2016 was a big year for Chicago Ideas, and we’re planning on inspiring more action in 2017. Over the last year, we brought together more than 30,000 people to more than 200 events across the city. We have big plans for the next year—here’s a quick peek into what we’re working on.

Curiosity Series

We’re not going to give away too many details just yet, but our first event of the year will kickoff our Curiosity Series, and will aim to re-imagine the criminal justice system in America. We’ll bring together experts from a variety of fields and community members and walk away with tangible ways to take action.

Member Brainstorm

For the first time ever, we’re hosting a brainstorming session in which Chicago Ideas Members will help us come up with ideas for our events in 2017. They’ll join our Director of Programming, and will give us invaluable feedback on what they want to see during Chicago Ideas Week and our year round events.

Ideas Day

We’ll be celebrating Ideas Day (Thomas Edison’s birthday) with Chicago Ideas YOU(th) Ambassadors. Members of the program will host Ideas Day events at their respective high schools, sparking curiosity and innovation among the future leaders of Chicago.