Chicago Ideas Week Tickets on Sale Today

CHICAGO, Sept. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Tickets to the fourth-annual Chicago Ideas Week (CIW), taking place October 13–19, 2014, are now on sale to the general public via chicagoideas.com. Acclaimed director George Lucas, global maternal health advocate and Every Mother Counts Founder Christy Turlington Burns, world-renowned chef Mario Batali and Deepak Chopra, M.D., join a star-studded lineup of more than 150 global thought leaders, including actress Joan Cusack, country music star Naomi Judd and immigration rights activist Jose Antonio Vargas.

This year, CIW will host 20 Talks, 2 Summits, over 10 in-depth Conversations, several Guess Who's Coming to Dinner events and more than 100 hands-on Labs, covering diverse topics, such as the arts, science, food, business and entrepreneurship. Attendees are encouraged to continue the conversation after Talks in intimate meet-ups hosted at nearby cafes and other locations. Most events are accessible to the public at just $15 per ticket.

"CIW is a globally-recognized platform where attendees make connections with, and learn from, individuals who are impacting the world for the better," CIW Founder and Co-Chairman Brad Keywell said. "The world-class thinkers and doers who we bring to the CIW Stage share provocative, cutting-edge ideas, inspiring us all to turn ideas into action."

In addition to over 160 public events, CIW will host the annual Edison Talks on October 17, an invitation-only, daylong series of Talks featuring speakers discussing their work on the "Edges" of their professions and society. The event will feature more than a dozen boundary-pushing speakers, all of whom work at the frontiers of their industries. The Edison Talks, Future Global Leaders and Tech Summits, and select other Talks will be available online on ABC7 Chicago via live stream. Applications to attend the exclusive Edison Talks can be found at chicagoideas.com.

"Since we started in 2011, Chicago Ideas Week has fostered a community of curiosity," CIW Executive Director Jessica Malkin said. "This year, we are expanding and adding programming elements that deepen the experience. With our newly introduced year-round events, hosted meet-ups for attendees after Talks and the Future Global Leaders half-day event—which will bring in young innovators from five continents—CIW is providing more and more opportunities to connect and collaborate over common interests and shared experiences."

Beyond the Talks, Conversations, Labs, Summits and other events that take place throughout the week, CIW also leads several community initiatives, including the CIW YOU(th) program, which annually brings together 450 Chicago Public High School students, and the Bluhm/Helfand Social Innovation (BHSI) Fellowship. The recently announced 2014 BHSI Fellows include four social innovators, all under the age of 35, whose organizations tackle global social problems.

CIW's community-facing programming also includes the Artist-in-Residence program. 2014 CIW Artist-in-Residence Juan Chavez will build an interactive art installation at Pioneer Court to serve as the visual centerpiece for CIW 2014. A Mexican-born artist and adopted Chicago native, Chavez is best known for interactive, larger-than-life installations that are made of found materials and that captivate viewers in museums, art centers and galleries across the globe.

To purchase tickets and view a comprehensive list of CIW events, visit www.chicagoideas.com. Visit www.chicagoideas.com/membership to become a CIW member and enjoy exclusive access, insider invitations and more.

Chicago Ideas Week is generously supported by Cornerstone Partners Ernst & Young LLP, Sterling Partners, Keywell Foundation, and Liz and Eric Lefkofsky; Edison Talks Partner U.S. Trust; Official Hotel Partner Hyatt; Official Creative Partner Leo Burnett; Official Integrated Marketing Partner Starcom MediaVest Group; Official Communications Partner Edelman; Platinum Partners The Chicago Community Trust and Illinois Office of Tourism; Official Technology Partner Table XI; and Gold Partners Cisco and University of Illinois. The CIW Artist-In-Residence program is generously underwritten by GCM Grosvenor.

CIW 2014 Speaker Highlights
John Amaechi, OBE, Principal, Amaechi Performance
Mario Batali, Chef, Author & Restaurateur
Jon Batiste, Pianist, Vocalist & Composer
Deepak Chopra, M.D., New York Times Best-selling Author
Joan Cusack, Emmy-nominated & Academy Award–nominated Actress
Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth
Ambassador Robert Ford, Former U.S. Ambassador to Syria
Rich Franklin, Three-time UFC Champion
Marilu Henner, Actress & Best-selling Author
Mellody Hobson, President, Ariel Investments
Naomi Judd, Grammy Award–winning Country Music Singer & Activist
Ted Leonsis, Managing Partner, Revolution Growth
Edward Lewis, Co-Founder, Essence Magazine
George Lucas, Director
Peter Thiel, Co-Founder, Paypal
Christy Turlington Burns, Global Maternal Health Advocate & Founder, Every Mother Counts
Jose Antonio Vargas, Founder, Define American

CIW 2014 Talk Topics
Future of Military
The Brain
Creative Process
Death
Education
Entrepreneurship
Explorers
Food
The Future of Business
Instigators
Lessons
Longevity
Music
Places & Spaces
Politics
Pop Culture
Science
Sports
Witness
Work

CIW Summits
Future Global Leaders
Tech Summit

CIW Edison Talks: Edges

CIW Lab Highlights
Academy for Global Citizenship
Both Sides
Bow Truss Coffee Roasters
BucketFeet
CTA (Chicago Transit Authority)
Catalyst Chicago
Chicago Botanic Garden
City Year
City Winery
Columbia College Fashion Studies
Lagunitas Brewing Company
Midnight Circus
Startup Institute

About Chicago Ideas Week

Chicago Ideas Week (CIW) is a 501(c)(3) organization. CIW is a premier annual gathering of global thought leaders created to drive ideas into actionable results. It is a platform for ideas, created for innovators, thinkers, doers and interested citizens from across Chicago, the greater Midwest and the world. Its goal is to stimulate new initiatives and ventures, create new connections and collaborations, and establish a Community of Curiosity. For more information, please visit www.chicagoideas.com and follow Chicago Ideas on Facebook and Twitter via @chicagoideas.

Media Contacts:
Jessica Malkin
Executive Director, Chicago Ideas Week
312.662.7708
[email protected]

Brianna Huy
Director of Media Relations, Chicago Ideas Week
312.297.7432
[email protected]

SOURCE Chicago Ideas Week