by J. Howard Rosier (MFA 2018)

“We're a city of 77 neighborhoods, and all of those neighborhoods are just wonderful people connected in some kind of way,” said Jacqueline Williams, executive director of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s (SAIC) Office of Engagement.

Williams’ job is inherently public-facing, encompassing initiatives such as community art classes and the School’s Homan Square campus in North Lawndale. Thus, it should come as no surprise that the bulk of Williams’ favorite places in the city are community-gathering spaces.

“It’s incredible to learn all of the things that we're doing throughout the city, with the organizations, our students, and our grad students,” she mused—at this point roughly seven months into the job after stints at the South Side Community Art Center (SSCAC), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), and the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center. Part of this education involves articulating the overlap between the South Side and some of SAIC’s most illustrious alums. This is her Chicago.

South Side Community Art Center

One of the things that attracted me to this position was the knowledge of the connection between SSCAC and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Some of its students were also founders of SSCAC back in the ‘30s and ‘40s, along with other local institutions. So that connection, and the fact that I worked there [as director of development] before coming here as well, is one of my main attractions. And it's just a great place to go and hang out. They have incredible programs.

Chosen Few Picnic

I love the Chosen Few Picnic, which takes place in July. And I think that’s because I went to high school in Hyde Park and that I am an ‘80s baby—which is kind of when Chosen Few was formed. So we used to be in the back of the Museum of Science and Industry, just a bunch of kids and house music and DJs. And from where it was to what it is now: it's just huge. It's a worldwide phenomenon. I love house music!

Lincoln Park Zoo

I also worked at Lincoln Park Zoo at one time and it was my first capital campaign in the fundraising world, but for visitors it’s all about Zoo Lights! I have to go every year, and for anyone who comes to Chicago in the wintertime around the holidays, it is a great place to visit. It's just fantastic for visitors or residents: the lights, the animals, the hot chocolate, it's just a win-win.

Mario’s Lemonade Stand

Open from Memorial Day to Labor Day, it is truly one of the best places to go on a hot Chicago day. There is nothing better than one of their cold, famous frozen lemonades and they use real lemons and all fresh fruits! My father grew up around Taylor Street, the near West Side, now home to UIC, and this was his neighborhood hangout. As children, he would often take us to Taylor Street to Mario's and Uncle Charlie's for pizza, which is now a fancy restaurant. But that's another story! ■