My Block, My Hood, My City will host its third annual Downtown Day on Saturday, July 19, welcoming 1,000 youth primarily from Chicago’s South and West sides into the city’s downtown for a day of exploration, learning, and connection. The event aims to increase access and opportunity for young people who have historically been excluded from many of the city’s cultural and civic spaces.
Downtown Day begins with a 10:00 a.m. kickoff at Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park, where youth participants will enjoy a speech by Founder and CEO Jahmal Cole before they set out to explore key downtown destinations including museums, cultural centers, and local businesses. Youth will receive a Downtown Day T-shirt, a $50 prepaid debit card, and a list of participating businesses to explore in chaperoned small groups.
The event is designed to disrupt geographic and social barriers that have limited access to the city’s core. Many of the youth participating have never been downtown, despite living just a few miles away. Downtown Day challenges this status quo and provides an intentional, welcoming experience that allows young people to see themselves in new spaces and imagine broader futures…