The Renaissance Collaborative, Inc. (TRC) will host two free events in February to commemorate Black History Month: a virtual panel discussion and an in-person guided historic tour of the Historic Former Wabash YMCA, hailed as the birthplace of Black History Month.

Virtual Panel Discussion

February 23 @ 12 p.m. CT

“The Next Great Migration: Why are Black Chicagoans Leaving and How Can we Keep Them?”

Over the past decade, 9 out of 10 of the largest U.S. cities have seen a decline in the Black population. Once dubbed the "Mecca" of the Great Migration, a place where Black people could escape to during the Jim Crow Era, the city of Chicago faces some of the most concerning numbers. More than 10% of the Black population has already left the city, with some neighborhoods even losing half of their Black population.

This panel discussion between subject-matter experts will take an in-depth look at the structural causes of this phenomenon, compare this modern-day migration to its historic predecessor, and consider what needs to happen now to turn the tide.

This event is TRC’s 21st Annual Friendraiser, which is typically an in-person breakfast and discussion panel centered around a relevant contemporary issue in the African American Community. The event may be virtual this year, but attendees are still encouraged to engage with the discussion and ask questions.

Historic Tours

February 12 & February 26 @ 10:30 a.m. CT

Historic Former Wabash YMCA: The Birthplace of Black History Month

The Historic Former Wabash YMCA will be open to the public for two in-person guided tours in February. This national landmark was the heart of cultural and economic progress for African Americans in Chicago for over half a century and is hailed as the birthplace of Black History Month.

Visitors will be led through a guided tour of the building augmented with a collection of newly compiled vintage photos and archived newspaper articles so that attendees can fully see and experience the impact this building had in the lives of several thousand black Chicago residents in the 20th Century.

Tours will be held on the 2nd Saturday of every month of 2022, with a bonus tour in February held on the 4th Saturday. Each tour starts at 10:30 a.m. and lasts approximately 45 minutes. The tour is free for all but a donation of $20 to TRC is suggested to support future tours and upkeep of the building.