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April 2025
Gordon Parks and the Postwar City Conference
Join us for Gordon Parks and the Postwar City, a three-day interdisciplinary conference taking place April 2–4, 2025, at the UIC Great Cities Institute and Daley Library. This event explores the groundbreaking work and lasting impact of Gordon Parks—one of the most influential Black photographers, filmmakers, and storytellers of the 20th century. Parks’s career spanned decades and mediums, capturing the radical transformations of post-World War II America. Through his iconic photographic essays, films, and activism, he documented urban life, civil rights, poverty, Black identity, and the rise of Black Power, offering an unflinching look at American society through the lens of social justice. The conference will highlight Parks’s deep connections to Chicago, where he launched his career at the Southside Community Art Center and developed his philosophy of the "camera as a weapon" against inequality. This conference brings together students, scholars, artists, activists, and filmmakers to examine Parks’s legacy across disciplines and its relevance to contemporary struggles for racial and social justice. Featuring panel discussions, film screenings, and community dialogue, the event is free and open to the public.
Find out more »Social Enterprise 2025
Don't miss Social Enterprise 2025! The University of Illinois Chicago, Social Enterprise Chicago, and the Cook County Commission on Social Innovation invite you to attend Social Enterprise 2025. Join us for breakfast and a morning of insightful discussions, networking, and learning from industry experts. Explore next step strategies for maximizing impact, sustainability, and discover innovative ways to strengthen your mission-driven initiatives. Network with like-minded changemakers and strategies for sustainable impact.
Find out more »2025 UIC Urban Forum – The Power of Community Engagement: Building Bridges for Shared Impact
The 2025 UIC Urban Forum, "The Power of Community Engagement: Building Bridges for Shared Impact," will take place on April 8, 2025, at UIC Student Center East in Chicago. The event will bring together leaders from community organizations, academia, business, and government to explore how anchor institutions can foster meaningful partnerships for sustainable impact. Co-chaired by Toni Preckwinkle and Marie Lynn Miranda, the forum will examine best practices, engagement models, and strategies to redefine institutional roles in societal well-being. Hosted by UIC’s College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, the event underscores its 30-year commitment to community engagement. Registration opens March 3, 2025. More details are available at urbanforum.uic.edu.
Find out more »Real Time Chicago Lecture Series – Digs with Dignity: Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness One Family at a Time
The Real Time Chicago Lecture Series continues its focus on Reimagining Housing Support and Access: Bridging Research, Action, and Community-Centered Process with an inspiring session featuring Kim Hannay, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Digs with Dignity. In this session, "Digs with Dignity: Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness One Family at a Time," Kim will share how her organization is transforming lives by helping families transition out of homelessness with dignity and stability. Through custom home furnishing using sustainable design solutions, Digs with Dignity creates welcoming, functional spaces that empower families to build a fresh start.
Find out more »December 2025
Save the Date: 30th Anniversary of the Great Cities Institute
On December 1, 2025, we will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Great Cities Institute (GCI), marking three decades of commitment to urban research, policy, and community engagement. This milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on the vision that led to the founding of GCI and to honor the ongoing work that continues to shape cities and communities. In 1995, the Great Cities Institute was established as part of UIC's Great Cities Initiative, a bold commitment to addressing urban challenges through research, collaboration, and public engagement. That same year, then-Governor Jim Edgar proclaimed December 1 as Great Cities Day in Illinois, recognizing the role of cities as centers of knowledge, creativity, and economic growth while also acknowledging the complex challenges they face, from housing and employment to education and public health. The resolution emphasized the need for comprehensive and integrated approaches to improving urban life—values that have remained at the core of GCI’s mission. Over the past 30 years, GCI has been a driving force in advancing urban policy and fostering partnerships between academia, government, businesses, and community organizations. Through research, convenings, and direct engagement, GCI has worked to address critical issues in Chicago and beyond, reinforcing UIC’s role as a university that is deeply connected to its urban environment. As we mark this important anniversary, we will reflect on the legacy of the Great Cities concept and look ahead to the future of urban innovation and community-centered research. We hope you will join us on December 1, 2025, to celebrate this momentous occasion and the impact of the Great Cities Institute over the past three decades. More details about the event, including time, location, and speakers, will be announced soon. Stay tuned for updates!
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