48-1117 Chicago: Access, Activism, Agency

In this course, we investigate Chicago as a hub for activism and social change through the lens of architecture, urban planning, design and the arts. Students will be invited to consider the physical and virtual places and spaces and objects that constitute and define the city of Chicago and the Chicagoland region. Students will learn of Daniel Burnham, the architect and visionary urban planner who, in the early 1900s, proposed access to clean air, green space, civic engagement and cultural life for Chicago’s residents. On walking tours and site visits throughout the city, students will examine and critically evaluate the current condition of Chicago’s urban and civic spaces against the backdrop of Burnham’s plan. Students will investigate how different people and organizations throughout the region contribute to access for services in health, nutrition, safety and the environment for Chicagoans. Students will be introduced to models of grassroots and community engagement that open up spaces for dialogue, action, agency and continued transformation and vitality.

3 Credits
FE
Requirements 14 earned hours or FF