Ideas Day empowers students to get creative and take risks

Learn more about how Ideas Day is empowering students throughout Chicago

Latest Blog Posts

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The 77 Project

Pilsen Fest x Sam Kirk: How Art and Collaboration Can Make Change in Our City

Chicago Voices

Chicago NORML’s Donte Townsend on the Legalization of Cannabis in Illinois

Ideas, Etc.

Five Things You Might Not Know About Cannabis Legalization

Bringing Chicago's Youth to Chicago Ideas Week

Learn more about CI Youth, a program that brings 500 underrepresented CPS students to Chicago Ideas Week, and engages with students through custom programming all year long.

Explore CI Youth Learn more about us

Community Impact: Hiring the Formerly Incarcerated

Several great takeaways and content emerged from our suite events around Reimagining Prison. Chief among them, a thought-provoking conversation on improving diversity in hiring to include the formerly incarcerated.

6 Chicagoland Companies That Hire the Formerly Incarcerated

Read about local businesses who are working to improve their communities through commerce.

Finding New Beginnings at Cara

Morning Motivations could become your new daily ritual. Learn about the remarkable work this local organization is doing to rebuild Chicago communities.

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Flipping the Formula for Hiring the Formerly Incarcerated

Finding employment for the formerly incarcerated individuals isn't easy, but solutions spring eternal.

The Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellowship

Bluhm / Helfand Social innovation has awarded game-changing entrepreneurs with a monetary award, invaluable connections and a spot on the Chicago Ideas Week stage to share their work and, hopefully, inspire others to take action.

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The Ideas Platform For You

From our YOU(th) program to our social innovation fellowship, and member events to volunteer opportunities, Chicago Ideas is designed to foster connections that spark action. Learn more about what makes us tick, who informs our programming, and how we're impacting our community.

2016's 4 Social Innovators You Should Know

Meet the 2016 Fellows

The Brain Trust brings experts from different backgrounds together to focus on the gap: what other people aren't talking about. That's a powerful proposition.

Israel Idonije

Chicago Ideas Brain Trust Member, Former NFL player, entrepreneur, philanthropist

Meet the Brain Trust

More Ways to get involved

There are many ways you can make an impact on your community with Chicago Ideas, beyond attending our events. See what you can do to join our Community of Curiosity.