Friends, family and other supporters gathered June 3 at Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St., to honor Windy City Times’ 30 Under 30 honorees for 2026.
The 30 Chicagoans selected this year have each distinguished themselves in areas including advocacy and community organizing, law, art, health care, politics and social work, among others.
The 2026 inductees included Caro Aceves, Aderinsola Akeju, Amari Amai, Frida Benitez, Arad Boxenbaum, Bri Cada, Keinan Carpenter, Joseph Castro, Ken Cavanaugh, Kylie DeWees, Cam Finley, Ainna Flaminia, Molly Fulop, Devin Gomez, Allan Ayala Hernandez, Esbeidy Torres Hondal, Jaheim Elijah Jones, Katia Klemm, D Little, Maricela Lugo, Tyris Manney, Angel Marquez, Cj Melendez, Jessie Meltzer, Rinley Parker, Binx River Perino, Elixis Richardson, Josue Rivera, Cicilia Robison, Troy Taylor, Tichike Tumalan and Skai Underwood.
The inductees’ complete biographies are here.
The 2026 sponsors for the event included AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Lime, Sidetrack, Stay Beautiful Foundation, Chicago History Museum and Lady Gregory’s, which donated a $50 gift card for each honoree’s gift bag. The honorees will also for the first time march as a unit in the Chicago Pride Parade on Sunday, June 28.
The 2026 selection committee included Andrew Davis, Dansen Mayhay, Christopher Pazdernik, Markus Pitchford and José Wilson. Pitchford and Kim Hunt co-hosted the June 3 event.
Photos by Joseph Stevens. More about each honorees here.
