MEMBER-ONLY EVENT. Start your morning off with breakfast, networking, an inspiring talk from a 2016 Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellow and a... read more
An AP World History Class (Juniors/Seniors) from Jones College Prep High School will connect with people of similar ages in Gaza City during the... read more
The Chicago Public Library offers a lot more than books. Discover the cutting-edge technology that CPL makes available to Chicago residents for... read more
Take a peek into the ultra-specialized world of art and heirlooms conservation at the Conservation Center, one of the nation’s leading private art... read more
Discover the ins and outs of the human brain at this innovative Lab hosted by VisMed-3D and MATTER. Attendees will learn how scientists use 3D... read more
Discover how to transform a successful business into a larger, sustainable enterprise at this discussion with Dan Weinfurter, CEO of Chicago-based... read more
Obama’s foreign policy strategy has largely focused on long-term threats. And, when it comes to the Middle East, aside from the U.S.-led air war... read more
Bright Endeavors is a local candle making company that provides transitional jobs to young mothers and teaches them how to create sustainable,... read more
The music industry has changed drastically over the past two decades, and so has the way that artists and producers make money off their creations.... read more
At this Lab, attendees will discover how some of the most creative minds in fashion turn an idea into the next big style trend. Participants will... read more
Drawing from new methodologies in app development, VSA Partners has been integrating “rapid prototyping” into its design-driven culture. Join... read more
Sally Lou Loveman is a former Audience Producer for The Oprah Winfrey Show who knows a thing or two about engaging an audience. In this lab, she’ll... read more
Discover how creativity can fuel your success at work at this Lab at the new Chicago headquarters of SRAM, the world’s second-largest bicycle... read more
Hone your storytelling skills at this interactive workshop at Victory Gardens. Participants will go on a tour of the Lincoln Park theater space and... read more
From a potential nuclear conflict to cyber security to terrorism, never in recent history has the U.S. faced so many national security threats.... read more
Before launching any business it’s a good idea to write down exactly how you plan to get it off the ground. A business plan serves as the story of... read more
Leading a business in 2016 isn’t an easy task, and doing so as a minority, woman or member of a disadvantaged community is even more challenging.... read more
This CIW Lab is a carnivore’s delight! The sandwich gurus at Eastman Egg are hosting an exclusive class on making a perfect burger. Attendees will... read more
Questioning everything in life is an innate part of the human condition. Whether it’s what you want to be when you grow up, what it means to be an... read more
Custom-made bikes and fresh-brewed coffee may be an unlikely pairing, but they’re the keys to Heritage Bicycle’s unique success. The company opened... read more
Join Chicago Ideas for an evening with Above the Glass and AtkCo to meet like-minded female entreprenuers, share knowledge on best practices for... read more
Take your yoga class to a whole new level at this Portal connection with Kigali, Rwanda. Chicago-based MindFuel & Wellness will lead a yoga... read more
CIW sits down with four Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation Fellows, all under the age of 35, who daily work to solve seemingly impossible global... read more
Learn lessons on bringing innovations to market with one of the organizations who do it best, gravitytank. Learn how they're make the future real... read more
Marketing is much more than managing the way that a company is perceived—it’s also about managing the way that individuals engage with the world.... read more
Explore the historic neighborhood of Pullman with the Civic Leadership Academy Fellow Jennifer Bransfield and Chicago Neighborhood Initiative in... read more
Learn what it takes to be an on-air DJ at this lab with iHeartMedia. Their 245 million monthly listeners give it the farthest reach of any radio or... read more
Cook County Jail is the largest jail in the entire country. At this Lab, take a look behind the criminal justice system during a tour of the jail’s... read more
More than just a hotspot of delicious food, Chicago’s Chinatown is a bustling epicenter of local businesses and culture. Join Jimmy Lee, the former... read more
Every year, corporations spend billions of dollars on ads and every year, the rules of the advertising game continue to change. Now that we all... read more
In business, as in life, getting what you want comes down to knowing how to ask for it. Chicago Ideas convenes a panel of expert negotiators for a... read more
Based in Pilsen, The Darshan Center aims to unite the physical, spiritual and emotional in its Vedic yoga teachings. Darshan Method creator Jim... read more
Step through Accenture’s doors and into the “World of ME” at this compelling CIW Lab. Accenture, a leading global professional services company,... read more
Discover how education and architecture can transform a neighborhood at this CIW Lab with with award-winning architect John Ronan. Attendees will... read more
At this Lab, Managing Director at LAPIZ Gustavo Razzetti will lead an interactive session to challenge the idea that a constraint can hinder... read more
Learn how robust, cutting edge software is built at this Lab with Table XI (the company behind Chicago Ideas website). Their team will take... read more
Discover the ins and outs of University of Chicago’s Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at this CIW Lab. The event will kick off... read more
Over the last three years, the state of our country’s police force has become a national discussion. Now that cell phones double as a video... read more
Whether you’re a CEO or an intern, your ability to thrive is tied to your ingenuity and adaptability, regardless of your field. You don’t have to... read more
Flowers for Dreams makes sending your love ones flowers an act of charity. Each bouquet of locally-sourced flowers from the organization benefits a... read more
From tacos to cocktails, fresh and gourmet ingredients are essential to Antique Taco’s delicious fare. In this CIW Lab, the restaurant’s Beverage... read more
There is so much for the world to know about you, but do you know how to effectively communicate your “elevator speech?” Edelman, a leading global... read more
The Syrian refugee crisis is one of the most pressing international challenges of our time. The civil war there has left more than six million... read more
How is it that powerful ideas fail to engage the people whose support matters most? Conventional practice relies on the power of the idea to drive... read more
People are moving to cities in greater numbers than ever before, posing both challenges and opportunities related to new levels of density,... read more
Bang Bang’s tasty creations are the stuff of dreams. Discover how they’ve perfected the art of pie-making with our behind-the-scenes look at their... read more
Learn the difference between deconstruced stew and meat and potatoes with gravy at this unique Lab with Kendall College. Attendees will get a... read more
Being a successful entrepreneur isn’t easy. It requires a great deal of grit, inspiration, motivation and a little bit of luck. Rome wasn’t built... read more
On the surface, being an entrepreneur in Chicago might seem entirely different from being one in Yangon, Myanmar, but this Portal connection will... read more
Join Chicago Ideas and Rockit Bar & Grill for an after party celebrating Chicago Ideas Week’s sixth year. Connect with other CIW attendees... read more
You might be an expert at spreading cheese over crackers or dumping it onto your pasta, but you’re probably pretty clueless when it comes to... read more
At the North Lawndale Employment Network’s Sweet Beginnings Flournoy Apiary, beekeeping is more than a job—it’s an opportunity to acquire valuable... read more
The Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side is one of the most tight-knit communities in the city. In this Lab, join United Way of Metropolitan... read more
Opening a successful restaurant is no small task, and doing such in a city as competitive as Chicago is seemingly impossible. But Kimbal Musk... read more
Urban Initiatives uses the power of sport and play to build a path for more than 15,000 Chicago Public School students to become part of a smarter,... read more
Learning Spanish in Chicago can be difficult if you’re not immersed in a culture that speaks the language—the Portal connection looks to solve that... read more
You chose your career path, your partner, your wardrobe, the groceries in your fridge and the people you follow on Instagram. Or did you? In this... read more
The world is in the middle of its fourth industrial revolution, which has brought a rush of innovation that has pushed our society towards its full... read more
Chicago is one of the most diverse cities in the world, but it’s also one of the most segregated. From rising gun violence to a historically... read more
Today, as consumers, we have constant access innovative technology that helps us make more informed decisions. Why does a trip to the doctor's... read more
Chicago-based photographer Greg Birman has a truly incredible track record of illuminating the sights, sounds and individuals that are unique to... read more
Join Accenture at this CIW Lab for a dive into how you can help bridge the gap between people with limitations through design. Roughly 20 percent... read more
Storytelling is one of humanity’s oldest pastimes—it’s a trademark of every known civilization. As technology continues to progress, the platforms... read more
Putting together Chicago Ideas Week is no easy feat. The annual seven-day celebration of ideas, innovation and community requires a great deal of... read more
Since its installation, the Chicago Riverwalk has changed the face of the city’s downtown area. Extending from Michigan Avenue all the way to Lake... read more
Smith Devereux (formerly JW Thomas Wines) has been making sustainably-farmed, award-winning wines for more than 60 years. At this Premier Lab, join... read more
Providing in-flight Wi-Fi on more than 2,800 aircraft, Gogo’s technologies has changed the way we all fly. At this CIW Lab, join the leading global... read more
Chicago is an international city, and taking a look at its music culture makes that quite clear. At this Portal connection, Chicago-based hip-hop... read more
Roughly one out of every five people in the United States has a disability, making it the largest minority group in the country. But even with the... read more
It’s easy to think of a genius as a lone person in a room who comes up with a brilliant idea—but that’s rarely the case. We often forget about the... read more
Looking to learn how to build a website but don’t know where to start? At this Lab, General Assembly has your back. Join their team for an... read more
It’s no secret that Chicago is one of the world’s biggest comedy hubs. From Bill Murray to Tina Fey, some of the biggest names in the business have... read more
Join Chicago Ideas for a free viewing party of the final 2016 Presidential Debate that's poised to combine big screens with even bigger voices.... read more
Venture capitalists have played a huge role in spurring innovation among start-ups during the modern tech boom, but that’s not always the case for... read more
If you think note-taking is tedious, this CIW Lab will certainly change your mind. You’ve seen their large-scale visuals from all of the CIW Talks... read more
Learn how to release your inner creative genius at this Premier CIW Lab with Grammy Award-winning artist Peter Himmelman. This once-in-a-lifetime... read more
Looking ahead to the future of artificial intelligence can be pretty daunting. Siri and self-driving cars are only the beginning of a new phase of... read more
Big machines. Bigger data. Experts estimate 5 million new things are connected around the world every day. We’re talking watches, phones, cars and... read more
Learn how to release your inner creative genius at this Lab with Grammy Award-winning artist Peter Himmelman. This exclusive conversation will look... read more
Improvisation and leadership have more in common than you think. At this CIW Lab with CSz Business Chicago (the producers of ComedySportz),... read more
Learn how to release your inner creative genius at this Lab with Grammy Award-winning artist Peter Himmelman. This exclusive conversation will look... read more
This CIW Lab hosted by Luci Creative and Ravenswood Studio Inc. will give attendees a glimpse into how the companies collaborate to design and... read more
Human beings have wondered about the universe for centuries, but it is only within the last 70 years that we’ve begun venturing into space. Should... read more
What does it take to make a company flourish? How does a business pivot from a static organization to one that is innovative and purpose-driven?... read more
Get an exclusive first look into the Illinois Holocaust Museum’s newest exhibit, the Take A Stand Center, at this CIW Lab. The exhibit utilized... read more
Step back in time with Bartlit Beck, one of the nation's most successful trial firms, to the legendary and grisly murder trial of Adolph Luetgert.... read more
Members of Chicago Ideas Week’s YOU(th) program will have the chance to meet other children their age in El Progreso, Honduras at this Portal... read more
Big machines. Bigger data. Experts estimate 5 million new things are connected around the world every day. We’re talking watches, phones, cars and... read more
Zika Virus. Data breaches. Auto recalls. Natural disasters. Every company is at risk of a crisis impacting their reputation, bottom line and... read more
More than 40 years ago, the United States declared war on cancer. Decades later, we still do not have a cure. More than 4 million people die... read more
Artist and author Oliver Jeffers’ Dipped Paintings project explores the enigmatic connection between loss and memory through an ongoing series of... read more
Since its arrival in the early 1970s, hip-hop has grown to shape much of American culture. Until recently, it hasn’t been included in conversations... read more
It takes a great leader to make the tough decisions that determine success or failure, growth or decline and, in some cases, life or death. From... read more
The U.S. military is not where you’d expect to hear about alternative energy innovations, but since the Department of Defense is our country’s... read more
America’s oldest national laboratory, Argonne developed the first nuclear reactor—the research that almost every commercial reactor worldwide is... read more
Discover your inner-chef with the expert cooking instructors at The Chopping Block. Learn the fundamentals of knife skills, cooking and baking... read more
What will the future of competitive sports look like for athletes, coaches and fans? In this Lab, attendees will go behind the scenes with design... read more
The way we travel has changed immensely over the past decade. Long gone are the days of travel agents and prefab vacations. Today, everyone can... read more
Hey, Preppy! Saved by The Max, a Saved by the Bell-themed pop-up in Wicker Park, is one of the country’s most successful pop-up shops. Join its... read more
Milwaukee is only an hour away, but Chicagoans will only need to travel to Daley Plaza to connect with residents in the city. Join CIW at this... read more
You’ll learn about Chicago history and cultural via food on a walking tour of Wicker Park with Steve Dolinsky—Chicago’s Hungry Hound—that will take... read more
Snapchat is the latest social media platform to take the digital world by storm. Learn how to optimize your use of the app, whether on a personal... read more
Beer and coffee might seem like an odd combination, but by the end of this CIW Lab, you’ll think of the two as inseparable. Head to local brewery... read more
MillerCoors employs nearly 400 people in its Loop headquarters on Wacker Drive. They moved into the space in 2009, and the beer giant has been a... read more
To build a brand from scratch in today’s dynamic marketplace, you need to define and deliver ideas in ways that will not only resonate with the... read more
Visceral Dance Chicago in Logan Square is committed to encouraging young dancers to reach their fullest potential. Join company member Hanna... read more
Chicago and Mexico City both have amazing art scenes, and they will come together in an inspiring, collaborative fashion at this Portal connection.... read more
A group of Chicago entrepreneurs will collaborate with a small group of university students in Herat, Afghanistan at this one-of-a-kind connection.... read more
Media companies across the country are trying (and sometimes failing) to make journalism a profitable industry. The way users consume news has... read more
The CTA is a central part of life for anyone who lives in Chicago. Nearly everyone in the city has interacted with a bus driver or train operator,... read more
Re-envision city spaces with PORT Urbanism, the consulting firm behind the architectural redesigns of spaces like the Old Cook County Hospital and... read more
FLATS/Cedar Street has invested in and rehabbed a series of eight buildings in Uptown and Edgewater, which have changed the face of the North Side... read more
Based in Pilsen, The Darshan Center aims to unite the physical, spiritual and emotional in its Vedic yoga teachings. Darshan Method creator Jim... read more
Learn how to work out smarter at this interactive Lab with Hardpressed. Join Dan Geraci, the founder of a revolutionary training technique that... read more
Chicago’s history is intertwined with that of blues music, and this Portal connection will showcase just that. Eddie Taylor, Jr. and Harmonica... read more
At this CIW Lab, discover the practice of Risograph printing, a high-speed printing system that has its roots in Japan. In the workshop, you'll... read more
Matthew Hoffman, the artist behind the viral “You Are Beautiful” campaign, has become a global phenomenon over the past few years. He and his... read more
Coffee is the fuel that powers Chicago’s workforce, but very few people have an in-depth understanding as to how it’s made. At this Lab with Metric... read more
Discover the cocktail that matches your inner soul at this Premier CIW Lab with Virgin Hotels’ “Spirit Guide,” Jon Harris. He’ll begin with an old... read more
Beekeeping is a key part of keeping entire ecosystems afloat, and for Chicago’s Westside Bee Boyz, it’s an economic engine. Join the organization... read more
More than 10,000 people take SoulCycle classes everyday to release stress, burn fat, tone muscle, find joy in movement and change their bodies and... read more
You’ll learn about Chicago history and cultural via food on a walking tour of Logan Square with Steve Dolinsky—Chicago’s Hungry Hound—that will... read more
Matthew Hoffman, the artist behind the viral “You Are Beautiful” campaign, has become a global phenomenon over the past few years. He and his... read more
MANA Contemporary is a rapidly-expanding art center in an enormous landmark building in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood. Learn about the history of... read more
Bring your garden and food tradition stories to life at this Lab with teaching artist and storyteller Julie Ganey of Lifeline Theatre. Through... read more
Storytelling is one of humanity’s most universal traits—it's been present in every single civilization that has ever existed. At this Portal... read more