Futuristic Ways BIPOC Chicagoans Can Unite for Change

AISC Contributor
May 15
4 min read

Let’s be real: BIPOC communities in Chicago have always been at the front lines of advocacy—whether marching through Bronzeville, organizing in Little Village, building mutual aid in Pilsen, or demanding justice in Englewood. Chicago’s history is layered with resilience and real results!

Yet many Chicagoans are invested in mobilizing resources. The landscape has shifted—digitally, politically, economically. So how do we move forward? How do BIPOC Chicagoans—not just as individuals, but as a collective—build power and advocate smarter if we want to shape the city we want to live in?

Here’s a forward-thinking (but totally doable) game plan:

1. Create a "Future Chicago" Coalition

We don’t need 1,000 separate orgs reinventing the wheel—we need an ecosystem. A coalition of Black, Brown, Indigenous, and AAPI-led groups that:

Share resources (lawyers, tech, media contacts)
Rotate leadership so power doesn’t calcify
Focus on intersectional wins: housing, policing, climate, education

A shared Slack or Discord isn’t just convenient—it’s how digital power is organized. The future of advocacy is collaborative, not competitive.

Futuristic Tip: Use platforms like NationBuilder or Mighty Networks to create citywide coordination hubs where local organizers can mobilize fast—especially across neighborhoods that don’t always talk.

2. Turn TikTok and Instagram Into Civic Weapons

We already know Chicago is full of creatives. So let’s make sure that energy gets political. Short-form video is the modern-day flyer—it just travels faster, and it doesn’t end up on the sidewalk.

Imagine:

A weekly “What’s Happening in City Hall” story series
Quick explainers on gentrification in Logan Square, redlining in Austin, or food deserts in South Shore
Viral campaigns with QR codes linking to actions, petitions, or protests

Futuristic Tip: Train community members in content strategy and digital storytelling—then pay them. Advocacy isn’t free labor, and media is power.

3. Reclaim Space—Environmentally and Digitally

In a city where development often means displacement, BIPOC communities need to take control of space—both physical and digital.

Support land trusts and community-owned housing
Create digital “archives” of erased history (shoutout to Black Chicago’s jazz roots, or Indigenous land under our feet)
Build tech hubs in public libraries or local orgs to close the digital divide

Futuristic Tip: Partner with local developers, not just to protest gentrification—but to design BIPOC-led real estate models that flip the script on ownership.

4. Make Local Politics Inevitable, Not Optional

Everyone says “vote local”—but the real flex is turning neighborhood-level politics into something people care about. That means:

Translating policies into plain language
Turning school board elections into community events
Holding city council watch parties (yes, with snacks)

If we want more BIPOC representation in power, we can’t just vote—we need to build candidates from the block up.

Futuristic Tip: Use AI tools (like ChatGPT or Claude) to translate legislative language into community-friendly one-pagers. Accessibility is half the battle.

5. Normalize Political Education in Everyday Life

Let’s make political awareness as common as group chats and hair appointments. That means:

Teach kids about activism in after-school programs
Host “Power & Pancakes” political brunches in local cafes
Include civic education in church, barbershops, community yoga—wherever people already gather

We can’t all be full-time activists. But we can all be informed, engaged citizens.

Futuristic Tip: Launch hyper-local newsletters or SMS-based alerts (think: “Hey, there’s a zoning meeting in your ward tonight”) to keep people in the loop without overwhelming them.

6. Rewire Money, Media, and Messaging

Advocacy can’t survive on vibes alone—it needs funding, platforms, and storytelling.

Support local BIPOC media like City Bureau or The TRiiBE
Create neighborhood mutual aid networks with long-term vision, not just crisis response
Push for philanthropic dollars to fund long-term organizing, not just one-time events

Futuristic Tip: Think decentralized fundraising. Tools like Open Collective or Buy Me a Coffee let everyday people support movements consistently and transparently.

🧬 7. Center Joy, Culture, and Healing

Not every revolution has to feel like a crisis. Joy is part of justice.

Throw block parties with voter registration booths
Host open mics where spoken word meets policy
Use music, food, and culture to tell the story of resistance

When people are burned out, they disengage. When people feel seen, celebrated, and connected, they build.

Futuristic Tip: Incorporate trauma-informed organizing and healing justice into every advocacy space. The future is about sustainability, not just survival.

The Bottom Line: The Future Is Local, United, and Unapologetically BIPOC

Chicago’s BIPOC communities don’t need to be “empowered”—they already have the power.

What we need now is infrastructure, intention, and imagination.

The next chapter of advocacy isn’t just about protest—it’s about policy, ownership, tech, and joy. It’s about building systems we don’t have to beg for permission to use.

And most of all? It’s about doing it together.

Want to get started? Here’s a quick checklist to build future-forward community power in Chicago: