Community events happening in the southside Chicago neighborhood of Washington Park.
THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT OUR APRIL MEETING. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, CONTACT CAPS (312) 747-5109 OR THE WASHINGTON PARK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (773) 955-0199.
Join County Commissioner Dennis Deer, Congressman Danny K. Davis and State Senator Mattie Hunter for a Minister’s Lunch at Gotham Methodist Church.
Join the Apostolic Church of God and the CAPs Complete Count Committee as we prepare for an amazing 2020.
As the January 13, 2020 deadline to apply for the new L1 Creative Business Accelerator fellowship nears, creative entrepreneurs interested in applying for the inaugural two-year cohort are invited to learn more about the program, ask questions in person, and tour the new L1 space, scheduled to open in Spring 2020.
The L1 information session, led by Arts + Public Life staff and Proximity, The Silver Room Foundation’s urban planning and social impact arm, will provide interested applicants with a detailed overview of this new shared storefront retail space and collaborative learning opportunity for creative entrepreneurs. Guests will also have the opportunity to tour the L1 facility, housed inside the historic first “L” station built in 1892 on Garfield Boulevard in Washington Park. The 700 square feet of flexible storefront space, operated and managed by Arts + Public Life, will house three South Side entrepreneurs committed to scaling their creative businesses over the next two years.
Preference is given to creative entrepreneurs that:
- Are highly-motivated creative business owners.
- Already have legally established businesses.
- Are looking to expand their early stage to long-term in-home, online, or consignment businesses to operate out of a bricks and mortar location.
- Have a creative retail, service, and other arts-based business that serves a predominantly South Side customer base.
Arts + Public Life is partnering with Proximity to facilitate the accelerator program. In the spirit of one of Chicago’s earliest ‘L’ station facilities, L1 is designed to support an elevation-focused transformative process for participants. By providing over 700 square feet of flexible storefront space and 20-month curriculum-based, cohort model of services, L1 will provide creative entrepreneurs the unique opportunity to learn, launch, and build their networks in a structured and supportive manner. Through additional partnerships, including The Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of Chicago, L1 will work to eliminate some of the traditional barriers of entry to business ownership for creative entrepreneurs, while successfully diversifying the small business and employment options available for Washington Park and residents of Chicago’s South Side.
As Arts + Public Life continues to support opportunities for creative entrepreneurs to flourish on Chicago’s South Side, we are excited for you to learn more about this new opportunity and hope that you can attend the information session.
Learn more about the new L1 Creative Business Accelerator at https://arts.uchicago.edu/L1 The L1 Creative Business Accelerator is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Arts and Raymond J. Iwanowski. More details about additional accelerator partnerships and program specifics will be shared in 2020. Please stay tuned.
Learn more, ask questions, and tour the new L1 space at the L1 Applicant Info Session + Tour on Thursday, January 9, 2020, 6:30-7:30pm
A Night at the Museum returns for a third year to bring you a night full of good times and thoughtfulness. Last year thousands attended, providing over 18,000 donated warming items to impact those experiencing homelessness in Chicago.
SocialWorks will also bring to the museum 50+ event only activations for you to enjoy. A Night at the Museum includes special activities, performances, interactive spaces, giveaways, and tons of surprises around every corner! All guests are encouraged to bring toys, clothes, coats, and warming items for those in need.
A joy filled day where neighbors meet, businesses greet, and our entire community joins together to bring peace in the Washington Park Community. This year the Washington Park Chamber will work with local businesses and community organizations to produce a local business directory booklet for the Holiday season, and to curate a series of festive events including youth volunteers decorating our store fronts, Christmas Caroling and pictures with Santa! Our goal is to foster neighborhood pride, and to shine light on all of the positive things happening in Washington Park
This Saturday, 11/30/2019 is SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY! In collaboration with our committed community partners, The Washington Park Chamber of Commerce will launch a Shop Local, Business Directory Booklet before the kick off of Small Business Saturday (11/30/19) to encourage everyone to shop local. Also, for the second year in a row, the SECC, in partnership with the Washington Park Chamber of Commerce will be launching a campaign to continue to promote foot traffic in local businesses in our community. Look for our local business directory and our Small Business Saturday ad to “Shop Local” and enter for a chance to win a prize. (See offer below for details).
Shoppers that make a purchase at participating businesses will get a FREE entry to win a grand prize of a Southside Shopping Spree including a gift basket and gift cards from local businesses ($500 value)! Shoppers can self-report purchases online for a chance to win. Participating Washington Park businesses include:
Creativiti Custom Design
Evelyn’s Food Love
Peach’s Currency Exchange Cafe
Lola Belle
Shaun Barber Shop
WRight Fingerprinting Solutions
The grand prize will be drawn on Saturday December 14 at the Washington Park Chamber of Commerce Christmas on 55th event at 4:00PM. Winner does not need to be present to win.
Congressman Danny K. Davis will convene a Congressional Grants Workshop. This workshop will offer a wide variety of speakers to help you learn more about federal funding and foundations, growing trends in grant writing, and federal agencies, and their grant application process.
For many of our community stakeholders and non-for-profit organizations, there is not a comprehensive list of grant applications and resources. We hope that this workshop is a step in the right direction to help you learn about these processes so that our communities are better served.
Please RSVP
You’re invited to a community conversation with Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx. Hear about issues impacting our community and how the State’s Attorney’s office is working to make a safer, stronger Cook County.
You are invited to join Melissa Conyears-Ervin at the Women's Small Business and Entrepreneur Expo. The expo will include breakout sessions designed to help businesses grow, guest speakers and panels, raffles and more. Free Parking.
You’re invited to join us for the Washington Park Chamber of Commerce Friends and Family Night at Universoul Circus. Get your tickets for $18.50 https://oss.ticketmaster.com/aps/universoul/EN/promotion/home?utm_source=chamberofcommerce+&utm_medium=eflyer&utm_campaign=2019_chicago&j=3102729&sfmc_sub=906759169&l=6524_HTML&u=148265905&mid=1086525&jb=1 use code:WPCC!
For more information-Please contact wpcchamberasst@gmail.com or (773) 955-0199
Come out for 20th Ward Night at Kennedy King College, to discuss ward budget, restorative justice, and Metra.
In June we celebrate Men’s Health and Father’s Day. This June join the Washington Park Chamber of Commerce (WPCC) in acknowledging the men of our community.
The categories for nomination are: Businessmen, Strong Fathers, Resilient Leaders and Clergy.
One person will be selected from each category. Selected nominees will be honored at the Men of Virtue Business Networking Celebration. In addition to the award, honorees will receive a gift bag, gift certificate, and two complimentary tickets for themselves and a guest to the Celebration.
The Men of Virtue Business Networking Celebration will be held on June 21, 2019, 6pm-9pm, at the Washington Park Refectory, 5531 S. Russell Drive, Chicago, IL 60637. The program includes dinner, music, networking and great speakers covering topics on health, financial security and entrepreneurship. *Business attire requested and Adults ages 21& up event.*
The cost is $30.00 dollars per person. For tickets contact the WPCC Office at 773 312-8973 or wpcdhs@gmail.com. A portion of the sale of tickets will support the Christmas on 55th Street Holiday Event.
The Washington Park Chamber of Commerce will host a After Hours, Business Exchange & Networking Session on Thursday, March 28, 2019 at Ms. Biscuit 5431 S. Wabash Ave. Chicago, Il. 60615. Guest Speaker: Torrey Barrett will speak about the KLEO Art Community Residences and the economic impact it will bring to the Washington Park Community.
Where: Ms. Biscuit 5431 S. Wabash Ave. Chgo. Il. 60615
When: Thursday, March 28th 2018
Time: 5:30-7pm.
RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/washington-park-chamber-of-commerce-business-exchange-networking-event-tickets-57735323908 773 312-8973
