Chatham Development Corporation will host the Chatham 2.0 Community Pop Up event from Friday, April 29 through Sunday, May 1 at 744 E. 79th Street. These temporary activities are intended to generate long-term retail and programming opportunities in the Chatham neighborhood. The event will kick off with an evening of live music and painting on Friday, April 29 from 6-9 p.m. with music provided by Jeff Gibbs and the Quartet. On Saturday, April 30 from noon-5 p.m. programming includes a Sip and Paint class with artist Xeno and Open Mic Set hosted by local Stann Champion and Roots Rock Society. Sunday, May 1 (from 2-6 p.m.) programming will include two yoga classes from Monica Swope of Learning Dimensions. Local supporter and architect Monica Chadha founder of Civic Projects has provided the design of curated displays with Urban Activators, an initiative affiliated with the students at the Illinois Institute of Technology. LISC has generously provided funding to Civic Projects and Wood Finishing Solutions for fabrication of these displays.

Two years ago, in the summer of 2014, College of Architecture faculty member Monica Chadha and several IPRO, Urban Activator, students developed a series of display pieces that could be demounted and used in different vacant storefronts in Bronzeville for temporary activation of the spaces. This was based on a lighter, quicker, cheaper approach to test retail ideas in under-serviced neighborhoods. Instead of spending tens of thousands of dollars on a single storefront the students developed pieces that were mobile and re-useable. The first pop up led to the success of several vendors including one company, Laine’s Bakeshop being picked up by Whole Foods. These retail pop ups continue to operate in Bronzeville. The concept has since expanded and a new series of pieces will be previewed this weekend in Chatham at the Chatham 2.0 Community Pop-Up.

This event is the result of a partnership with Chatham MMRP, Community Investment Corporation (CIC) and Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS). Local supporter and architect Monica Chadha founder of Civic Projects has provided the design of curated displays with Urban Activators, an initiative affiliated with the students at the Illinois Institute of Technology. LISC has generously provided funding to Civic Projects and Wood Finishing Solutions for fabrication of these displays.