In Chicago, autumn rings in the end of summer festival season. The city plays host to countless music, food and cultural festivals each year. For some of us, that’s part of the magic of summertime Chi. But others argue that events like Lollapalooza, Riot Fest and the Taste of Chicago can do more harm than good. 

Tickets can be costly, and events render public spaces inaccessible for a few days and can cause lasting damage to parks, plus residents can feel a lack of engagement with planners. This has us wondering: Is it possible to organize a large-scale event in Chicago that also engages the community? 

In this episode, we pose that question to activist and artist Ricardo Gamboa and Silver Room Block Party founder Eric Williams.