Want To Get More Involved In Your Community? Free City Civics Day Can Show You How

DOWNTOWN — Chicagoans looking to get more involved in their communities can meet local leaders and learn about issues affecting their neighborhoods at a free event this weekend. The fourth annual City Civics Day will take place from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., with doors opening at 10:30 a.m. Attendees can hear from panelists about how community leaders are working to improve their neighborhoods, including bringing new life to vacant storefronts, expanding housing opportunities, creating more spaces for young people and supporting local artists. Each panel will include at least 15 minutes for audience questions, with opportunities for people to connect directly with panelists. View this post on Instagram City Civics Day grew out of the city’s planning process, when officials recognized a need to better inform residents about how they can get involved in decisions affecting their neighborhoods, said Gabriela Jirasek, assistant commissioner of community and digital engagement for the Chicago Department of Planning and Development. Jirasek said the event is intended to make civic engagement more accessible by giving residents opportunities to connect with people working on issues they care about, taking conversations beyond traditional public meetings and social media. “We know that there are a lot of things that we want to improve in the city, and [city] government can’t do it alone,” Jirasek said. This year’s event will also feature walking tours led by Will Quam, an architecture historian and founder of Brick of Chicago , who will take attendees past some of the Loop’s most recognizable buildings. 77 Flavors of Chicago podcasters Dario Durham and Sara Faddah will lead a tour of Michigan Avenue’s civic and cultural history. Artist Jason Wesaw will also lead a discussion with Friends of the Chicago River about the relationship between art and the river’s ecology, and take attendees to the Chicago Riverwalk to see his new public art installation. Space is limited for the architecture and Michigan Avenue tours, and people can sign up starting at 10:30 a.m. Saturday on a first-come, first-served basis. View this post on Instagram Other activities include a screening of the documentary “Mother Jones: America’s Most Dangerous Woman,” button-making, a photo booth and hands-on art activities for visitors of all ages. Attendees can also grab a free community lunch catered by Pompei, a longtime Little Italy restaurant, and morning pastries from Roeser’s Bakery in Humboldt Park. The event is designed to encourage conversations between residents who might not otherwise meet, Jirasek said. Organizers hope attendees will feel more comfortable discussing issues affecting their neighborhoods and finding ways to get involved. Attendees can stay for the entire event or stop by for individual panels and activities. Registration is free and available in advance or at the door. For more information on the schedule and registration, visit Chicago.gov/CityCivicsDay . ______________________________________________________________________ Support Local News! Subscribe to Block Club Chicago , an independent, 501(c)(3), journalist-run newsroom. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods. Already subscribe? Click here to gift a subscription , or you can support Block Club with a tax-deductible donation. Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast: From Stoves To Overhead Heat: The History Of The CTA’s Warming Lamps Episode play icon From Stoves To Overhead Heat: The History Of The CTA’s Warming Lamps Episode play icon Should Chicago Have Public Festival Grounds? It’s On The Ballot. Episode play icon Need A Halloween Costume? A Chicago Thrifting Expert Shares Her Secrets Load More Search Results placeholder Previous Episode Show Episodes List Next Episode