CHICAGO, IL (WBBM Newsradio) – Over 30 downtown businesses will offer free or discounted attractions, tours, and other experiences as about 1500 youth from the South and West Sides of the city participate in Downtown Day.
South Side based non-profit My Block My Hood My City has spearheaded this effort to inspire teens who may not yet have had the chance to fully experience and truly understand all that downtown Chicago has to offer.
“There’s a lot of great kids in Chicago. We’re not bringing a thousand kids downtown; we’re bringing a thousand futures downtown. A thousand business owners, a thousand entrepreneurs, a thousand artists, like, this is part of Chicago’s future”, said Jahmal Cole, founder of My Block My Hood My City, while meeting on the Magnificent Mile on Monday with other partners involved in Downtown Day.
Cole adds that many of these kids have been downtown but with no money, and nothing more than a feeling of exclusion. On Downtown Day, July 19, each will be given $50 to spend on anything they want.
“How do you think that’s going to change their perception of downtown?”, asks Cole, “No longer are they going to feel like their prevented, they’re not going to feel excluded. Now they can feel a part of downtown and feel welcome downtown and they can do things they always wanted to do. They can go to Navy Pier, Shedd Aquarium, they can ride the boats downtown, go to the museum of marshmallows or whatever it is they want to do.”, Cole tells WBBM Newsradio.
Among the downtown business leaders helping to roll out the red carpet for youth this Saturday July 19th, is Chicago Loop Alliance CEO Michael Edwards.
“We can show them that they are welcome here and provide them with opportunities, not just with the ability to shop, but expose them to businesses so they can see themselves as an architect, see themselves as a theatre person, or even as an accountant. We think that’s a great way for them to begin to think about their future. Their future is part of the Loop and the Loop is part of their future.”, said Edwards.
Magnificent Mile Association CEO Kimberly Bares is also excited to give these kids a day just like any tourist or any other resident of the city might have to enjoy.
“We want to make sure that young people in Chicago have just as much opportunity and as much reason to come enjoy downtown Chicago as much as anyone else does.”, said Bares.
Downtown Day begins with a welcome reception for participating youth at 10 a.m. at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park.
Youth are free to explore and interact with participating businesses from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Participants will be chaperoned in small groups by representatives from youth organizations from across the city along with a collection of volunteers and MBMHMC staff. All youth attendees will be wearing My Block, My Hood, My City branded shirts.
See a full list of partners below:
Organizations:
Chicago Loop Alliance
The Magnificent Mile® Association
Businesses:
360 Chicago
Aries Charter Transportation
Apple
Art Institute of Chicago
Ballet Chicago
Big Bus Tours
Capital One Café
Chicago Architecture Center/Chicago’s First Lady Cruises
Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
Chicago History Museum
Chicago Park District
Chicago Public Library
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Chicago Sports Museum
Design Museum of Chicago
eATLAS-Adventures To Go
Field Trip Chicago
Flyover
Harry Potter Store
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago
Industry Ales
Kendall College
Kilwins Chicago
Lookingglass Theatre Company
Navy Pier
Painted Penguin
Seadog
Shedd Aquarium
Starbucks Reserve Roastery Chicago
The Gwen Hotel
theWit Hotel Chicago
Underground Donut Tour
My Block, My Hood. My City encourages the Chicago community to donate or partner in this effort to help the youth of Chicago explore, experience and evolve on July 19. Those interested in advancing the work of M3 can find more information at Formyblock.org/downtownday.
About My Block, My Hood, My City
My Block, My Hood, My City (M3) has a mission to inspire youth, empower communities, and build a better world one block at a time. Many of the youth of our city live only a few miles away from downtown Chicago, yet have never been there to experience it. My Block, My Hood, My City believes that exposing youth to new opportunities is key to building a better future. MBMHMC wants Chicago’s youth to experience the best of what their city has to offer!
About Chicago Loop Alliance
Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA)’s mission is to lead the community by creating and supporting inclusive programs that attract people and investment to the Loop. CLA is a membership organization as well as the sole service provider for Special Service Area#1-2015, and the Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation produces public art projects and events. For more information, please visit LoopChicago.com.
About The Magnificent Mile® Association
The Magnificent Mile® Association is a private, non-profit organization that preserves, promotes, and enhances one of Chicago's most unique and vibrant neighborhoods. It is a world-renowned destination for shopping, dining, and entertainment. For more information, please visit themagnificentmile.com.