Women in Planning and Development Chicago

Join us for WP&Drinks on Tuesday, December 3, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at Cafe Bionda, a cozy Italian spot in the South Loop with a signature martini list, two mahogany bars, and an open kitchen vibe. Let’s sip, snack, and chat about all things related to Women in Development and Planning. Don’t miss it—we’ll save you a seat! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gvJKJ3Xg.

On Friday, members left their usual work spots and joined us across Chicago for WP&D’s first-ever Coworking Day! With laptops in hand and friends by their sides, participants connected, created, collaborated, and chilled in style. It was the perfect way to wrap up the week, and we loved seeing so many faces. Stay tuned—we’ll announce the locations for the next round of coworking days soon!

What a holly jolly time at The Promontory for the Winter Hyde Park Farmers Market! From festive brunch vibes to live performances by the incredible Zion Ali and DJ Elijah Horton, the event was a wonderful kick-off to the winter season. Local vendors brought the magic with unique gifts and goodies, making holiday shopping easy. A huge thank you to the South East Chicago Commission (SECC), Downtown Hyde Park Chicago, and Alderman Desmon Yancy for throwing an event full of community connections and cheer! To everyone who came and supported local businesses—thank you! Here’s to keeping the joy flowing all season long!

Sending some ‘Good Vibes’ your way today! We're thrilled to spotlight WP&D's incredible Programs Co-Chair, Diane Burnham, MBNA. Diane was honored to be an International Delegate and Panelist at the HUB Montréal Focus-Market Panel in Chicago. Congrats, Diane! "I was extremely humbled and honored to be selected as an International Delegate, representing the South East Chicago Commission (SECC) on the Chicago Focus Market panel at HUB Montreal. It is important to be able to highlight Chicago, but the Southside in particular. The international perspective of Chicago is often centered on Michigan Avenue or Navy Pier. Still, Chicago is made up of 77 unique and vibrant neighborhoods, and I had the opportunity to focus on Chicago's Southside. Often, there is a misperception about Chicago's Southside. My goal was to help the audience see Chicago on a local neighborhood level and dispel negative stereotypes about the Southside, instead focusing on opportunity, economic attraction, community development, and, of course, the people's history, culture, and diversity. Chicago's Southside is the home of the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, the Great Migration of African Americans, the rise of Jazz/Blues/House Music, and so much more. We have the DuSable Museum of African American History to the west, the prestigious University of Chicago in the middle, and the future Obama Presidential Center to the east."

WP&D invites you to our first-ever Coworking Day! Are you a WP&D member working remotely on Fridays? This Nov 22 from 10 am to 2 pm, break out of your usual spot and join us across Chicago for a fresh coworking experience! Bring a friend, grab your laptop, and get ready to collaborate, create, connect, and chill. Explore the locations and stop by whichever one is most convenient for you! - Bridgeport @ Base Community Cafe (1200 W 35th St), Host: Kelsey Zlevor, MCRP - Bucktown @ Truce (1935 N Damen Ave), Host: Francesca Sallinger Lawrence, AICP - Lincoln Square @ The Green Post (4749 N Rockwell St), Host: Abigail Rose Let’s wrap up your week on a high note. We can’t wait to see you there! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gfHvbAYR.

Join us at The Promontory (1511 E. 53rd Street) on Saturday, November 16, for a festive kick-off to the Hyde Park Holiday Makers Market! Swing from 11 am to 1 pm for brunch vibes, live performances, and a fantastic lineup of local vendors perfect for seasonal shopping. Grab a drink with friends to keep the holiday cheer flowing! Plus, enjoy a complimentary breakfast sandwich on us. Be there early, stay late, and make it a day to remember! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gZQJDANu.

What an incredible event! Thank you to everyone who joined us for October’s Small Talks—your energy and engagement made it truly special! A huge shoutout to our guest speaker, Karen Liu-Yates, for sharing her invaluable insights into fostering community investment. Karen’s dedication through both her professional and volunteer work is an inspiration to us all, proving just how powerful local neighborhood support can be. We had an amazing time connecting, learning, and growing together, and we can’t wait to see you at our next Small Talk! Keep an eye out for more details soon—exciting things are coming!

A heartfelt thank you to Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, especially Liz Butler and Braeden Lord, for their dedication and expertise in modernizing our bylaws. Their attention to detail has better equipped us to serve our members. With over 135 years of history, Taft Law is a firm that embraces progress. They foster a transparent, inclusive workplace that promotes creativity, teamwork, and client success. Taft is also deeply committed to giving back through charitable contributions and pro bono work. With a unique leadership model and a client-first approach, they consistently deliver exceptional results. We’re incredibly grateful for Taft’s charitable support of our community!

Thanks to everyone who came out for October’s WP&Drinks! Even with the location change, everyone’s good vibes made it an awesome night out in Lincoln Park! If you missed it, we hope to see you next time!

Location Change Alert! We’ve had a last-minute switcheroo for tonight’s WP&Drinks event at 5:30 p.m. Meet us at Takito Street at 2423 N. Lincoln Ave in Lincoln Park! We hope to see you there; if not, we’ll catch you at the next one. Thanks for your understanding and flexibility! Also, don’t forget: WP&D Small Talks with Karen Liu-Yates is coming up this Thursday–a members-only event you won’t want to miss!