By Judy Carmack Bross
For 50 years Landmarks Illinois has hosted events celebrating what purposeful and powerful preservation has meant to our city and state. Early chairs of Preservation Balls, glamorously founded in Louis Sullivan’s Auditorium Building, and continuing on to the Rookery, Carson Pirie Scott and other early landmarks, would cheer their current colleagues who this year attracted over 700 guests and raised over $730,000 for its mission driven work.
Alex Wolking, Landmarks Illinois Board Member, raises his paddle to support Landmarks Illinois Photo Credit: David T. Kindler
Guests arrive at 2023 Preservation Forward and enjoy the evening’s signature cocktail, Prickly Pear Fizz , Photo Credit: Maceo Bedar
Performers from Stage Factor provided entertainment before the main program |
Photo Credit: David T. Kindler |
2023 Landmarks Illinois Influencers gather on stage (Left to right: Sarah Wick, Amy Mills, Paola Aguirre-Serrano, Amanda Williams, Erik Hall representing Calvin L. Homes), Photo Credit: David T. Kindler
The annual spring fundraiser, back at The Old Post Office for the second year in a row, celebrated the statewide efforts of Landmarks Illinois and honored the 2023 Landmarks Illinois Influencers: Amy Mills, owner, 17th Street Barbecue, Faye and The Factory at 17th Street; Paola Aguirre-Serrano, urban designer and founding partner, BORDERLES; Amanda Williams, artist and architect, Calvin L. Holmes, President, Chicago Community Loan Fund; and Related Midwest, represented by Sarah Wick, Senior Vice President, Affordable Housing.
2023 Landmarks Illinois Influencers (L-R: Sarah Wick, Paola Aguirre-Serrano, Erik Hall representing Calvin L. Holmes, Amanda Williams & Amy Mills) with Landmarks Illinois Board Secretary Erika Block and President & CEO Bonnie McDonald, Photo Credit: David T. Kindler
Landmarks Illinois President and CEO Bonnie McDonald; Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture Kevin Young; and 2023 Landmarks Illinois Influencer Paola Aguirre-Serrano, Photo Credit: Wendy Love
“Our 2023 Influencers represent our evolving preservation field – one that pushes the boundaries on how we go about saving places and whom we work with to save them,” said Bonnie McDonald, President & CEO of Landmarks Illinois. “These five innovators are reactivating places and stories from our past in new and exciting ways that deserve to be celebrated as well as replicated in our preservation efforts. They are creating a more diverse, equitable, inclusive and accessible movement.”
2022 & 2023 Landmarks Illinois Influencers gather on stage. (L-R: Erik Hall representing Calvin L. Holmes, Alicia Ponce, Amy Mills, Amanda Williams, Paola Aguirre-Serrano, Tonika Lewis Johnson, Cheryl Johnson, Sarah Wick, Eleanor Gorski), Photo Credit: David T. Kindler
2023 Landmarks Illinois Influencer Amy Mills accepts her award on stage, Photo Credit: David T. Kindler
2023 Landmarks Illinois Influencer Amanda Williams shows off her custom award made by Firebird Community Arts, Photo Credit: Wendy Love
Guests gathered in The Old Post Office’s fully restored historic lobby and grand hall that features original fixtures from the 122-year-old, once-threatened building saved with the help of Landmarks Illinois’ sustained advocacy. Interactive food stations served chef-crafted fare, including that from the venue’s food hall From Here On and 17th Street Barbecue, a Murphysboro-based, award-winning restaurant owned by 2023 Influencer Amy Mills.
Guests enjoy the After-Party in the Telegram Lounge, Photo Credit: Wendy Love
Guests enjoy the After-Party in the Telegram Lounge, Photo Credit: Maceo Bedar
Bluewater Kings Band performs at the After-Party , Photo Credit: David T. Kindler
Genie Kwon of Kasama was among the chefs and bakers featuring treats during the event’s After-Party, Photo Credit: David T. Kindler
The Preservation Forward After-Party in The Telegram Lounge on the second floor of The Post Office featured music by the Bluewater Kings Band, cocktails as well as desserts from local bakers and pastry chefs.
Charla Draper, former Director of Food & Home Furnishings for Ebony Magazine, and 2023 Landmarks Illinois Influencer Amanda Williams, Credit: David T. Kindler
Landmarks Illinois Advocacy Manager Kendra Parzen, Events Manager Alma Rebronja, & Director of Reinvestment Suzanne Germann, Photo Credit: David T. Kindler
Landmarks Illinois Vice Chair Allison Toonen-Talamo, Landmarks Illinois Director of Corporate Giving & Events Tiffanie Williams and Landmarks Illinois Board Secretary Erika BlockPhoto Credit: David T. Kindler
Black Bear combo from New Moon performs for the crowd, Photo Credit: David T. Kindler
“Landmarks Illinois is incredibly grateful to everyone who joined us at Preservation Forward and showed support for our statewide mission of helping people save places,” said McDonald. “We cannot do our important work of moving the preservation field forward without our supporters and donors, and of course, without the efforts of our exceptional Landmarks Illinois Influencers who are reactivating places of our past in new and exciting ways.”
For more information about Landmarks Illinois visit: landmarks.org
