FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(CHICAGO, Septiembre, 2024) Out of 350 nominees, Openlands has been selected as one of the Top 100 Finalists still in the running for the 23rd annual Chicago Innovation Awards. The awards celebrate the most innovative new products and services in the Chicago region across all organization sizes, sectors and industries. Over 700 business and civic leaders will come together to honor the winners when they are announced on November 14th at the UIC Forum.
The African American Heritage Water Trail was created to better connect people to the Little Calumet River and raise awareness of the significant history that the region contains. The Little Calumet River flows through several south-side Chicago neighborhoods and 180 years of African American history, including sites like Ton Farm, which served as a stop for freedom seekers navigating the Underground Railroad. After launching in 2020, the trail received substantial press attention, including a feature in the New York Times’ ’52 Places For A Changed World’ list.
According to Laura Barghusen, Openlands’ Director of Restoration and Trails and one of the organizers of the internship program, the internship was born out of a need to meet the increased demand for interest from the public to get out on the water and tour the African American Heritage Water Trail. The internship was created to train local youth to interpret the trail, which has the dual benefit of employing youth in the area to learn valuable job skills while also attracting positive attention and investment to the area.
“Chicago continues to rise as a global hub of innovation that cuts across industries, large corporations and startups, for-profits and non-profits,” said Luke Tanen, President and CEO of Chicago Innovation. “The impact that this year’s nominees generated is profound – their new products and services generated $4.2 billion in revenues and created over 5,900 new jobs.”
As one of the Top 100 Finalists Openlands will receive a $2,500 scholarship to attend The Practical Innovator, a day-long executive education course on October 1st led by top faculty who teach innovation at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
Each of the Top 100 Finalists is also in the running for the annual “People’s Choice Award,” selected through online balloting at https://chicagoinnovation.com/nominations/
Out of the Top 100 Finalists, the judges will select 20 winners of the Chicago Innovation Awards. In addition to being celebrated at the Chicago Innovation Awards on November 14th, the winners will be invited to ring the Nasdaq Bell in New York City and receive widespread media recognition.
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