How Chicago Pathways Are Bridging Passion and Possibility

Logistics

Venues

Bar Tabu | Tue Oct 6 (401 N Morgan St, Chicago, IL 60642)

By Transit

• Morgan stop on the Green/Pink (0.3 mi)
• Grand stop on the Blue (0.4 mi)

Nearby Public Parking

• Fulton & Desplaines Self Park, 650 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60661
• Mid City Parking Lot, 810 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654
• SP+ Parking, 365 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60661
• 333 N Green St Garage, 333 N Green St, Chicago, IL 60607

mHub | Wed Oct 7 (1623 W Fulton St, Chicago, IL 60612)

• mHUB is located in one of the most bike-friendly areas of Chicago.
• The Green and Pink lines stop at Ashland and Lake just one block south of mHUB. The CTA 9 bus also has a stop right in front of mHUB.
• There is also free and paid street parking around the building on Fulton & Walnut. 

Hotel

The opportunity to book a room with our hotel room block ended on Sep 8 but you are welcome to contact the hotel directly to see if there is still space and if they will honor our group rate! Crowne Plaza Chicago West Loop (25 South Halsted Street, Chicago, IL 60661). Reservations: 800-972-2494 (9AM-8PM EST)

Additional Details:

• Reservations #: 800-972-2494 (9AM-8PM EST)
• *Please note that if needed luggage can be stored at the front desk of the hotel, or can be brought with you and stored on-site at mHub, during the convening events on Wed Oct 7

Agenda

Sessions

Opening Session: How do we prepare young people to thrive in a future where human connection, creativity, curiosity, and adaptability matter more than ever? 

Speakers:

• Liz Texeira, Britebound
• Shawnee Caruthers, Getting Smart

Fireside Chat: Uncharted Learning alumni reflect on the power of entrepreneurship programming in their K-12 experience in preparing them for their future and the state of the current workforce.

Speakers:

• Ty Lewis, Ty Lewis Speaks
• Victoria Andrews, Getting Smart
• Dominik Skorynko, Skorynko Media Group

Keynote: Kara Bickhem May is a change maker in education with over three decades of experience leading at the intersection of innovation and purpose. She currently serves as Executive Director of Arts & Partnerships for Art In Motion Creative Arts School in Chicago, and as a founding principal and Educational Partner with FREE TO DREAM™. Kara holds degrees in French, Vocal Performance, English, and Educational Leadership, and has shared her expertise on stages including ASU+GSV Summit, SXSW EDU, and the Social Innovation Summit. One of her published works, “Educating at the Intersection of Purpose and Passion,” reflects her belief that love is a radical act of educational leadership. Kara builds with vision, and dreams in color.

Speakers: Kara May, Art in Motion

Listening Session: A mini listening session featuring stories from The Advisory: Class of 2006, a multimedia project reconnecting with young people Andrew Frishman of Big Picture Learning advised at The Met in Providence who graduated twenty years ago. Twenty years later, what actually mattered? What experiences, relationships, interests, internships, mentors, choices, and opportunities ended up shaping who they became—and the lives and careers they built? And what might those lessons suggest about how we design learning, advising, and opportunities for young people now.

Speakers: Andrew Frishman, Big Picture Learning

Connecting Through Comedy!: Lincoln Lodge instructors will walk participants through the basics of improv and standup comedy, as well as tips for public speaking and performance.  Attendees will have the opportunity to watch and participate in youth friendly activities that can be brought back to their schools for implementation.  The following concepts will be covered during the session: “yes, and…”, active listening, being open to silly play, sharing your unique perspective, finding your voice & public speaking basics. 

Speakers:

• Sonal Aggarwal, The Lincoln Lodge Comedy Club
• Nick Mayer, The Lincoln Lodge Comedy Club

Future Founders: Hear from entrepreneurs aged 18-30 share about their journeys, and reflecting on what would have been helpful as a young person navigating future pathways, how they navigated the barriers and traditional systems, and how the broader educational ecosystem could have better prepared them to become an entrepreneur.

Speakers:

• Scott Issen, Future Founders
• Shavon Francis, Fleurish Chicago

Think Like an Entrepreneur: A Mindset for Every Classroom

Entrepreneurship is more than starting a business…it is a way of seeing problems, imagining possibilities, creating value, and turning ideas into action. In this interactive session, participants will experience a simple entrepreneurial process and Idea Model Canvas) they can use across subjects, grade levels, and pathways. District educators will share how they bring this approach to life with elementary through high school students, why these experiences matter, and what they learned along the way. Participants will get a chance to practice with this tool and take back learning to your teams. Together, we’ll explore how entrepreneurial learning builds creativity, problem-solving, adaptability, and agency so these skills can become part of every student’s learning.

Speakers:

• Christy Scott, Uncharted Learning
• Andrea Szczepanski, Naperville District 203
• Stacy Sniegowski, Uncharted Learning

Closing Session: Reflect on what we’ve discovered, the connections we’ve made, and the possibilities that have emerged. Together, we’ll consider what we’re taking forward, where we see opportunities for continued collaboration, and what it will take to turn shared ideas into action.

Speakers:

• Shawnee Caruthers, Getting Smart

Who Should Attend?

1. K-12 and postsecondary educator leaders who wish to share and learn
2. School counselors, advisors and student support staff who wish to better connect students to pathways, credentials and community-based opportunities.
3. Local and regional business and industry leaders who wish to explore opportunities for partnerships
4. Service and impact organizations looking to expand their reach or better understand how to support schools and districts

We especially welcome those not yet engaged in pathways / unbundled systems work and interested in exploring what’s possible!

Register

Name *

First

Last

Email *

Are you representing a district or a company/organization? *

• District
• Company/Organization

District Name *

Organization Name *

School Name

Job Title/Position *

Dietary Needs *

NoneVegetarianVeganGluten FreeDairy FreeOther

If you selected other in dietary needs, please give more information

Do you, or any members of your group, have accessibility needs we can accommodate in order for your full participation in the event? If so, please select yes, and you will be contacted by a Getting Smart team member to discuss your specific needs. *

• Yes
• No

For which nights do you need a hotel room during the event? *

Select all nights you plan to stay. If you do not need a hotel, choose the last option.

• I need a hotel room for one night, check in Tue Oct 6 and check out Wed Oct 7
• I do not need a hotel

For which day(s) of events do you plan to attend? *

• Only Tuesday 10/6
• Only Wednesday 10/7
• All events

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