Much like we did back in May, Chicago Ideas is highlighting some of the events happening in Chicago this month that encourage us to take action. From streets fests to media reporting labs, these are just a few of the ways to get inspired, give back and have a little fun. And for Chicago Ideas members, we’re hosting a lab with SRAM and Perkins + Will focusing on creativity at work.

Reporting in the Open with City Bureau

Chicago’s City Bureau is a nonprofit organization working to bridge the gap between reporters and the communities they cover. Functioning as a civic-focused journalism lab, City Bureau offers weekly events called the Public Newsroom, which brings people together to discuss the issues of the day while discovering how reporters and community members can work together. On June 1, City Bureau is hosting Reporting in the Open, with the focus being put on African immigrant communities on Chicago’s South Side—as well as reimagining the industrial West Side—in order to explore Chicago’s history of segregation and what can be done to fix it.

The Power of Bicycles: A World Bicycle Relief Fund Event

Developing countries throughout the world have struggled to gain access to affordable, reliable transportation for their constituents. On June 4, SoulCycle Old Town is hosting an event in conjunction with World Bicycle Relief to raise money for an organization that brings bicycles to countries and communities in need. This event is directly supporting students in Lusaka, Zambia, the country’s capital city. It’s a way to share the joy of cycling with people in your community as well as those far beyond.

Run the World 5k

Although the Run the World 5k is a global event, the Chicago edition—which takes place June 10—has a distinctly local focus. The thrust of Run the World is to promote social inclusion, health and wellness in cities across the globe, and participants in the Chicago event will be benefitting Chicago Public School health initiatives. It’s an all-ages, family-friendly race, with an eye toward supporting CPS students in ways that go beyond education.

Green Music Fest

Every summer, Chicago plays home to a myriad of streets festivals. In the case of Green Music Fest, which occupies a stretch of Damen Avenue on June 10 and June 11, it offers live music and assorted local vendors, while putting the focus on environmentalism. Touting a bicycle-powered stage and eco-friendly beers brewed by Lagunitas, Green Music Fest shows that sustainability is an important part of our ecosystem.

Serve-a-thon

Touted as the city’s largest day of service, Serve-a-thon is a day-long Chicago Cares initiative that takes volunteers to different parts of Chicago to work on neighborhood-specific projects. Chicago Cares was founded by Leslie Bluhm of the Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellowship—which is accepting applications now—and organizes Serve-a-thon as a way of bringing people into communities and having them take an active role in them. After meeting in Daley Plaza, buses will take volunteers to their project sites to work before being brought back to Daley Plaza for a wrap-up party. Taking place on June 24, Serve-a-thon is a reminder that you can do a lot of good in a single Saturday morning.