Welcome
Meet our featured artist
Thank you Partners
A word from our Presenting Sponsor, Pressure Washing Systems
Meet the CLA Street Team
Update from Mayor Lori Lightfoot
Keynote Conversation with Toni Griffin
The Loop's newest mural
Holidays in the Loop
Reflect, Reconnect, Re-ACTIVATE
SURPRISE performance!
Toni L. Griffin is founder of urbanAC LLC, based in New York, a planning and design management practice that works with public, private and nonprofit partnerships to reimagine, reshape, and rebuild just cities and communities. The practice designs, leads, and manages complex, and transformative social and spatial urban revitalization frameworks, rooted in addressing historic and current disparities involving race, class and generation. Over the past ten years, they have successful collaborated with several major U.S. cities on the cusp of just economic recover. Recent clients include the cities of Chicago, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Memphis, and Detroit.
Ms. Griffin is also a Professor in Practice of Urban Planning at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, where she teaches design studios and seminars also rooted in issues of social and spatial justice. She is founder and director of the Just City Lab, an applied research platform that investigates the ways design can have a positive impact on addressing the conditions of injustice in cities.
Keith Smith, aka "Afrokilla", is a Chicago based artist, who shares vibrant self expression through the groove of the streets! Five years strong, his true colors have been seen through live paining events, public murals, and rebranding local businesses. His artwork aims to spread spiritual happiness. His passion is to inspire people while giving back to the culture around him. In addition to painting during this event, Keith also designed the Re-ACTIVATE logo! You can learn more about his work HERE and find him on Instagram at Afrokilla.
Val Warner is the Emmy Award-winning host of Wind City Live, ABC 7 Chicago's popular afternoon talk and entertainment show airing weekdays at 1 PM and Midnight. Each weekday, Val brings fun to daytime television covering everything Chicago from politics to celebrity interviews and fashion, to what's on peoples mind around town. Her talent as host and interviewer contributed to Windy City LIVE winning three prestigious Chicago Emmy Awards for shows on bullying, breast cancer, and stopping violence in Chicago. She won another Emmy for her role in ABC 7's New Year's special, COUNTDOWN CHICAGO.
Lori E. Lightfoot is the 56th Mayor of Chicago. Since assuming office following her historic election, Mayor Lightfoot has undertaken an ambitious agenda of expanding opportunity and inclusive economic growth across Chicago's neighborhoods and communities, with early accomplishments including landmark ethics and good governance reforms, worker protection legislation, as well as key investments in education, public safety, and financial stability. Prior to her election, Mayor Lightfoot most recently served as senior equity partner in the Litigation and Conflict Resolution Group at Mayer Brown. Previously, she served as President of the Chicago Police Board, as well as the Chair of the Police Accountability Task Force.
A Gensler Principal and Registered Architect, David is a global leader of Gensler's Community Sector practices and leads the Chicago office's Community Studio. he heads up a team focused on research-based design for educational environments that is redefining the campus is response to today's digital-native student. Actively leading conversations with administrators, professors and futurists exploring the future of the campus, David and his team have published the results of several studies that show how space can support learning and transform the overall campus experience. David serves on the Academic Advisory Board at the University of Kansans School of Architecture, where he earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree, and he is working with the school to develop new curriculum for the profession's next generation. He is a former Chairman of the Board of Chicago Loop Alliance and remains an active Board Member today.
Michael M. Edwards is the President and CEO of Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA). Since joining CLA in 2012, he has been guiding efforts in promoting a high-performing urban experience that attracts people and investment to the Chicago Loop. He is a founding member of the Global Business Districts Innovation Club, a group formed in 2018, as well as long-time member of the International Downtown Association. Michael has past executive experience leading the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership and the Downtown Spokane Partnership, and was formerly a Principal at The Saratoga Associates. Michael is a recognized expert in downtown management and frequently speaks internationally on key downtown opportunities and challenges.
The Chicago Loop Alliance Foundation pushes the limits of what downtown can be for its residents, workers, and visitors. The Foundation seeks to enrich the Loop's public spaces through artistic expression and free cultural programming. By building a connection between people and the places they share, the Foundation creates an environment that fosters creativity, enhances the Loop's appeal, and celebrates Chicago's downtown as Everyone's Neighborhood.
Chicago Loop Alliance creates, manages, and promotes positive and inclusive programs that attract people to the Loop and accelerate economic recovery.