Bronzeville StoryWalks: Black Cornerstones Project x The Forum Cafe

Join Bronzeville StoryWalks and step into the living history of Bronzeville through a weekly guided walking tour and community conversation.
About this Event

Explore Bronzeville Through the Stories of Our People

Join Bronzeville StoryWalks and step into the living history of Bronzeville through a weekly guided walking tour and community conversation hosted at the Forum Cafe.

Each Thursday, we’ll explore the streets, stories, landmarks, and legacies that shaped Bronzeville’s Black Metropolis” era. Together, we’ll uncover the people, places, and movements, and institutions that continue to influence Bronzeville - and Chicago as a whole - today.

Every walk begins and ends at The Forum, one of Bronzeville’s most historic landmarks. Following the tour, participants are invited to stay for a facilitated community conversation at the Forum Cafe (318 E. 43rd) where we will reflect on what we learned, share personal connections to the neighborhood, and contribute to the growing Bronzeville StoryMap Project. Each participant will be treated to one free cup of coffee or tea from the Forum Cafe, with plenty of other other specialities available for purchase.

Whether you’re a lifelong resident, a guest, a history enthusiast, or simply curious about Bronzeville, these gatherings offer an opportunity to learn, connect, and help preserve community stories for future generations.

**This event series is a fundraiser, which is why you will see tiered ticket options when registering. Purchased tickets are transferrable to a different date through the Eventbrite page, but we do not offer refunds.**

(Contact [email protected] with any questions)

What to Expect

• A guided 30 - 45 minute interpretive walking tour of Bronzeville, under a half mile.
• Stories of historic figures, landmarks, cultural institutions, and community movements
• A 30 - 45 minute community discussion and reflection at the Forum Cafe with one free cup of coffee or tea per guest
• Opportunities to share memories, stories, photographs, and neighborhood knowledge
• Contribution to the Bronzeville StoryMap, a community-driven archive of local history and culture
• StoryWalks take place rain or shine, changes or cancellations will be communicated in advance whenever possible
• Dress for the weather and bring any mobility devices, accessibility supports, or personal items that will help you participate comfortably

Tour Dates & Themes

• July 2nd - The Great Migration and the Making of Bronzeville
• July 9th - Mapping The Forum's Neighborhood
• July 16th - Evolution of the Forum's Neighborhood (1850-2050)
• July 23rd - Transportation, Walkability, and the Making of Bronzeville
• July 30th - Reading the Landscape: Buildings, Streets, & Public Spaces
• August 6th - The Voices of Bronzeville Community Storytelling & Living Memory
• August 13th - Housing, Redlining, and Community Change
• August 20th - Civic Leadership and Collective Action
• August 27th - The Rebirth of the Black Metropolis: Imagining Bronzeville's Future
• September 3rd - Black Business & Economic Power
• September 10th - Building Community Wealth & Legacy
• September 17th - Love, Jazz, & Cultural Innovation of Bronzeville

Docent: Shani Smith, all dates except for 7/9 (Malaika Bergner) and 7/16 (Bernard Loyd)

Who Should Attend?

Residents, tourists, educators, students, historians, planners, artists, community leaders, preservationists, and anyone interested in learning more about Bronzeville’s rich history and future.

Accessibility

The walking route, under a half mile, is designed to be approximately 30 - 45 minutes at a comfortable pace with frequent stops for storytelling and discussion. Participants of all ages are welcome.

Please note that some sidewalks and walking surfaces along the route may be uneven and may present challenges for individuals using wheelchairs or other mobility devices.

We are committed to making StoryWalks as accessible and inclusive as possible. Participants with mobility, accessibility, or accommodation needs are encouraged to contact us in advance. Whenever possible, we will work with participants to select or modify routes and make reasonable accommodations to support full participation.

About the Bronzeville StoryMap Project

The Bronzeville StoryMap Project is a community-led effort to preserve and activate neighborhood history through storytelling, oral histories, walking tours, and community stewardship. Anchored at the Forum Cafe, the project seeks to strengthen connections between residents and visitors, history, and place while building a living archive of Bronzeville’s past, present, and future.

Continue to contribute to The Forum: https://secure.givelively.org/donate/urban-juncture-foundation/raise-the-roof-fund-the-forum