Sundays on State

Over the summer of 2021, the Chicago Loop Alliance organized one of the most successful city events, Sundays on State. During this month long event every Sunday State street would fill up with booths ranging from local food and apparel vendors, city and cultural organizations, musicians and artists showcasing their work, and even various bands and theater groups performing live on a stage set up on the end of the street. The street, jam-packed with loop locals, Chicago residents, and tourists became a lively atmosphere where music filled the gaps and conversations between strangers flourished. 

 With elections coming up, our school GCE Lab School partnered with Illinois to register voters. In effort to push residents to vote we set up a "vendors" booth. As students we were offered the opportunity to volunteer and help get interested individuals to register. There we were given clipboards, flyers with information, signs, and pens to give to anyone interested in registering. With all the materials we needed we got to encouraging potential voters to register. 

Hiu To, Sundays on State, 2021

It was not easy going up to people and asking them if they were interested in being registered to vote. As teenagers who weren't ever of legal voting age getting strangers to pay attention to us on a topic we didn't have much authority on was not easy. Eventually though as we got friendly smiles and waved over a few people the confidence came naturally to us. We would kindly hand them pamphlets with information and if they were willing to we were able to register them on the spot through one of the iPads available. 

Although most of our time was spent speaking with people and informing them on how to register we still had lunch breaks and intervals where we could go out and explore the event. I was able to take in just how big my city was and all the different organizations, places, and people that lived in it as I saw everyone gather arounds booths and food trucks. This lead to an overwhelming sense of appreciation and pride to live in a city full of interesting places and people. 

AAG, Art on State, 2021

AAG, People Gathering Around Art, 2021

The Sundays I spent volunteering on State Street were full of lively memories as we endorsed a good cause and helped our fellow Chicago residents register to vote. I worked up the courage to talk to strangers for a good cause, bonded with my fellow classmates, and dwelled in the excitement of being at an event that embraced the multiculturalism and diversity of our lovely city, Chicago.