Celebrating the Love of Literacy Annual Gala

Literacy Chicago will be holding its annual Gala on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at the International Museum of Surgical Science in Chicago. The Gala supports Literacy Chicago’s free adult educational programs and our mission to make Chicagoans’ lives better through education.

We chose this museum for our gala to underline the fact that many students come to us with a second or third grade reading level which perpetuates their Health Literacy challenges. Students are unable to comprehend prescriptions, navigate insurance programs, schedule doctors appointments, deal with Medicaid or Medicare, or do basic research on their own medical conditions.

In spite of the pandemic Literacy Chicago has thrived over the last 2 years. We succeeded in moving our in-person adult educational programs online. We were able to continue to grow our outreach program, strengthening our existing partners, and developing new partnerships across the city to provide free educational programs.

This year's gala will be an exciting event filled with food, drinks, and good company. Please join us to celebrate all that Literacy Chicago has accomplished and help propel our future success in helping the citizens of Chicago.

Keynote Speaker

Maudlyne Ihejirika

Award-winning Columnist and Author

Her honors include the prestigious Studs Terkel Award, top national and local awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Association of Black Journalists, and several civic awards. Maudlyne is President Emeritus of the Chicago Journalists Association, immediate past president of the National Association of Black Journalists Chicago, and Hall of Fame inductee at her alma maters, Northwestern University and University of Iowa.

Escape From Nigeria Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/EscapeFromNigeria/

Sun-Times Author page https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/maudlyne-ihejirika

Live Entertainment

Tim Fitzgerald Quartet

Check out our 2019 gala in the video below!