High School and Urban Alliance.

And the fun doesn’t stop there.

During Edison Talks, they’ll hear from civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis, an Oscar-nominated director M. Night Shyamalanand one of their very own –  Joseph Jones, a CIW YOU(th) ambassador and senior at West Englewood’s W.R. Harper High School.

“Our mission is to inspire, power and connect you,” said Rachel Graham, CIW YOU(th)’s director. “Take full advantage of what CIW has to offer. I’m looking forward to seeing each one of you during the week in October. Let the countdown begin.”

Meseret Negash, senior vice president of the external affairs at the Chicago Scholars Foundation, also took the stage Wednesday night to introduce a networking activity the group will jump into this October event.  

Students will be looking for adults wearing beaded bracelets that show they want to have a meaningful conversation with them. If the youth engage with the adults, they’ll receive a bracelet – and at the end of the week, whoever collects the most bracelets wins a grand prize.

Negash has granted more than $50 million in scholarships to Chicago-area students – and said she got to where she was today by the power of networking.

“Networks matter. This week is your opportunity to meet individuals who will help you move things forward,” she said.

A panel of three recent college grads and networking experts also shared some wisdom with the teens, including 23-year-old Darrius Quarles.

Quarles was once a foster child from the Robert Taylor projects who went on to earn more than $1.1 million in scholarships, author the book “Winning the Scholarship Race” and launch the Million Dollar Scholar organization to help students go to college.

“Through networking and really meeting people, I was able to overcome the barriers and obstacles of foster care to get a full-ride scholarship,” he said

Jesus Madrigo, a 17-year-old attendee from EPIC Academy, said he studied the Robert Taylor Homes last year.

“It was really interesting to see that Quarles earned all of that scholarship money, especially since he came from the projects,” Madrigo said. “It’s proof that anything is possible.”

Quarles and the rest of the panel led the students through an elevator pitch, where they had 60 seconds to explain who they were and share their goals with the people at their tables.

Some youth had the courage to step up to the mic and present their pitch to the room, including 17-year-old Courtney Daniels from Dunbar High School and Urban Alliance.

“I’ve been on the honor roll since I was a freshman,” Daniels said. “I have been working with Blue Cross Blue Shield. My uncle has had a program within Blue Cross Blue Sheild for youth, and I have volunteered for five years, where I have built playgrounds and helped the homeless. Also, I am an activist and a lobbyist and I protested to try and keep the minority schools open at CPS, which was a very fun experience. And also, I am very proud to be involved with Urban Alliance.”

Graham said that one youth audience member was so pumped up about her elevator pitch that she said she’d find Graham in October to recite her improved speech.

“It was remarkable to see the students’ positive reactions to the inspiring talks and the interactive networking game, as well as the encouragement from speakers who took to the stage,” Graham said. “They also seemed eager to reserve their spots at Talks, Labs and more.”

The final guest of the night was Swin Cash, a three-time WNBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist who motivated the crowd with her story of growing up in the projects of Pennsylvania and working hard to become the captain of the WNBA’s Chicago Sky.

Cash said her mom used to tell her, “Don’t use your environment as an excuse. Use it as motivation.” Cash’s family was on welfare, her dad left her at a young age and she said she had a lot of excuses as to why she might not succeed – but she used them to empower her instead.

“You’ll have the same opportunity during CIW,” Cash said. “So stand up, stand tall, articulate your words and network if you want to be somebody, if you want to go somewhere. I hope that you are paying attention and during CIW pay attention, because the opportunity you have is unbelievable.”

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Written by: Sophia Coleman

Photography by: Kathleen Virginia Photography