The announcement of conference details was made at the Chicago Urban League March 18, the first meeting of activists interested in helping shape the local plans for the event, which will be based at the Hilton Chicago.
Mary Morten has agreed to be one of four local host committee co-chairs. The Task Force is in the process of interviewing other potential co-chairs, and a team of dozens of conference organizers, and hundreds of volunteers, will be needed to pull off the local hosting duties for the event.
However, much of the financial risk and detailed plans for the conference itself are coordinated by the Task Force. Sue Hyde, longtime conference director, was in Chicago for the launch event, along with Daniel Pino, conference assistant director, and Mel Braman, conference coordinator.
Creating Change, founded in 1988, is a place to learn skills, strategize key movement issues, share information, network, and more. The 2015 conference in Denver a few weeks ago attracted 3,887 people—43 percent were people of color, 47 percent were under 30 years old, 25 percent were transgender or gender non-conforming, and 9 percent identified as heterosexual/straight.
The local hosts are responsible for doing outreach, soliciting workshop proposals, fundraising for costs including hospitality food at six conference suites, and making sure there are local complementary events, among other responsibilities.
More details on host committee and other volunteer opportunities will be available soon.