Caption by Ashmar Mandou

On Wednesday morning, Mayor Brandon Johnson alongside the City Club of Chicago’s Poet Laureate Mayda Alexandra del Valle, Chicago Historian Shermann “Dilla” Thomas, and local small businesses celebrated Chicago’s 189th birthday. The public event, held at Lookingglass Theatre in Chicago’s historic Water Tower Park featured the performance of an original poem by del Valle, remarks by Thomas on the history of Chicago and its people, and a cake-cutting ceremony honoring Chicago’s birthday. 

Photo Credit: City of Chicago