About the
Organization

We bring people from different backgrounds together to focus on the gap: what other people aren’t talking about. That’s a powerful proposition.

"

Israel Idonije Former NFL Player / Entrepreneur / Philanthropist / Brain Trust Member

The Largest Ideas Festival

Our platform is built on the big shoulders of Chicago’s working class history, shaped by the city’s inclusiveness, diversity and excellence of intellectual discourse.

500K+
Attendees

3.5K+
Speakers & Performers

195
Community Partners

130
Community Engagements

500+
Stage Programs

250+
Labs

25+
Youth Labs

Covering Dozens of Topics

Talks, Conversations, Labs that examine subjects from a myriad of angles.

CITIES

EDUCATION

ENTREPRENEURSHIP

FOOD

HIP HOP

LABS

JOURNALISM

POLITICS

STORYTELLERS

HEALTH

From a Network of Global Thought Leaders

From Bill Clinton to Martha Stewart, Padma Lakshmi to Michael Strahan, Common to Mario Battali, our speakers represent an unmatched combination of depth and breadth of knowledge and expertise.

Val Warner
Valerie Lies
Tricia Eck
Ted  Fishman
Maryam Saleh
Stephanie  Gosk
Sonny  Garg
Eve Ewing
Anne-Marie Slaughter
Shannon Heffernan
Soledad O'Brien
Poppy Harlow
Neil Stevenson
Peggy  Kusinski
Myra Greene
Molly Wood
Odette Yousef
Mellody Hobson
Robin  Givhan
Monica Eng
Meredith Stricker
Mats Lederhausen
Michael Slaby
Ali  Velshi
Lola Wright
Mark Caro
Linda Lutton
David Gregory
Laura  Washington
Keisha Howard
Linda Cohn
Kevin Pang
Cal Fussman
Kavita Shukla
Kate Sullivan
Kelly  Leonard
Kate  Grossman
Charles Jenkins
Katherine Lanpher
Karen  Jordan
Ji Suk Yi
Jessica Grose
Jenan Mohajir
Jamil Smith
Jason  Henrichs
Jane Harman
Felicia Lawrence
Andrew Barber
Gigi  Pritzker
Amanda  Seales
Dustin Yellin
Jessica Clemons
Laura Desmond
Kelly Rizzo
Eddie  Aruzza
Debbie Millman
Deborah Douglas
David Brancaccio
Dave  Holmes
Dorri McWhorter
Carolina  Sarassa
Dan Abrams
Celeste Headlee
Padma Lakshmi
Cindy Mori
Brian Babylon
Cheryl Corley
Bob Morgan
Brandis Friedman
Bethany McLean
Gretchen Carlson
Ben Johnson
Anil Dash
Andee Harris
Tom Brokaw
Charles Duhigg
Ana Belaval
Desiree Rogers
Anne Munition
Heidi Stevens
Jud Snyder
Ally Love
Steve Edwards
Phylicia Rashad
Richard Stengel
Nick  Turner
Jessica  Malkin
Jessica Wohl
Rachel Bronson
Touré
Jessica Yellin
Barbara Starr
Jay Smooth
Paris Schutz
Chuck Salter
Michal Lev-Ram
Mick Dumke
Carol Coletta
Campbell Brown
Geoff Brigham