FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, June 21, 2024
CONTACT:
Press@Chicago2024.com
ICYMI: Democratic National Convention Officials Tour LGBTQ+ Businesses Ahead of Chicago DNC
Chicago, IL – ICYMI: Yesterday, Chicago 2024 Host Committee Executive Director Christy George and Senior Director for Civic and Community Engagement Mo Green were joined by Congressman Mike Quigley, Alderman Bennett Lawson, Alderperson Angela Clay, The Mayor’s Advisory Council on LGBTQ+ Affairs Chair Jin-Soo Huh, and Northalsted Business Alliance Vice President Mike Liberson took a tour of several LGBTQ+-owned businesses in the Lakeview Neighborhood. During Pride month, and all year long, the convention team is focused on uplifting the diversity of Chicago’s small business community and ensuring convention visitors are aware of the variety of local venues and vendors available to them this August.
“We expect over 150 to 200 million in economic impact and we want to get that impact into the neighborhoods just like North Halsted,” DNC Chicago 2024 Host Committee Executive Director Christy George said.
“Part of our job as a hosting is to make sure that that is equitably distributed, especially to growing businesses,” DNC Senior Director of Community and Civic Engagement Mo Green said.
Side Track, a bar that has been welcoming the LGBTQ+ community for over four decades, is ready. “We have been contacted by some organizations that have been doing some special events and welcoming events for politicians that our LGBTQ from various areas of the country that will be here for the convention,” Balof said.
Making sure gay-owned businesses get a piece of the DNC pie is not the only goal, Democrats want to make sure the convention gets the LGBTQ+ community excited to vote in November.
Back in February the Host Committee launched its DNC Vendor Directory and Venue Map. The vendor directory and venue map aim to connect the 50,000 delegates and other visitors to the wealth of local vendors available in Chicago leading up to, during, and after the convention. The vendor directory has already been shared with state parties, allied groups, and other stakeholders to use in the planning of their ancillary convention events.
The Host Committee has organized a number of business walks in various neighborhoods throughout the city to encourage sign ups for the resources. Senator Tammy Duckworth, the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, and local elected officials joined the Host Committee in February to tour AAPI-owned businesses ahead of Lunar New Year. During Women’s History Month, Governor Pritzker, Lt. Governor Stratton, Congresswoman Schakowsky and the Andersonville Chamber toured women-owned businesses in Edgewater. More community walks are planned for the weeks ahead.
After the convention, the vendor directory will be shared with Chicago’s local chambers of commerce, tourism entities like Choose Chicago and Enjoy Illinois, and other large-scale event planners. Vendors and venues can still sign up to be included in the directory and map by filling out the Vendor Interest Form on the Host Committee’s website. Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis and updated weekly.
###