Program 3: Garfield Park Conservatory

Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the brightest jewels in the crown of the west side of Chicago. It's one of the best gathering spaces for almost anything you can imagine. 

For our Taste of Community, we wanted to highlight the elements that make a community gathering great. Our goal was to provide elevated basic elements and engagement with themes that all communities have in common. We asked attendees to share the song that made them think of community, and from that our gathering playlist was created.

Our DJ spun actual records—a nod to the intergenerational makeup of the room. We created crafts around the songs, asking everyone to create their own album covers. The seating was intentional, so we all faced one another as each of us shared the importance of community and how meaningful it is to gather. Everyone in the room was a community member who regularly planned community engagement and outreach.

Our food was catered and prepared by a native west-sider who contributed to the conversation about family recipes. We provided a cookbook and tote bag (because who doesn't love a takeaway). The gathering was joyful as evident from our pictures. Community often gathers to problem solve, vent, or give. Creating space for community to relax, craft, laugh, share, eat and just be was a reward all its own. We concluded with a hilarious and lively night tour of the Conservatory.

Taste of Community created a space to acknowledge and highlight Garfield Park residents who just so happen to be community leaders.

— Drea Slaughter, Garfield Park Conservatory