From the CEO
There’s never been a better time to give back
Greetings Friends,
They say if you don’t like the weather in Chicago just wait five minutes, and that has never been truer than this year! As the days grow longer and the warmth of spring arrives, let’s take this time as a reminder to reconnect, give back, and grow stronger together as a community.
The IMD Commission has been busy working on community-focused initiatives the past couple months, from parks, to scholarships, internships, Earth Month events, and so much. This issue is all about the community, with information about what we and our partners have been up to.
View this post on Instagram
On February 25, we were honored to host students from Girls in the Game — a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that uses sports-based youth development to empower girls to find their voice, discover their strength, and lead with confidence — for a leader-to-leader discussion with our staff. The students had the opportunity to ask us about our career paths, life experiences, and give feedback about the design of the new park in the IMD. To learn more about their organization, click here.
Allyson Hansen on WTTW Chicago Tonight discussing the new park in the IMD.
In March, I was honored to appear on a segment for WTTW’s Chicago Tonight fifth anniversary of the pandemic special to highlight the location of the future park in the IMD that will also be home to a global monument to honor COVID-19 frontline essential workers. To watch the segment or read the story, click here.
View this post on Instagram
The IMD Commission team attended the 2025 Construction Summit on March 27 organized by the City of Chicago Department of Procurement Services to connect with the development community and share more about the development opportunities in the IMD, including 30 shovel-ready acres and 25 opportunity zone acres. With lab space, buildings, and lots available for lease, the IMD is open for business! To learn more about our exciting real estate opportunities, contact Chris Fahey, Director of Real Estate Operations, at cfahey@medicaldistrict.org.
View this post on Instagram
We kicked off the month of April with a staff excursion to our IMD partner, Vertiport Chicago. Staff got to receive a behind-the-scenes look at Chicago’s only helicopter landing facility and learn more about the critical role Vertiport plays in the IMD and throughout the Midwest as a hub for life-saving emergency medical service operations. In addition to air transport, Vertiport also offers sightseeing tours, unique event space, luxury car rentals, houses a Greyhound bus maintenance facility, and so much more. To book your next flight or to learn more, click here.
It’s also been a busy time for giving back to our community in other ways. Applications for our paid summer internship closed on April 7, and we are excited to welcome add a new member to our Marketing and Communications department for the summer. Applications also closed for our first ever IMDC Scholarship Program and we are proud to say that we are awarding ten merit-based scholarships to local students who demonstrated academic excellence and live in areas of hardship. We hope these dollars help them continue their studies and grow as future leaders, just one more way we are working to give back to our community.
View this post on Instagram
April is Earth Month, so we’re going green and kicking it off by hosting two electronics recycling events at the IMDC office on April 15 and April 24. To learn more or view a flyer to share with your organization or community, click here. We’re also hosting a street cleanup in the IMD on April 26 that is open to all, so if you would like to help keep the streets of the IMD clean and safe, please stop by.
Enjoy reading the rest of this community issue and hearing more about the work of the IMDC and our partners. I remain as inspired as ever to be a part of the IMD community and look forward to seeing all the great things your organizations accomplish this year. As always, please remember to shop local and support our partners doing great work in and around the IMD — including one of the gala fundraisers below if you are able, now more than ever every dollar counts. Happy Mother’s Day, Happy Memorial Day and I’ll see you at a community council meeting soon!
Sincerely,
Allyson Hansen
CEO and Executive Director
New in the IMD
New Park Update: WTTW, poetry contest, community feedback
Planning continues for a new park in the IMD at 2023 W Ogden Ave, directly across from the Gateway retail center, Cook County Health, and Jesse Brown VA Medical Center.
On March 11, CEO and Executive Director Allyson Hansen was honored to appear on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight as part of their fifth anniversary of the pandemic special for a segment about the park, which will also be the location for a new monument honoring COVID-19 frontline essential workers. To watch the segment or read the story, click here.
If you’re feeling creative, the COVID-19 Monument Commission is running a competition to become the first Poet Laureate for the monument with a grand prize of $4,000. To learn more or enter, click here.
Community members at the public engagement session offering their thoughts on the design of the new park in the IMD.
And on March 18, we hosted a Public Engagement Open House for community members to meet the project team and offer their input about what design and features the new park should have. Thank you to all the workers, neighbors, and families who stopped by to share your feedback which is invaluable as we work to ensure the park meets the needs of our community!
Adding additional public spaces and green space is one of IMDC’s strategic goals, originally identified as part of our Master Plan, and more recently, in our Bike and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan.
Keep an eye out for any future updates and opportunities for community engagement. For any questions, contact Chris Fahey, Director of Real Estate Operations, at cfahey@medicaldistrict.org
Join an IMD Community Council
If you’re eager to get more involved with other IMD partners and professionals, join an IMD Community Council!
IMD Community Councils unite stakeholders to collaborate, plan events, share ideas, and address key issues, fostering connections and proactive solutions to strengthen IMD’s identity and create a thriving, connected district.
Councils meet regularly throughout the year, so read on to learn more — and if you see one you want to join, email the organizer to be added.
Arts, Culture, Identity 🎨
Description: This council enhances IMD’s identity through art, culture, and wellness, supporting public art, events, and recreation to foster engagement and celebrate diversity.
Organizer: Noe Symonanis, Director of Marketing and Communications, nsymonanis@medicaldistrict.org
Development and Infrastructure 🏗️
Description: This council ensures development aligns with IMD’s Master Plan, promoting smart growth, sustainability, and accessibility for a thriving, innovative built environment.
Organizer: Chris Fahey, Director of Real Estate Operations, cfahey@medicaldistrict.org
District Security Group 🚓
Description: This group enhances IMD safety through information-sharing, emergency coordination, and technology, promoting a secure environment for all who work, learn, and heal.
Organizer: Cathy Kwiatkowski, Chief Operating Officer, ckwiatkowski@medicaldistrict.org
Education Council 🎓
Description: The Education Council links IMD institutions to share best practices, expand career pathways, and promote workforce development in life sciences, healthcare, and beyond.
Organizer: Nicole Vahl, Health and Science Program Manager, nvahl@medicaldistrict.org
Government Affairs and Advocacy 🏛️
Description: This council tracks policy, advocates investment, and aligns IMD priorities with government initiatives to drive innovation, healthcare, and economic growth.
Organizer: Gina Oka, General Counsel, goka@medicaldistrict.org
Sustainability Council ♻️
Description: This council advances sustainability in IMD by expanding green space, improving transit, and promoting eco-friendly initiatives for a healthier, resilient future.
Organizer: Corey Stringer, Operations Manager, cstringer@medicaldistrict.org
Garden Club 🌷
Description: Work with other IMD partners cultivating a healthy, sustainable community through eco-friendly plantings, gardening practices, education, and environmental stewardship.
Organizer: Allyson Hansen, CEO and Executive Director, ahansen@medicaldistrict.org
For general council questions or for more information, email info@medicaldistrict.org — join us!
Earth Month Events: Electronics recycling, street cleanup
It’s Earth Month and we have two events where you can get involved to keep our community clean and green.
Electronics Recycling
View this post on Instagram
Do you have old technology to get rid of? Donate them to be refurbished and provided to low-income individuals and families in need!
We’ve partnered with PCs for People for two electronics recycling events at our office in the month of April.
When
Tuesday, April 15 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Thursday, April 24 from 3:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Where
Illinois Medical District Commission
2100 W Harrison St, Chicago IL 60612
Please drop items off inside the front lobby of our building not on the sidewalk
We Accept
- Desktop or laptop computers
- Phones
- TVs and monitors (no CRTs)
- Computer accessories like keyboards, mice, or speakers Printers
- Hard drives and other computer parts
- Power cords and cables
- Servers and networking equipment
Items can be in any condition (new, used, broken).
We Do Not Accept
- Household appliances (including microwaves, refrigerators, and vacuums)
- Car batteries
- CRT (tube) TVs and monitors
- Copiers
- Anything containing chemicals, fossil fuels, bio waste, oil, liquids, powders, asbestos, or freon
PCs for People is a nonprofit and national leader in IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) offering certified data destruction and recycling services that have benefited over 500,000 people, redistributed 267,000 refurbished devices, recycled over 9 million pounds of e-waste, and helped over 77,000 homes connect to the internet.
Recycled computers are refurbished and distributed back into the community to support equal access to technology for low-income families, their warehouses employee adults from diverse backgrounds and with disabilities, and if items are not reusable, they recycle every component.
For any questions, please email Nicole Vahl at nvahl@medicaldistrict.org.
Street Cleanup
View this post on Instagram
Join us for a street cleanup in the IMD!
When
Saturday, April 26 at 10:30 a.m.
Where
IMD Welcome Plaza
1900 W Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60612
Meet at W Harrison St and W Ogden Ave
We’ll be spending a couple hours on Saturday morning picking up trash from our streets. We’ll supply everything you need, just show up. Thank you for helping to keep the streets of the IMD community clean and safe!
For any questions, please contact Corey Stringer, Operations Manager, at cstringer@medicaldistrict.org
IMD gala and fundraiser events roundup
Spring is always a busy time if you’re looking for fun ways to support our partners doing great work in and around the IMD. Read on to learn more about galas, fundraisers, and more.
Thresholds Gala 25 “Expressions of Hope”
View this post on Instagram
Join Thresholds for their Gala 25 Expressions of Hope, a celebration of the arts as a pathway to healing and growth. Their strengths-based, trauma-informed creative arts programs foster self-expression and create safe spaces for individuals and communities to flourish and recover.
This inspiring evening will highlight their client artists and their work, exploring how mental health and substance use challenges impact our world.
When
Thursday, April 24 from 5 – 9:30 p.m.
Where
The Geraghty
2520 S Hoyne Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
To learn more or register, click here.
Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center “Luminary Award Dinner”
View this post on Instagram
Join ChicagoCAC during Child Abuse Prevention Month for their 10th Annual Luminary Award Dinner, celebrating and supporting ChicagoCAC’s work investigating abuse, advocating for children and families, educating the community about prevention, and restoring the lives of children impacted by sexual abuse and other trauma.
The Luminary Award Dinner hosts 400 Chicago area professionals, community leaders, and other friends of ChicagoCAC who come together to celebrate and support their mission and vision.
When
Wednesday, April 25 from 6 – 9 p.m.
Program, Dinner, Live & Silent Auctions, and Paddle Raise to follow
Where
Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
120 E Delaware Pl, Chicago, IL 60611
To learn more or register, click here.
Guest House Gala Fundraiser
View this post on Instagram
Guest House is celebrating their 26th anniversary, and to honor this milestone, they are hosting a special gala The House Always Wins 2025 — featuring celebrity special guests
LeeAnn Trotter from NBC 5 Chicago, actor/screenwriter/producer Tim Kazurinsky, and actress Mariann Aalda. All attendees will enjoy Carnivale’s delicious Latin cuisine, custom cocktails (including a Make Your Own Mojito Bar), live entertainment, magic, and raffle!
The Guest House is a non-profit organization that provides temporary accommodation to medical patients, their family members, and military veterans in Chicago. They welcome patients of all ages and medical conditions, and no qualified guest is turned away for an inability to pay (there is no cost for military veterans).
When
Monday, April 28 from 6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Where
Carnivale Restaurant
702 W. Fulton Market St, Chicago, IL 60661
To learn more or register, click here.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at ksaffert@guesthousechicago.org.
American Red Cross Heroes Breakfast
Incredible heroes walk among us delivering kindness and making a difference every day. That’s why the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago is honoring individuals and groups for acts of immense bravery, dedication and service to the community at their 23rd Annual Heroes Breakfast.
When
Wednesday, April 30 from 7:30 – 10 a.m.
Where
Hilton Chicago
720 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60605
To learn more or register, click here.
Easterseals “Swing for a Cause” Golf Classic
Join Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford at their 43rd Annual Golf Classic for a fun and sun-filled day when people come together to celebrate their impact and mission. New this year: their first annual Pickleball Tournament, open to all! Sponsorship opportunities and raffle packages are now available, with exciting live and silent auction items coming soon.
For more than 80 years, Easterseals has been dedicated to supporting individuals with disabilities, young learners, and their families through personalized and empathetic services and expertise. Their mission — to embrace abilities and expand possibilities — has transformed thousands of lives each year. With your support, they can do even more. All proceeds benefit our education programs and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
When
Friday, June 6 from 8 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Where
Grand Geneva Resort & Spa
7036 Grand Geneva Way, Lake Geneva, WI, 53147
To learn more or RSVP, click here.
The Chicago Lighthouse “Seeing What’s Possible” Gala Benefit Concert
View this post on Instagram
Join The Chicago Lighthouse for an inspirational evening of music, purpose and community at their Seeing What’s Possible Gala Benefit Concert featuring performances from acclaimed vocalist Shelley MacArthur and renowned tenor Rodrick Dixon, backed by The City Lights Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Rich Daniels.
Their premier Gala Benefit Concert will take place at DePaul University’s Gannon Hall located within the Holtschneider Performance Center for an exclusive audience (that could be you!). Seats are limited so get your tickets today.
When
Friday, June 13 at 6 p.m.
Where
The Holtschneider Performance Center, Gannon Concert Hall
2330 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614
To learn more or register, click here.
Urban Autism Solutions “Carrots & Cocktails”
View this post on Instagram
Urban Autism Solutions is hosting a beautiful evening of community, connection, and celebration at its 2025 Carrots & Cocktails event benefiting young adults with autism and related disabilities.
Experience live musical performances, handcrafted cocktails and culinary bites, enjoy a guided tour of the farm led by UAS students, shop at the on-site farm stand, or try your luck in a raffle — there’s something for everyone’s interest and appetite.
When
Wednesday, June 18 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Where
Growing Solutions Farm
2200 W Campbell Park Dr, Chicago, IL 60612
To learn more or register, click here.
Snow City Arts Gallery Night
Snow City Arts will host hundreds of guests from Chicago’s philanthropic, medical, corporate, and artistic communities at its Gallery Night 2025. Enjoy cocktails, curated exhibitions, silent auctions, a three-course dinner, paddle raise, and so much more!
Proceeds from this event go to funding programs to inspire and educate children and youth in hospitals through the arts.
When
Friday, October 3 from 6 – 9 p.m.
Where
Venue West
221 N Paulina St, Chicago, IL 60612
To learn more or donate, click here.
