About
A global pandemic. A nationwide movement for racial justice. An historic election where many said “democracy was on the ballot.” 2020 was an inflection point nationally and in our own backyard, and it’s time to forge a new path and re-imagine how Chicago can work to lift up residents, improve civic engagement and enhance quality of life.
To re-imagine Chicago, we must examine some of the institutions and systems that play an outsized role in our shared civic life: City government, financial investment, public safety and schools. We’ve seen political corruption, cronyism and patronage from the 5th floor of City Hall to the Governor’s mansion. Investment — or the lack thereof — has exacerbated income inequality and segregation. The Chicago Police Department is still under a consent decree over civil rights abuses. And our school system has left some students behind.
CEG joined forces with WBEZ’s daily talk show Reset to investigate how these four institutions and systems operate in Chicago — and more importantly — how they might work better to better serve residents. Read our full announcement.
Details
'Re-Imagine Chicago' is a multimedia series of radio segments, written pieces, and community events. It engages with academics, innovators, and public servants to explore out-of-the-box ideas and ask What if...? 'Re-Imagine Chicago' checks in with people working and living in other cities around the country and the world to hold their institutions and systems up to the light. Could what’s working there work here?
This series takes fresh approaches directly to the people working in the trenches and making the decisions in our city to hear their thoughts, and allows listeners to chime in with their questions, ideas, and experiences.
Content from the Series
Check out full radio segments, learn more about events, and read in-depth pieces exploring the topics covered in the series below!
Radio Segments
Written Features
How It Works: Chicago’s City Council And The Mayor’s Office
We break down why the mayor has so much power, why aldermen get the last say in their wards, and how that affects what happens in the city.
June 7
How It Works: When Mayors Use TIFs To Steer Investment Dollars
Millennium Park, Lincoln Yards and INVEST South/West are three signature projects from Daley, Emanuel and Lightfoot. But what’s really going on?
June 28
Could A Ward Map Drawn By Citizens, Instead Of Aldermen, Become A Reality In Chicago?
Aldermen currently draw the ward map — resulting in weird shapes critics say empower politicians, not the people. One group is trying to change that.
June 28
Community Events
Community Investment (June 3)
At our first 'Re-Imagine Chicago' Community Forum, our panel considered how Chicago can work to lift up residents, improve civic engagement and enhance quality of life. From taxes, opportunity zones, private capital, revitalization efforts and economic priorities, community investment is constantly a topic of conversation in Chicago. We discussed Chicago’s community investment priorities, bold approaches from other cities and innovative ideas from a diverse group of local civic leaders, and we highlighted successful reform strategies that have revitalized U.S. cities and connect with local activists, policymakers and community members to re-imagine how new approaches to community investment might build a more equitable Chicago.
Public Safety (July 7)
Public safety remains a fiercely-debated topic both nationally and locally. Cities big and small across the U.S are rethinking police size, oversight, funding and responsibilities. In Chicago, home to the second-largest police force in the nation, many including Mayor Lightfoot, our city council and local activists are exploring ways we might change policing for the better. At our Public Safety forum, we learned more about Chicago’s public safety priorities, bold reforms from other cities and insights into innovative ideas from a diverse group of local civic leaders. We connected with local activists, policymakers, police officers and community members to re-imagine how new approaches to policing might build a more equitable Chicago.
Education (August 26)
Like many aspects of the pandemic, schooling looked radically different over the past year and a half as physical buildings were shuttered and students participated in a collective online experiment. The results of remote learning, expanded use of technology and learning loss are coming into focus as the pandemic continues to reshape American education. But for students, parents and advocates alike, what and how students should learn, and how to test what skills they’ve mastered , continues to be a raging debate. Here in Chicago many neighborhood schools have languished. And while the introduction of selective enrollment schools have given some kids opportunities, racial and socio-economic inequities persist. During our Education forum, we discussed our public school systems and considered other ways to do school, while considering other models of education that emphasize student mastery and cultivate a love of learning.
Capstone Event (September 22)
At our capstone event for Re-Imagine Chicago, we asked leaders, experts, and members of the Chicago community to dive deeply into some of the ideas we’ve heard this summer, heard more about the types of change you think can most impact the city, and considered the real implications of expansive structural changes on public policy that affect the lives of all Chicagoans.