
Chicago Neighborhood Check-In: Arts and Neighborhood Development
About the Event:
Arts and culture—from dining to architecture to live performance—are essential to defining the character of a neighborhood. They’re also key to its economic vitality. But entwining artistic and economic enterprise does not always serve the interests of a community equitably and without exploitation. For our ongoing Neighborhoods Check-In Series, CHF checks in with community leaders and creative voices transforming neighborhoods now and for the future. We confront what that means in different parts of the city, and ask how arts-driven neighborhood development might change following the events of this year.
- Your support makes this programming free, accessible, and open to anyone online – please donate now to help sustain these conversations and connections.
- All events include captioning.
This program is presented in partnership with the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce, Build Bronzeville, the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture, and the Swedish American Museum.
This week’s programs presented with the support of Fifth Third Bank.

Bernard Loyd
Bernard Loyd, PhD, is founder and president of Urban Juncture, a social enterprise focused on revitalizing urban communities. He l...

Billy Ocasio
Billy Ocasio is the Executive Director of the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture. Ocasio served as the 26th Ward Ald...

Karin Abercrombie
Karin Moen Abercrombie is the Executive Director of the Swedish American Museum and Honorary Consul of the Consulate of Sweden in ...

Paola Aguirre Serrano
Paola Aguirre Serrano is a native of the US-Mexico border, urban designer, educator, and partner at Borderless Studio, an architec...

Tonika Lewis Johnson
Tonika Lewis Johnson is a visual artist and photographer from Chicago’s South Side Englewood neighborhood. Her artistic practice e...
[Event tile image description: The event image at the top left of the event page is a photograph of a mural painted on the side of a red brick building in Chicago. The mural is of tree branches and flowers. Perched on the branches are blue, orange, and pink birds. The flowers are predominantly purple and blue. In between the mural and surrounding it are windows and some faded painted advertisements. Image credit: Unsplash]



