Time: 4:15 PM - 7:15 PM

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Location: Great Hall

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• Description: Highlighting creators and entrepreneurs showcasing innovative projects, emerging brands, resources for entrepreneurs and small business owners and more.

Time: 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM

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Location: Auditorium

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• Description:

  • 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM: NextGen Pitch Competition

    • Emerging entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of judges for a $500 prize.

  • 6:30 PM - 7:30 PM: Chicago Reimagined: Culture into Currency | Moderator: Ja'Net Defell​

    • This dynamic fireside chat brings together visionary community leaders/BSO’s to discuss how Chicago’s rich cultural heritage can be transformed into economic opportunity. Panelists will share real-world insights on leveraging local culture, creativity, current climate and community assets to drive inclusive economic development. Attendees will hear stories of neighborhood revitalization, innovative business models, and collaborative efforts that are shaping the city’s future.

Time: 4:30 PM - 7:15 PM​ | Location: Breakout Room​

A series of hands-on workshops designed to empower entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community leaders with practical tools and strategies. These sessions offer actionable insights on using data, building sustainable neighborhoods, and harnessing the power of AI for business growth.

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• 4:30 PM - 5:15 PM CMAP  Workshop: Leveraging Public Data for Business Growth

  • In this interactive session, the CMAP (Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning) team will demonstrate how small business owners, community organizations, and emerging entrepreneurs can tap into publicly available data to inform and strengthen their business strategies. Participants will learn how to access, interpret, and apply data on demographics, consumer trends, transportation, and neighborhood development to make smarter, data-driven decisions every day.​

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• 5:15 PM - 5:40 PM  Applying AI for Creative Execution

  • ​Chicago artist and Peace Campus Director Heavy Crownz shares his personal journey of how AI has transformed his creative process and dramatically improved his workflow. In this candid workshop, he'll reveal the specific ways AI has catapulted his artistic output while helping him better serve his Englewood community.

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• 5:50 PM - 6:30 PM  Building Sustainable Communities

  • This panel brings together leading organizations from across Chicago who are at the forefront of sustainability work. Panelists will share innovative approaches to recycling, clean energy, and community-driven development, and discuss the current climate, future visions for Chicago, and actionable steps for making our neighborhoods greener and more resilient.​

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• 6:30 PM - 7:15 PM  Grow Your Business with AI-Powered Tools by Google

  •  In this hands-on workshop, CJ Harris will guide participants through the latest tools and features available in Google Studio, with a special focus on emerging AI technologies. Attendees will learn practical ways to integrate AI into their businesses and projects—whether it's for marketing, customer engagement, data analysis, or workflow automation. The session is designed for all experience levels and will provide actionable steps to start using AI today.