Office of the Mayor of Chicago

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Chicago Student Leadership Summit

Saturday, October 24, 2026 · 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. · The Chicago School

Convened in equal partnership by the Office of Education, Youth and Children Services, the Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement, and the Office of Equity and Racial Justice.

10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.

Your summit at a glance

Begin together, build two topic-based schedules and meet Chicago’s engagement groups in a dedicated whole-group exchange. Lunch takes place separately.

Arrival and Check In

Welcome area. Registration and refreshments.

Opening Welcome

Main room. Brief remarks from America’s Urban Campus, The Chicago School and Mayor Brandon Johnson.

Chicago Our Shared Campus

Main room. An interactive whole-group Chicago history and neighborhood experience with Tonika Johnson.

Summit Roadmap

Main room. An introduction to Discover, Connect and Build Chicago and instructions for the day.

Breakout Round One

Breakout rooms. A 30-minute experience followed by 10 minutes to join an opportunity and confirm next steps.

Lunch

Dining space. A separate meal and personal break.

Chicago Connections Exchange

Networking space. A whole-group interactive session led by engagement groups and councils.

Breakout Round Two

Breakout rooms. A 30-minute experience followed by 10 minutes to join an opportunity and confirm next steps.

Closing

Main room. Appreciation, follow-up expectations and departure.

Breakout registration

Build your summit schedule

Register once and choose one session in each round. Each session is limited to 25 students.

0 of 2 selected

Step 1

Student information

Boxed lunch

Tell us what you need for lunch. Please include any food allergies or ingredients you must avoid.

Accommodations

Do you need any accommodations to participate in the summit? Tell us what would help, such as accessible seating, interpretation or a quiet space. An organizer may follow up with you.

11:20 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Breakout Round One

Each session closes with 10 minutes to sign up, join or confirm a specific follow-up opportunity.

Select one
Discover ChicagoTransportation and affordability

Getting Around Chicago Safely and Affordably

Access Chicago through navigation, safety, affordability, innovation and the future of regional transit.

Partners: CTA and NITA

Join and next steps: Leave with fare and mobility resources and contribute one recommendation for college-student transportation access.

25 of 25 seats left
Discover ChicagoOpportunity navigation

Chicago Beyond Campus

Explore Chicago beyond campus through its neighborhoods, experiences, destinations, artists, public spaces and free city resources.

Partners: Choose Chicago, DCASE, Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Library

Join and next steps: Choose one Chicago experience and receive a direct pathway to participate.

25 of 25 seats left
Build ChicagoMental health and safety

Safe in Chicago: Students, Trust and Community Safety

Examine safety across campus, transit and Chicago neighborhoods; discuss trust and student voice; and learn how to remain involved in community safety.

Partners: CPD – Be the Bridge and Mayor’s Office of Community Safety

Join and next steps: Choose a concrete safety pathway by signing up for a beat meeting, specialized committee, community-safety follow-up or relevant resource connection.

25 of 25 seats left
Connect ChicagoBelonging

Belonging Across Chicago: From Campus Community to Citywide Connection

Build relationships across campuses through peer networks, student organizations, service and leadership.

Partners: Fraternities and sororities, AUC institutions and student organizations

Join and next steps: Join a cross-campus follow-up session focused on student belonging and contribute one recommendation that the convening partners can carry into summit follow-up.

25 of 25 seats left
Connect ChicagoCareer pathways

From Campus to Career in Chicago

Connect academic experience to internships, employers, public-service careers, mentors and professional networks across Chicago.

Partners: Career and employer partners

Join and next steps: Leave with one named career contact and one opportunity or next step to pursue.

25 of 25 seats left
Connect ChicagoCareer pathways

Chicago Is Your Studio: Turning Creativity into Career

Connect your creative talents and transferable skills to Chicago’s film, music, design, media, fashion, theatre, advertising and entrepreneurship industries. Students will hear brief alumni and industry perspectives and complete a Creative Career Sprint.

Lead partner: Columbia College Chicago, with alumni and creative-industry partners

Join and next steps: Connect with a named alumni or industry contact and opt into a career opportunity, mentorship, portfolio activity or Columbia-led follow-up session.

25 of 25 seats left
Build ChicagoOpportunity navigation

From Issue to Action: Civic Participation in Chicago

Turn an issue you care about into an action plan using voting, advocacy, public meetings and neighborhood leadership pathways.

Partners: Chicago Votes, Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice and Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement

Join and next steps: Choose one civic pathway and make one concrete participation commitment.

25 of 25 seats left

1:15–1:55 p.m.

Breakout Round Two

Each session closes with 10 minutes to sign up, join or confirm a specific follow-up opportunity.

Select one
Discover ChicagoTransportation and affordability

Getting Around Chicago Safely and Affordably

Access Chicago through navigation, safety, affordability, innovation and the future of regional transit.

Partners: CTA and NITA

Join and next steps: Leave with fare and mobility resources and contribute one recommendation for college-student transportation access.

25 of 25 seats left
Discover ChicagoOpportunity navigation

Chicago Beyond Campus

Explore Chicago beyond campus through its neighborhoods, experiences, destinations, artists, public spaces and free city resources.

Partners: Choose Chicago, DCASE, Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Library

Join and next steps: Choose one Chicago experience and receive a direct pathway to participate.

25 of 25 seats left
Build ChicagoMental health and safety

Safe in Chicago: Students, Trust and Community Safety

Examine safety across campus, transit and Chicago neighborhoods; discuss trust and student voice; and learn how to remain involved in community safety.

Partners: CPD – Be the Bridge and Mayor’s Office of Community Safety

Join and next steps: Choose a concrete safety pathway by signing up for a beat meeting, specialized committee, community-safety follow-up or relevant resource connection.

25 of 25 seats left
Connect ChicagoBelonging

Belonging Across Chicago: From Campus Community to Citywide Connection

Build relationships across campuses through peer networks, student organizations, service and leadership.

Partners: Fraternities and sororities, AUC institutions and student organizations

Join and next steps: Join a cross-campus follow-up session focused on student belonging and contribute one recommendation that the convening partners can carry into summit follow-up.

25 of 25 seats left
Connect ChicagoCareer pathways

From Campus to Career in Chicago

Connect academic experience to internships, employers, public-service careers, mentors and professional networks across Chicago.

Partners: Career and employer partners

Join and next steps: Leave with one named career contact and one opportunity or next step to pursue.

25 of 25 seats left
Connect ChicagoCareer pathways

Chicago Is Your Studio: Turning Creativity into Career

Connect your creative talents and transferable skills to Chicago’s film, music, design, media, fashion, theatre, advertising and entrepreneurship industries. Students will hear brief alumni and industry perspectives and complete a Creative Career Sprint.

Lead partner: Columbia College Chicago, with alumni and creative-industry partners

Join and next steps: Connect with a named alumni or industry contact and opt into a career opportunity, mentorship, portfolio activity or Columbia-led follow-up session.

25 of 25 seats left
Build ChicagoOpportunity navigation

From Issue to Action: Civic Participation in Chicago

Turn an issue you care about into an action plan using voting, advocacy, public meetings and neighborhood leadership pathways.

Partners: Chicago Votes, Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice and Mayor’s Office of Community Engagement

Join and next steps: Choose one civic pathway and make one concrete participation commitment.

25 of 25 seats left

Step 2

Confirm registration

Your email can be registered only once. Review both choices before submitting.