In celebration of the late Mayor Harold Washington’s birthday, Mayor Emanuel and the Chicago Public Library today announced a free, day-long summit exploring his life and legacy on Monday, May 9, 2016 at the Harold Washington Library Center. The summit is being held in collaboration with the Mayor Harold Washington Legacy Committee, The HistoryMakers and the Chicago Urban League, with support from the Chicago Public Library Foundation.

The Mayor Harold Washington Summit consists of three sessions that will highlight the ways in which Mayor Washington’s legacy continues to enrich the city. The sessions include two panels, one moderated by Art Norman and the other by Robin Robinson, and a keynote address by thought-leader and author, Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry. This event is open to the public. Registration is requested.

“People believed in Harold Washington because they knew Harold believed in them; in every person in every neighborhood, from every background,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Though his time was short, his legacy is long. This summit will reflect on that legacy and its lasting impact.”

Morning Panel, 10:15 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Join the morning panel discussion, moderated by journalist Art Norman, exploring Mayor Washington’s life, advocacy and work up to the time of his election as Mayor of Chicago.

Panelists include David Orr, Jacky Grimshaw, Eddie Read and Adam Green

Afternoon Panel, 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

The afternoon panel, moderated by journalist Robin Robinson, will discuss the time during which Harold Washington was Mayor of Chicago and the approach in which he influenced the direction of the city and its citizens. Panelists include Laura Washington, Rebecca Sive, Christopher Reed and Helen Shiller

Keynote Address, 6:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m.

Dr. Melissa Harris-Perry will discuss how Mayor Washington’s contributions continue to positively impact Chicago. Dr. Harris-Perry is the Maya Angelou Presidential Chair at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, Executive Director of the Pro Humanitate Institute and founding director of the Anna Julia Cooper Center.

“It’s an honor to host this event in the building not only named after Mayor Washington, but also what was one of his key accomplishments,” said Chicago Public Library Commissioner Brian Bannon. “Harold Washington Library Center has anchored the City’s public library system, propelling it to world-class status, and this summit is an opportunity to bring our community together for civic and cultural discussion.”

Although Mayor Harold Washington served for what seems like a brief four years in office, he left an indelible signature on the city of Chicago. Some of his keynote accomplishments include achieving more balanced economic development between the neighborhoods and downtown, increasing the number of underrepresented groups in city government and in city contracts, making government more accountable, creating a city-wide cultural plan, and leading the effort to build a new central library that helped re-vitalize the South Loop. Of his legacy, he said: “I hope someday to be remembered by history as the Mayor who cared about people and who was, above all, fair.”

Registration information can be found here.

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Since 1873, the Chicago Public Library (CPL) has encouraged lifelong learning by welcoming all people and offering equal access to information, entertainment and knowledge through innovative services and programs, as well as cutting-edge technology. Through its 80 locations, the Library provides free access to a rich collection of materials, both physical and digital, and presents the highest quality author discussions, exhibits and programs for children, teens and adults. CPL received the Social Innovator Award from Chicago Innovation Awards; won a National Medal for Library Services from the Institute for Museum and Library Services; was named the first ever winner of the National Summer Learning Association’s Founder’s Award in recognition of its Summer Learning Challenge; and was ranked number one in the U.S., and third in the world by an international study of major urban libraries conducted by the Heinrich Heine University Dusseldorf in Germany. For more information, please call 312.747.4050 or visit chipublib.org.