Downtown Day 2026

In 2023, My Block My Hood My City piloted a new initiative, Downtown Day, inviting youth from across Chicago to participate in a day of exploration, innovation, and radical hospitality. The program showcased the best of downtown to many teens who had never experienced it, despite living in the city their entire lives. Following the success of the pilot, Downtown Day will return for its fourth summer in 2026. On July 11, My Block My Hood My City will welcome 1,000 youth to downtown Chicago to explore, experience, and evolve. The organization is seeking downtown businesses willing to host and engage high school–aged students as part of this impactful day. Partnership is essential to the success of this initiative. Businesses interested in participating in Downtown Day 2026 are asked to complete the following steps: 1) Complete the business partner application form HERE 2) Attend one of the two Virtual Orientations via Google Meet Tuesday, May 19 Thursday, May 21 3) Submit necessary documents Business info/address Hosting Activity Summary Hosting time slot/slots Capacity info (how many youth can you host) The final submission deadline is June 5, 2026. We hope you’ll consider participating and helping create a meaningful and memorable experience for Chicago’s youth!