Imagine Chicago Conference

The 10th Anniversary Celebration and
International Learning Exchange Continue...

Conference Proceedings and Followup Conversations Online

Possibility Handbook: Ten Years of Imagination in Action
by Bliss Browne and Shilpa Jain, download (large) PDF file

Imagine Chicago hosted an international learning exchange of Imagine project teams from around the world—along with those interested in learning from them. This 5-day gathering was all about...

“Best practices” from around the world in building intergenerational and intercultural learning communities

Creative tools to transform communities and strengthen identity and civic engagement—appreciative inquiry, community asset-based organizing, arts, storytelling, experiential learning, integration, cross-cultural dialogue

New resources for developing your own learning community, local as well as global

Developing a Learning Community Model and resource data base

Renewing and inspiring multi-generational and multi-cultural imagination and creative engagement with the future

An Imaginative Intergenerational Learning Exchange

When:
September 13-15

Where:
Field Museum - Maori Meeting House

Cost:
$450.00

This three day learning exchange (9 am-5 pm daily) is a best-practices forum for Imagine projects from across the world. Intergenerational teams from 8-10 countries (South Africa, India, Singapore, Australia, England, Scotland, Denmark, Canada, U.S., Chile, Sweden) will present and discuss what they have done, how they have done it, what they have learned, what difference it has made, what imagination about community inspires their work. The learning exchange will also include people who are contemplating developing Imagine projects and want to learn from the experience of those already established.

We will be asking each group to bring objects and artifacts which will help the larger group understand things about their culture that are of particular importance to their thinking about the future of community building in their respective places. Since each Imagine project is distinctive, each project will select something unique about their own project to present.
Groups will have a change to do creative activities with their own teams and across team - using drama, music, movement, and visual arts.
A focus throughout will be on how to develop intergenerational and intercultural learning communities grounded in hope and imagination.
This "learning exchange" will include presentations by cross-cultural panels on topics that are of common interest to many teams - appreciative inquiry, asset-based community development, learning communities, imagination as a resource for public good, spirituality and leadership, generative public dialogue that bridges difference.
The conference structure will model the key tools we are discussing.
The learning exchange will be held at the world-renowned Field Museum of Natural History, home to "Sue", the world's largest dinosaur.
Conference price includes lunch each day as well as Imagine Chicago's 10th anniversary gala celebration dinner on Friday night

Connecting to Place and Story:
A Day of Sharing

When:
September 16, 9:30 am

Where:
Chicago Historical Society

Cost:
$25.00

This shortened day (9:30 am-4:30 pm) will focus on the relationship between people and place and some tools that transmit community stories and cultures across generations - language, storytelling, dramatic performance, and ritual, media, exhibit creation. The Chicago Historical Society is in the early stages of creating a new exhibit on teenage life in Chicago and they will have some of their young adult project team there. Everyone will have the opportunity to do cross-cultural interviews and out of those to create a community performance. There will be an opportunity for intercultural youth exchange using dramatic arts at a premier institution in Chicago for gathering and displaying community stories.

The City as a Learning Community:
Exploring Chicago

When:
September 17-18

Where:
Chicago neighborhoods

Cost:
$150.00

These 2 days are designed to help international guests explore the city's neighborhoods and topics/areas of particular interest. Imagine Chicago has partnerships with over 100 community organizations that work on every aspect of community development and education. We will tailor this time to the particular interests of international project teams and arrange visits to cultural activities and/or meetings with leaders, activists and artists from all over the city.

Teams can choose from a variety of cultural activities (baseball, beach volleyball, museums, theater, music, boat rides, etc) and community organizations to discover what makes Chicago a vibrant center of community building and innovation.

The price includes transportation and entrance fees to cultural events as well as lunch both days.

September 13
Imagine Chicago's 10th Anniversary Gala Celebration
A festival/dinner celebrating Imagine Chicago's 10th anniversary year at Sky Pavilion of the Adler Planetarium. Single ticket price is $150, if you are not participating in the Learning Exchange.

Click Here for easy online registration!

Or mail conference payment to:
Imagine Chicago
35 E Wacker Dr, Suite 1545
Chicago, IL 60601 USA

If you'd like volunteer to work at or prior to the conference please email us by Clicking Here. To volunteer by fax or mail click here to download form. Thank you!