Mobilize Chicago Inaugural Public Summit

The inaugural Mobilize Chicago Summit, presented with the Chicago Department of Transportation and the Chicago Architecture Biennial, is a half-day gathering that blends art, design, and civic imagination to reimagine people-first streets. Through a mix of workshops, installations, and hands-on experimentation, the Summit invites artists, advocates, neighbors, and the curious to step into the role of co-creator.

More than a traditional conference, the Mobilize Chicago Summit functions as a public intervention—blending art, civic imagination, and movement-based participation to explore people-first street design.

Rooted in creation and community, the day includes:

Opening Framing Conversation (11:00-11:45)

• A movement-based meditation guided by dance artist Hanna DiLorenzo, followed by a keynote-style session on imagination and public space from CDOT's Policy Director, Michael Kent.

Lunch & Helmet Decorating (11:45-1:00)

• A relaxed space for conversation and creativity, where attendees will use decoupage and mixed materials to transform donated bike helmets into personal artifacts of care and visibility—used later in the day for a participatory installation.

Design Ideation Workshop (1:00-2:15)

• Hands-on model-making activity that reimagines neighborhood infrastructure using everyday materials led by designer Danya Almoghrabi

Participatory Budgeting Simulation (1:00-2:15)

• An interactive exercise where participants allocate $1.5 million across competing public needs in a fictional ward.

Collective Installation Activation (2:30-3:15)

• A culminating session to co-create a suspended “bike grid” made of decorated helmets from earlier, activated by dance artist Hanna DiLorenzo

Closing & Raffle (3:15-4:00)

• Reflections, giveaways, and celebration of the shared visions sparked throughout the day.

Host or Publisher Mobilize Chicago