Now in its 19th year, Chicago’s award-winning multimedia public affairs series returns in 2009 with Chicago Matters: Beyond Burnham to explore how our region can thrive in a global era.

One hundred years ago, the Burnham Plan did much to shape Chicago and the region as we know it today. Where do we go from here? There is no doubt—the Chicago region is already global. It’s a major international financial center. A key hub for international transportation. It is a region historically formed by immigrants and it is a city constantly reshaped by the economic and cultural contributions of new immigrant populations. World–class attractions, including Millennium Park, the Symphony, and a highly-acclaimed theater scene have made Chicago a destination for international tourists and local art enthusiasts alike. Chicago is vibrant region, thriving when many urban regions are in decline, with a population that is young, educated and diverse.

But the challenges facing Chicago moving forward involve an increasingly complex region. Over the decades, Chicago has grown to be the largest metropolis in the Midwest. Currently 272 municipalities and over 1,000 taxing jurisdictions are part of the six-county metro area. Does the region have a shared vision for the future? What are the financial, infrastructural, environmental and political challenges that stand between us and success as a truly global metropolis? Do our residents have equitable access to all that the region has to offer, from affordable housing to worldclass plays? Where are regional municipalities collaborating and where are they competing?

Chicago Matters: Beyond Burnham will examine the demands placed on the city and the region by the global economy. We’ll ask whether we possess all the elements to function as a global economic center in the coming decades. We’ll learn about the challenges and opportunities that our diverse residents and communities face when accessing our region’s many resources. We’ll explore the political, social and environmental questions important to our future place in the world. We’ll learn how Chicago exports its culture and sells its image throughout the world. And we’ll report on innovators driving the Chicago region’s emergence as a truly global metropolis.

Launched March 17, 2009, Chicago Matters features yearlong, original programming by our multimedia partners: WTTW11, WBEZ Chicago Public Radio, the Chicago Public Library and The Chicago Reporter, a publication of the Community Renewal Society.

Launching March 17, 2009, Chicago Matters will feature yearlong, original programming by our multimedia partners: WTTW11, WBEZ Chicago Public Radio, the Chicago Public Library and The Chicago Reporter, a publication of the Community Renewal Society.