GCI 21st Anniversary
Event Summary
The Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois Chicago celebrated its 21st anniversary with a special evening honoring the Institute’s origins, impact, and enduring commitment to urban communities. Held on Wednesday, November 16, 2016, at the East Terrace of UIC’s Student Center East, the event brought together university leaders, faculty, community partners, and supporters to reflect on more than two decades of engaged scholarship and community-centered research.
The celebration affirmed the founding vision of the “Great Cities” concept—an idea rooted in optimism at a time when many narratives about cities focused on decline. Speakers reflected on the early work required to transform this vision from an abstract idea into a living institute, emphasizing how collective effort across the campus and sustained partnerships with community organizations helped “put flesh on the bones” of the concept. Rather than accepting negative portrayals of urban life, the Institute advanced a belief in cities as places of opportunity, innovation, and shared responsibility.
Remarks throughout the evening highlighted the Institute’s role in advancing community and economic development across Chicago’s neighborhoods, underscoring its commitment to research that makes a tangible difference in people’s lives. As speakers noted, with more than half of the world’s population now living in cities and urban regions, the work of the Great Cities Institute is more relevant than ever. The anniversary served not only as a moment of reflection, but also as a call to continue addressing pressing urban challenges with creativity, collaboration, and purpose.
The program featured special guest James J. Stukel and included a heartfelt tribute to Robert Mier, honoring leadership that helped shape the Institute’s mission and trajectory. Ultimately, the celebration reaffirmed a shared commitment to strengthening Chicago as a great city—and to continuing the work needed to make it even better in the years ahead.