The Catalyst: August 2024

Greetings Friends,

Banners are going up, signs are printed, and the stage is set for Chicago to roll out the red carpet for 50,000 new visitors 11 days from now. When Chicago was announced as the host city for the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in April 2023, with the United Center to our north as the main event venue, the IMD Commission (IMDC) immediately got to work. As one of the City’s officially recognized neighborhoods, and a place where so many “firsts” and other medical breakthroughs had their beginning, we couldn’t let the opportunity to celebrate our IMD and Chicago pride pass us by. We decided to dream big, and after more than a year of planning, I’m proud to finally unveil what our team has been hard at work on.

The largest and most ambitious project was the construction of a new IMD Welcome Plaza. Located at the intersection of W Ogden Ave and W Harrison St, across from the Old Cook County Hospital Building and a short walk from all IMD hospital systems, the Welcome Plaza features large illuminated “IMD” letters, seating, and landscaping for the public. In addition to the work on the new Welcome Plaza, S Wolcott Ave will be “pedestrianized” with large planters and a ground mural to better connect the Welcome Plaza to the existing green space to the east. The Welcome Plaza was the first of five transformative projects identified in the IMD’s Bike and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (BPSAP) announced earlier this year. Stay tuned for more as we get closer to the opening, and please stop by the next time you are in the area.

We’re also activating our new Welcome Plaza on Tuesday, August 20 with the IMD Arts Fest 2024: Dream Big. After the success of our first annual Art Fair last year, we’re back with a new, bigger location, and a greatly expanded program of performances, activities, and food. The IMDC partnered with Cook County Health to open an area of the adjacent green space for the Arts Fest, which will feature art, dancing, food trucks, a flower truck, a farmers market, live music, and so much more. The Arts Fest is free and open to the public.

But we didn’t stop there. In the coming days and weeks, you’ll begin to see more visible improvements going up around the IMD. There will be new gateway monuments, new banners and signage, and we even branded the roof of our building at 2100 W Harrison St with the IMD logo. We’re also hosting a Street Cleanup event this Saturday, August 10 that will focus on picking up trash along our busiest roads to keep our community clean and safe. For more information about all the events happening around the City during that week, check out the Choose Chicago DNC portal.

As a critical zone for the City, we’ve been coordinating with law enforcement for months to ensure that the IMD remains open for patients and workers, open for business, and that we are prepared should the worst occur. We’ve hosted regular public update calls for IMD stakeholders on Fridays to share the most recent information we have received, escalate any concerns up, and serve on multiple DNC subcommittees. For more information about security maps and street closures, click here.

In addition to DNC preparations, on June 18 I was honored to be invited to speak at the Chicago Central Area Committee‘s June Member Meeting. The audience of architects and developers learned about the past and future of the IMD, and about why — with 30 shovel-ready acres on Chicago’s near west side — the IMD is primed for new development.

On behalf of the IMDC, we cannot wait to party with all of you during this once in a generation event. I hope to see old and new friends at the Arts Fest, and many more events across the City in 11 days. Follow us on social to stay in the loop with any breaking developments that impact the IMD, and as always, please remember to shop local and support our partners doing great work in and around the IMD.

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month, Happy Labor Day, and I’ll see you at the Arts Fest and Street Cleanup!

Sincerely,

Allyson Hansen

CEO and Executive Director

The IMD Commission has partnered with Cook County Health, G Events, S.H.E. Gallery, Vertiport Chicago, The Chicago Lighthouse, and The Stark Solution for IMD Arts Fest 2024: Dream Big!

When: Tuesday, August 20 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Where: 1900 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60612 at the corner of W Harrison St and W Ogden Ave

Cost: Free (open to the public)

We had a great time at our first annual Arts Fair last year, and this year we’re back with more food, more partners, more performances, and a new bigger location. Here’s what you can expect:

Art

• IMD “Wall of Firsts” Mural by Damon Lamar Reed
• Graffiti by Take2 and Fesski
• Dreamcatchers by One Lawndale Children’s Discovery Center

Dance

• Flamenco

Food

• Tacos by Masa Brothas
• Pizza by Pompei
• Poffertjes by Puffy Houzz
• Burgers by TJs Grill

Market

• Urban Autism Solutions Growing Solutions Farm
• Flower Truck by Flowers for Dreams

Live Music

• Choir by Soul Children Chicago
• Rap by Martell Hill
• DJ by Jesse De La Pena
• Mariachi Guadalajara
• Soul Funk by Sapphire Street

Fitness

• IMD Run and Walk Group

The event will span across the new IMD Welcome Plaza, S Wolcott Ave, and the green space across from the Hyatt Place IMD.

To RSVP to the event, click here.

For any questions, please contact Noe Symonanis, Director of Marketing and Communications, at [email protected].

The IMD Commission is proud to reveal that construction is nearing completion on the IMD Welcome Plaza — a new public space created for the IMD and west side community that will be an instantly recognizable gateway welcoming visitors for years to come.

Located at the intersection of W Ogden Ave and W Harrison St, across from the Old Cook County Hospital Building and a short walk from all IMD hospital systems, the Welcome Plaza features large “IMD” letters, seating and landscaping for the public.

In addition to the work on the new Welcome Plaza, S Wolcott Ave will be pedestrianized with planters and a ground mural to better connect the Welcome Plaza to the existing green space to the east.

The Welcome Plaza was the first of five transformative projects identified in the IMD’s Bike and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (BPSAP) announced earlier this year. Stay tuned for more as we get closer to the opening, and please stop by the next time you are in the area.

The Democratic National Convention (DNC) is only 11 days away and the security maps and street closures are now public.

The DNC will run from August 19-22 across two main venues, McCormick Place to the south and the United Center just north of the IMD.

Businesses and residents around United Center should prepare for security restrictions to start on the evening of Saturday, August 17 around 7 p.m. There may be some disruptions before then to allow for necessary construction around the DNC location.

United Center Road Restrictions Map

Beginning Saturday, August 17 at 7 p.m.

United Center Street Closures

Beginning Saturday, August 17 at 7 p.m.

• West Washington Boulevard from Damen Avenue to South Wood Street
• Damen Avenue from Jackson Boulevard to West Washington Boulevard
• West Warren Boulevard from North Leavitt Street to South Paulina Street
• West Madison Street from North Leavitt Street to South Paulina Street
• West Monroe Street from South Seeley Avenue to South Paulina Street
• West Adams Street from South Seeley Avenue to South Paulina Street
• South Horner Street from West Monroe Street to West Adams Street
• South Wood Street from West Washington Boulevard to West Jackson Boulevard
• South Seeley Avenue from West Madison Street to West Adams Street

For more street closure information, including sidewalks, parking, and reroutes around both venues, click here.

Stay Informed

To download the official City of Chicago OEMC app to stay up to date with all the latest DNC public safety information, click here.

To access the City of Chicago OEMC DNC public information portal, click here.

Follow the IMD social channels throughout DNC week for any relevant IMD public safety information.

Join us for a community street cleanup event in the IMD!

When: Saturday, August 10 from 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Where: Illinois Medical District. 1900 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60612. Meet at W Harrison St and W Ogden Ave

We’ll be spending a couple hours on Saturday morning picking up trash from our streets. We’ll supply everything you need, just show up. Thank you for helping to keep the streets of the IMD community clean and safe!

For any questions, please contact Corey Stringer, Operations Manager, at [email protected]

Registration is now open for the 2024 Rise to Shine Run & Walk in the IMD, Chicago’s only fully accessible race that prioritizes full access for all.

When: Sunday, October 20. Pre-race stretch at 7:30 a.m.; Race starts at 8 a.m.

Where: Illinois Medical District. 1310 S Wood St, Chicago, IL 60608. S Wood St and W Hastings Ave

Disability affects us all. More than 26 million Americans have a disability, and the Rise to Shine Run & Walk is an event that envisions a world without barriers to our physical and digital spaces, where everyone – regardless of ability – can be and feel fully included in their community.

Sign up as an individual, bring your extended family or create a team of friends — because when you Rise to Shine, you are committing to making our world a more inclusive, accessible and empathetic place.

To learn more, including how to register, click here. See you in the streets in 73 days!

Calling all golfers or just people who want to have fun and support a great cause! Guest House is celebrating its 25th anniversary with a new golf fundraising event.

When: Thursday, September 12 at 1 p.m.

Where: Indian Boundary. 8600 W Forest Preserve Ave, Chicago, IL 60634

Cost: $225 per person; $800 per foursome

Includes golf, cart, gift, all on-course contests and games, lunch, food truck dinner

To learn more about this event and how to support Guest House Chicago, click here.

Join Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center (ChicagoCAC) for their fall fundraiser honoring the “superheroes” who help support their mission to ensure the safety, health and well-being of abused children and survivors of domestic and sexual violence.

When: Thursday, September 12 from 6 – 9 p.m.

Where: RPM Events. 317 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

Cost: $175 per person

Featuring a signature menu, open bar, raffle prizes, and a live and silent auction, and live music

To learn more about this event and how to support ChicagoCAC, click here.