Civic Tech in Chicago — October’s Top Events

| MSFT Chicago Staff

Hello, October! We’re here to guide you through the fall chill with these top events happening in Chicago this month:

October 4

Detroit’s Broadband Networks: Providing Access for Economic Development and Opportunity, a Conversation with Microsoft and the Brookings Institution
9am—12pm
TechTown Detroit 440 Burroughs St, Detroit

The digital divide has mutated. While some geographies, mostly rural, still don’t have access to a high-speed Internet connection, the real gap is lower adoption rates in many neighborhoods with service.

Research out of the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program suggests that to promote economic growth, the US must grow advanced industries, make economic opportunity more equitable and accessible, and make government services more efficient. Brookings researchers ask whether broadband networks can simultaneously propel all three.

Join Microsoft, the Brookings Institution, and prominent leaders from the Detroit business, government, and civic community for a dynamic conversation about the state of broadband adoption locally. Discover the latest research on the state of broadband adoption in Detroit, and how this impacts economic growth. Microsoft will share the relationship between advanced Cloud services and broadband access, as well as programs designed to close the new digital divide.

Join us for a dynamic discussion of the most promising new programs and initiatives to expand access for increased economic prosperity for all.

October 9

Blockchain for Social Good Meetup
6pm—9pm
Microsoft Innovation & Policy Center Chicago Aon Center – 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 200, Chicago

Dandelion is a tactical team with offices in Detroit, Chicago, and Saginaw that implements new technologies and ideas for civic and social organizations. Since 2012, they have performed over 100 projects, a few of which can be viewed on their website: www.dndln.org.

Recently, Matt Wolf opened Dandelion’s Chicago office and is focused on not just their traditional service areas, but on bringing blockchain solutions to the impact space. Currently, he is working on a blockchain solution for the Cook County Land Bank as well as a replacement for COPA.

At the inaugural meeting of BSGC, Matt will be discussing Dandelion’s exploration of the blockchain space, giving some background to his current work in Chicago and making the case for blockchain adoption in the GovTech sphere.

October 10

FinTank’s Blockchain Summit
7:30am—5:30pm
IIT 565 W Adams Street, Chicago

The most comprehensive day-long Blockchain and Cryptocurrency event to date.

With the help of Illinois Institute of Technology’s Stuart School of Business, we’ll be hosting some of the leading experts in the field of Blockchain technology. We’ll explore the ideas and processes behind the technology, the implications it presents for finance and business in general, the problems facing the tech today, and the future of this revolution.

Whether you’re just beginning your Blockchain Journey or an experienced practitioner, we welcome you to join us and empower yourself with the awareness and education you need to grow your business and develop personally.

October 11

2017 Carl Sandburg Literary Awards
6pm—11pm
The Forum at UIC 725 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago

The Chicago Public Library is excited to present the 2017 Carl Sandburg Literary Award to best-selling authors Margaret Atwood (“The Handmaid’s Tale,” “MaddAddam” trilogy, “The Blind Assassin”) and Dave Eggers (”A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius”, “Zeitoun,” “The Circle.”)

Receiving the 21st Century Award for outstanding recent achievement will be Natalie Y. Moore, who has worked at WBEZ since 2007, covering segregation and inequality. She is the author of several books, including “The South Side: A Portrait of Chicago and American Segregation,” winner of the 2016 Chicago Review of Books award for nonfiction and a Buzzfeed best nonfiction book of 2016.

In keeping with the event’s tradition, one of 80 celebrated writers with ties to Chicago will be seated at each table, giving each attendee the opportunity to discuss the author’s work and creative process over dinner.

October 12

ITKAN’s Business After-Hours on Disability Inclusion at Microsoft
5pm—7:30pm
Microsoft Technology Center 200 East Randolph Street #200, Chicago

Join us as we celebrate ITKAN’s corporate and civic relationships at our second annual ITKAN Business After-Hours on October 12, 2017 at the Microsoft Technology Center in downtown Chicago!

October 16

Azure Red Shirt Dev Tour ’17
8:45am—2:45pm
James Simpson Theater, Field Museum 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago

The Azure Red Shirt Dev Tour ’17 is a free! code-first event where you can connect and learn from cloud experts from Microsoft and your local community. It’s all about helping you become a better developer by teaching skills to develop, deploy, and manage cloud applications. Slides are kept to a minimum while Scott goes deep with live demos into Microsoft’s cloud services, advanced workloads and capabilities.

October 18

Fourth Revolution Awards
6pm—9:30pm
Wintrust Grand Banking Hall 231 South LaSalle Street, Chicago

The Fourth Revolution Awards celebrates regional manufacturing for its leadership and innovation as the industry stands on the brink of a new technological revolution. The ceremony culminates in the presentation of eight awards to deserving leaders, companies and industrial initiatives that have made significant contributions to the Chicago region’s manufacturing ecosystem.

IoT Summit Chicago
8am—7pm
Sheraton Grand Chicago 301 E North Water St, Chicago

In its fifth year, the IoT Summit Chicago, powered by ITA, and featuring the First Analysis Capital Conference, is a convergence of IoT thought leadership and investor engagement. Come learn. Come collaborate. Come be part of someTHING, again.

October 26

Fund Conference
8am—5pm
Venue SIX10 610 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago

The Midwest thought leadership conference bridging the gap between early stage investors and growing companies.

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