Why You Should Do It - Chicago Ideas Week

Have you ever been surrounded by such a passionate and motivating group of people that you can actually feel the electrifying energy all around you? That feeling you get when you hear a speech so powerful, so moving, that it sends chills down your arms, and causes tears to form in the corner of your eyes, tears that you can’t quite figure out how to hold back.

I give you Chicago Ideas Week (CIW).

CIW is an inspiring and thought-provoking annual gathering of global leaders brought together to encourage innovation and change. The goal is to challenge Chicagoans to connect, innovate, and turn ideas into actionable results that positively impact the community.

Yes, there are thousands of conferences that bring together talented people, so what’s so different about CIW?

CIW connects the city of Chicago with inspiring leaders for a very low cost. Events are priced at $15 each, and anyone can purchase them – no fancy membership needed - making access to information more feasible. If $15 per event is out of your budget, or if you simply want to be part of the action, you can sign up as a volunteer and get all the knowledge you can handle, at no cost!

Volunteering for CIW last year was one of the highlights of my six month stay in Chicago. As a volunteer, I was able to meet so many great people that are just as eager to learn and be inspired as I am.  We listened to tremendous thought leaders share their stories and electrify thousands of people in Chicago.

Here are a few highlights of my CIW experience. 

IBM's David Bartlett speaking at Cities: Concrete Solutions

CIW Talks

Last year’s CIW hosted incredible minds, from bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell to Apollo 11 Astronaut Dr. Buzz Aldrin, designer and philanthropist Donna Karan, to seven-time NBA All-Star, and Blue Devil extraordinaire Grant Hill. Explorers, professors, astrophysicists, ambassadors, CEOs, philanthropists, entrepreneurs; the list goes on and on. What these speakers all had in common was an immeasurable passion for their craft, an ability to empower, and the desire to make a meaningful impact on the Chicago community.



Building an Army of Citizen Scientists by +Gregg Treinish

Gregg Treinish taught us that passions and hobbies can change the world in the most unimaginable ways. Gregg walked for 667 days from Papallacta, Ecuador to Tierra Del Fuego in the Southern tip of Argentina. Yes, you read that right, walked. Although his perseverance and drive are beyond admirable, that’s not what inspired me most about Gregg’s story. Gregg found a way to turn his love for the outdoors into a way to make the world a better place. 

Gregg founded Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation, an organization that equips adventurers with the tools to collect and preserve data for environmental researchers and scientists. Now he, along with hundreds of explorers worldwide, get to do what they love, while making the world a better place, one sample at a time. Gregg's ability to turn his passion into a way to contribute to our society is commendable. His story has challenged me to evaluate how I could turn the things that I enjoy into ways of giving back to my community.

Stand Up for Hip-Hop by +Toni Blackman

Highly respected artist and entrepreneur, Toni Blackman, is the first Hip Hop

artist selected to work as a Cultural Ambassador with the U.S. Department of State. Toni uses her outstanding musical abilities to uplift, encourage social responsibility, and to help others share their message across the globe.

During her CIW Talk, Toni gave insight on her art residency in the Congo. She, along with a Congolese hip hop leader, coordinated with native artists to create a public service announcement that raised awareness about the appalling rate of violence against women, who are used as war weapons in the Congo. Toni utilizes a medium that is relatable and contagious to spread thought-provoking ideas and raise awareness. A quick look at her work will convince you of that.

One of the many perks of being a CIW volunteer is often getting to interact with the speakers. While setting up for her book signing, I was able to speak with Ms. Blackman.

For a while, I’ve felt that I should be contributing to the bigger picture, helping others in some way; I just haven’t figured out what my "medium" should be. Toni asked me a series of questions that forced me to be very honest with myself. I realized how passionate I am about creating accessible means of education, about empowering through knowledge, and about helping others improve their self esteem and understand their worth.

The most important thing Toni taught me is that although right now I don’t know exactly what my contribution will be, or how I can make the biggest impact, I can’t sit still, that won’t give me any answers. I need to go out into the world and try something, and then try something else, until I find my passion, and figure out my very own way of making a difference. And that’s exactly what I have been working towards.

No matter the medium, passion is contagious. If you are passionate about a cause, work on it, and start getting others passionate about it too.

More CIW Fun

There were so many other CIW Talks that I found impactful, and addressed very important issues that not only affect the city of Chicago, but issues that we are facing worldwide. Here are a few other CIW Talks I enjoyed:

Cities: Concrete Solutions

Witness: I Changed History

Explorers: Choose Your Own Adventure

The Show Must Go On

Unfortunately, this year I won't be able to attend CIW, since I am living in Mexico, but I will be sure to catch the Talks as soon as they are posted online! 

There are so many aspects to Chicago Ideas Week that it is sure to have something for everyone! As you can see, I had an amazing experience volunteering for CIW and I am an advocate of what they are working to accomplish.

Chicago Ideas Week 2014 has been scheduled from October 13th to the 19th, and the lineup is as great as expected. For a complete schedule, visit Chicago Ideas Week.

To join all the fun backstage and be a part of such an excellent movement, become a volunteer! There are so many ways to get involved.

And if you're feeling a series case of FOMO (fear of missing out), you can find a complete list of past chats and get caught up on all the fun.

Here are more shots of my CIW experience:

CIW Volunteers

Cartoonist Ed Piskor

With comedian Niecy Nash after "Comedy:It's Funny 'Cause It's True"

CIW Volunteers with comedian Kelly Oxford

Fitz and the Trantrums at the CIW after party