30+ years of ideas and inspiration Culture, creativity, and connection, shared through events and experiences you won't find anywhere else in Chicago.

Chicago Humanities connects people to the ideas that shape and define us, and promotes the lifelong exploration of what it means to be human.

We bring the world to Chicago while elevating Chicago on behalf of its citizens.

We share and shape culture through one-of-a-kind content. Welcoming leading figures from across disciplines and professions, we take our audiences beyond the headlines, exploring civic and cultural concerns and new ideas in pursuit of fresh perspectives that transcend personal experience.

We fuel creativity through inventive formats, frameworks, and programming that explores human ingenuity. Uniting art and science, technology and policy, literature and media, politics, and more, we bring a world of creativity and insight to Chicago stages while elevating and celebrating talent unique to the city we call home.

We cultivate connection through social gatherings and stimulating conversations. Giving audience members direct access to presenters, performers, and each other, we provide rich opportunities for fun, casual interaction before, during, and after events.

Schedule of Events

September 19, 2023

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Naomi Klein in Conversation at Francis W. Parker School

According to renowned social critic and author Naomi Klein, our world today is like a hall of mirrors, made up of conspiracy theories, AI-generated content blurring the lines between truth and fiction, and elusive digital doppelgangers. In this conversation about her newest work, Doppelganger: A Trip into the Mirror World, Klein offers a map to this untethered moment in history by combining chilling political reportage, piercing cultural analysis of our modern world, and stories from her own life. Join Klein on a white-knuckled ride into the dark heart of our hyper-individualized culture, and get her thoughts on how we might escape this mirror world and chart a path beyond despair.

8:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Novelist Zadie Smith at Francis W. Parker School

Literary powerhouse Zadie Smith is back with a new, highly-anticipated historical novel, The Fraud, which centers around the unforgettable Eliza Touchet and a real-life, explosive trial that divided Victorian England and asks who deserves to tell their story and who gets to be believed. Join Chicago Humanities and experience Smith's iconic voice in person as this beloved novelist and essayist discusses the relationship between truth and fiction, fraudulence and authenticity, and the mystery of "other people."

October 5, 2023

7:00 pm - 8:00 pm: An Evening with Keegan-Michael Key and Elle Key at Francis W. Parker School

Based on their critically acclaimed podcast of the same name, Keegan-Michael Key and Elle Key are excited to share their new book with the Chicago Humanities audience: The History of Sketch Comedy: A Journey through the Art and Craft of Humor. This book will take readers on a delightful and hilarious journey through the evolution of sketch comedy, stories of other comedic legends, and insights into the creative process behind crafting some of comedy's most beloved masterpieces. Join Vice President of Second City, Kelly Leonard, for a live taping of his podcast "Getting to Yes, And" as he leads a masterclass in humor alongside the Keys.

October 14, 2023

5:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Bob and Erin Odenkirk in Conversation with Peter Sagal at Northwestern University - Cahn Auditorium

Naperville native and award-winning actor and comedian Bob Odenkirk has teamed up with his talented daughter, illustrator Erin Odenkirk, as they share original poems Bob wrote with his children when they were young, as well as dozens of new ones–beautifully brought to life by Erin's whimsical drawings. Join Chicago Humanities for a hilarious and heartwarming night of laughter and nostalgia as this father-daughter duo sits down with the host of Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me! Peter Sagal to take us on a journey through Bob's legendary career, how his daughter felt about her father's comedy and life in Hollywood and the imaginative and playful pages of Zilot and other Important Rhymes.

October 21, 2023

10:30 am - 11:30 am: Improving the American Experiment at Fourth Presbyterian Church

While many democracies around the world have reformed their outdated institutions, America's constitutional system, which thwarts majorities more than any other democracy, has fallen into crisis, as a radicalized minority turns away from democracy. Come to Chicago Humanities for an in-depth conversation on the state of our democracy and what America can learn from other nations with a panel of esteemed experts including historian Heather Cox Richardson (author of Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America and writer of popular newsletter Letters from an American), Harvard professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt (authors of the New York Times bestseller How Democracies Die and Tyranny of the Minority), and led in conversation by the University of Chicago Professor William Howell.

This program is generously underwritten by Bill and Penny Obenshain.

6:00 pm - 7:00 pm: Queer Eye's Bobby Berk at Francis W. Parker School

Prepare to be dazzled by the transformative power of design with the Emmy-nominated host of Queer Eye, Bobby Berk. Why does the color of a room change how you feel? How can you decide what to get rid of or repurpose? And how can your home boost your mood? Berk's new book, Right at Home: How Good Design Is Good For The Mind, shows us how the power of exceptional design can ignite joy, elevate our mental wellbeing, and optimize our lives. With practical tips and inspiring anecdotes, Berk sits down with Asad Syrkett, editor in chief of Elle Decor, to share invaluable insights on how to unlock the true potential of your home to create your personal sanctuary of serenity and a happier, more fulfilling life.

November 1, 2023

7:00 pm - 8:30 pm: An Evening with Thurston Moore at Chop Shop

As a founding member of Sonic Youth, a band born in New York in 1981, Thurston Moore spent thirty years at the vanguard of alternative rock, influencing and inspiring such acts as Nirvana, Pavement, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, My Bloody Valentine, and Beck. Join this iconic artist at Chicago Humanities for an intimate evening of performance and conversation, as Moore performs a selection of songs and discusses his new memoir, A Sonic Life.

November 4, 2023

8:00 pm - 9:00 pm: Being Henry Winkler at Francis W. Parker School

Widely regarded as the nicest man in Hollywood, Henry Winkler's incredible career was launched by his iconic portrayal of "The Fonz" in Happy Days. Following his recent and critically-acclaimed TV roles in Arrested Development and Barry, Winkler is embracing the power of truth and self-fulfillment outside of showbiz in his new vulnerable memoir, Being Henry. The Emmy Award winning actor, producer, comedian, and director takes the Chicago Humanities stage, led in-conversation with his Barry co-star D'Arcy Carden, to reflect on the ups and downs of his life, all told with his signature charm.

December 3, 2023

3:00 pm - 6:00 pm: Montgomery and the Blacknificent 7 at Symphony Center

The opening of the 2023/24 CSO MusicNOW season illuminates works by a dynamic collective of Black composers, the Blacknificent 7. Highlights include a world premiere of a new work by Jasmine Barnes, Damien Geter's Annunciation — featuring Chicago favorite Russell Thomas, "a voice that marries Wagnerian stamina and Italianate beauty" (Wall Street Journal) — and Dave Ragland's Eight Tones for Elijah, a loving tribute to young violinist Elijah McClain, who was killed by the police on his walk home. Nimble and accomplished improvisers, CSO Mead Composer-in-Residence Jessie Montgomery and Carlos Simon perform of-the-moment interludes, woven between each piece on the program.

Curated by Mead Composer-in-Residence Jessie Montgomery.

Discover more about "The Modern Artist Collective" featuring members of the Blacknificent 7 in a preconcert panel. LaRob K. Rafael, artistic director of Hearing in Color and WFMT host and producer, hosts a discussion with members of the Blacknificent 7.

Presented by Chicago Humanities in collaboration with the CSOA.

Date: September 19-December 3, 2023

Locations:
Francis W Parker School, 2233 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60614
Northwestern University - Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut Street, Chicago, IL 60611
Chop Shop, 2033 W. North Ave., Chicago, IL 60647
Symphony Center, 220 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60604

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