OUR ALL-VOLUNTEER STAFF
Chicago for Chicagoans is a cooperative group of passionate Chicagoans who elect to spend their free time creating and managing events that highlight their city and its neighborhoods! Want to get involved? Sign up to volunteer here.
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PATTI SWANSON Founder & Executive Director Patti Swanson is an artist, historian, educator, event planner, and brickophile. Raised near Austin, Texas, Patti came to Chicago to pursue a degree in art history at School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She stayed to explore her Midwestern roots, to research the city's rich history, to eat all the food, befriend all the people, and shovel a shitload of snow. She has been giving tours in Chicago since 2012, and strives to make community history inclusive & accessible to everyone. In her care are two cats, a dog, several chickens, and a sourdough starter named Susan Yeast Anthony. |
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ANTHONY ALFARO Assistant Events Manager Anthony Alfaro was born and raised in Chicago's West Ridge neighborhood. After years of attending our events and leading North side neighborhood tours, Anthony joined our tiny-but-mighty volunteer administrative staff in 2022! When he's not exploring Midwestern backroads looking for thrifted treasures, professing his love for Woodstock, or sifting through Sanborn maps, you can probably find him at a local bar downing vintage cocktails and waxing poetic about Marshall Fields. |
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OLIVIA SOBIERAJ Marketing Manager Olivia Sobieraj grew up hearing stories of various Chicago buildings and projects from her architect mom, Jacki. After graduating from Indiana University with degrees in Marketing and French, Olivia began studying Chicago history in her spare time. She eagerly regals her family and friends with tales of the city! When not at her day job, where she focuses on Brand and Marketing for a Big 4 firm, Olivia enjoys learning about architectural preservation and equitable access to resources. Olivia has worked with Chicago for Chicagoans since 2018 in various positions from unofficial French/English translator to volunteer lecture coordinator, and now as a certified tour guide. In her humble opinion, there is nothing more joyful than to share a good story about her home with friends! |
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ELIZAVETA BONDARENKO Merch Manager Elizaveta Bondarenko is a passionate artist, designer, and recent arrival from Detroit to the vibrant city of Chicago. With a profound appreciation for history, architecture, art, and storytelling, Liza is thrilled with every opportunity to explore and learn more about her new home. Savoring good weather days to explore city neighborhoods, Liza delights in their distinctiveness, the thriving small businesses, and captivating art scene. Liza can be found immersed in fiction at a local cozy coffee shop, or taking new steps on her personal journey of creativity through drawing, painting and trying various crafts. |
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MORGANE CHIESA Volunteer Coordinator Morgane Chiesa was born and raised in France, where she enjoyed travelling and learning about the regional cultures of her country — like the legends of Brittany. After receiving her doctorate degree in neuroscience, Morgane moved to Chicago for work, and quickly fell in love with our lively city. During her free time, Morgane enjoys discovering new Chicago neighborhoods, strolling along the lakefront trail, spending time with her friends, and visiting the city's museums. She loves discussing and learning about other cultures, and hearing stories of people's travel experiences around the world. |
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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JULIANA GLASSCO
Board Member Logan Square, historic religious spaces, preservation |
LEYLA
ROYALE Board Member Andersonville, Uptown, theatres, music, population growth, and historic deaths |
AMY SIMONEAU
Board Member Hyde Park, Armour Square, Ravenswood, scholar of the best playgrounds in town |
SID
SHAH Board Member McKinley Park, urban planning, transportation, & biking all over town |
(MOST OF) OUR COLLABORATORS
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BEN ARCHER
Ravenswood, financial history, criminal history |
AVA BATTOCCHIO
Trains, busses, advertising, and vintage attire |
WENDY BRIGHT
Rogers Park, commerce, and our Milwaukee connection |
LANCE BAKER
Acting history, shenanigans, strikes, and controversies |
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MANDY CRYPT
Women's history, queer history, & Victoriana |
PAUL DAILING
Political history, corruption, and vintage journalism |
LIZ GARIBAY
Old Town, Chicago, and all things booze & brews |
ELSA HAARSTAD
Public housing history & vernacular architecture |
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MS. BEA
Pullman, black history, and civic pride in Chicago |
MARGARET HICKS
Printer's Row, the Pedway, and badass winter tours |
WALTER KIEFER
Lakeview, trains, planes, ships, & industrial history |
DEBBIE LIU
Chinatown, South Loop, and urban planning |
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BARRY LOVE
Roscoe Village, Edgewater, newspaper archive and genealogy fiend |
TIM MORAN
Beverly/Morgan Park area, local news buff, South Side Irish history |
EMMA NIPPE
Northsider, residential architecture lover, and safe streets advocate |
EMILY O'KEEFE DAVENPORT
Hegewisch resident, literature history aficionado |
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CHARLES OCASEK
Wicker Park, Old Town, urban planning, & public transit |
SAM PRESTIGIACOMO
Edgewater, queer & Jewish history, ghosts and pirates |
WILL QUAM
More about Chicago Brick and building materials than you thought possible |
GIOVINA ROMANDINE
Northwest side architecture buff and event planner |
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MARIA AVILA RISOLUTE
West Town, Portage Park, music venues, art scene |
COURTNEY RUHLAND
Rogers Park, dive bars, local music, & running |
ARMEL SAGBOHAN
Architecture, design, community planning, and Pullman |
BILL SAVAGE
Rogers Park, the World's Fair, neighborhood taverns, Nelson Algren, and more |
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BUNDEV SINGH SAWHNEY
Rogers Park, Albany Park, political & social history |
ADAM SELZER
All things cemeteries, serial killers, true crime, gangsters, and ghosts |
STEPHANIE SIMS
Speakeasy hostess, fashion educator, & super volunteer |
BLANCA TORRES
Pilsen, education, and community activism |
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VITALIY VLADMIROV
Uptown, Edgewater, urban planning, and queer history |
KRISTA WEIR
Bridgeport, Lithuanians, architecture, & film |
MATT WEISS
Norwood Park, bikes, & urban planning |
SOME EXTREMELY HELPFUL FRIENDS
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LOREN ROSEWSKI
Principal Photographer |
HAYWARD SUGGS
Principal Videographer |
LAURA SCHUETZ
Co-creator, Cultural Geography program |
ELIZABETH NIETO
AUDREY MARQUEZ Albany Park historians & Spanish translators |