Chicago Votes

⭐️DESIGNERS, THIS IS YOUR SIGN.⭐️

Every year, Chicago Votes hosts and produces a fashion show through our creative collective, Give A Sh*t Chicago (GAS). GAS brings together Chicago creatives to use art, fashion, and culture to inspire civic engagement, strengthen community, and amplify young voices. Our annual fashion show celebrates Chicago-based models and designers while proving that fashion can be a powerful tool for storytelling, advocacy, and change.

Got a collection you’ve been waiting to showcase? This is your chance to bring it to the runway.

We’re looking for Chicago-based designers who are bold, innovative, and ready to use fashion as a form of self-expression and civic engagement. Whether you’re an emerging designer or already building your brand, we want to see your work.

🧵 Showcase your collection
📍 Chicago-based designers only
🗓️ Applications close August 3rd
⚠️Filling out the designer form is mandatory (link in bio)

🚨 MODEL CASTING CALL IS NOW OPEN! ⭐

Every year, Chicago Votes hosts and produces a fashion show through our creative collective, Give A Sh*t Chicago (GAS). GAS brings together Chicago creatives to use art, fashion, and culture to inspire civic engagement, strengthen community, and amplify young voices. Our annual fashion show celebrates Chicago-based models and designers while proving that fashion can be a powerful tool for storytelling, advocacy, and change.

Now we’re looking for bold, confident, and expressive models to walk in this year’s show! Whether it’s your first runway or your tenth, we want to see your confidence, personality, and presence.

✨ We welcome models of all backgrounds, sizes, genders, and experience levels.

📍 Casting Location:
The location will be included when our production team sends out the email informing candidates of the date and time for their casting slot.

📅 Casting Dates:
• Thursday, July 23 | 6:00–8:00 PM
• Sunday, July 26 | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM

⚠️ Before attending casting, you MUST complete the Model Casting Google Form (link in bio). Completing the application is required to secure your casting opportunity.

We’ll see you at casting. ❤️⭐

NEW SPACE. SAME MISSION. BIGGER IMPACT.

We’re opening the doors to our new home in the historic Fine Arts Building, and you’re invited!

Join us during Second Fridays for the Chicago Votes Office Grand Re-Opening. Stop by to explore our new space, meet the team, connect with fellow creatives and organizers, and learn how we’re building civic power through art, culture, and community.

Whether you’ve been rocking with Chicago Votes for years or you’re just getting to know us, we’d love to welcome you in!✨

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our C-Space Open Mic Night in collaboration with studioSHAPES ! It was an incredible evening of poetry, music, storytelling, and conversation that reminded us just how powerful creative spaces can be.

A huge thank you to Studio Shapes, all of our featured performers, open mic participants, volunteers, and everyone who came out to support. We can’t wait to keep building spaces where creativity and community come together.

✨ Missed this C-Space? No worries!

Join us for our next C-Space on Tuesday, July 7, where we’re partnering with Pilsen Arts & Community House (PACH) for a Gelli Print Workshop. Come create with us, connect with community, and explore how art can inspire change.

🎟 RSVP through the link in our bio.

In UIC Today⁠, Chicago Votes’ own Kiara Hardin highlights the importance of investing in youth leadership through civic education, community, and real-world action.

Through this civic engagement cohort, young people explored how government works, learned how to advocate for issues they care about, and saw firsthand how their voices can influence change in their communities.

Join Chicago Votes⁠ and Pilsen Arts & Community House PACH Gallery ⁠ for a night of creativity, community, and advocacy 🎨⭐

We’re joining forces for a Gelli Print Workshop that uplifts creative expression and empowers our community through art and connection.

Join us as we:
✨ Create original prints
✨ Build collective community
✨ Explore creativity as a tool for civic engagement

Whether you’re an experienced artist or just curious to try something new, this space is for you. Come ready to create, and connect!!!

📅 Tuesday, July 7, 2026
⏰ 6:00–9:00 PM
📍 1637 W. 18th St
🎟 Free entry with RSVP — link in bio

*tChicago CivicEngagement

On June 12th, Chicago Votes was honored to join Rainbow PUSH Youth Day to connect with young people about the power of their voice and their vote. 🗳️✨

We spent the day helping young people get registered to vote, learn more about civic engagement, and understand why knowing your local elected officials matters.

Civic engagement doesn’t start and stop at the ballot box, it’s about staying informed, organizing with your community, and taking action on the issues that impact us every day.

Want to get involved? Join the collective and help us build a more engaged, informed, and powerful Chicago. Link in bio!

Chicago Votes sends a very special Happy Birthday to our Programs Director Camille Williams ♊️🎂🥳! Wishing you the best birthday yet Camille!

Democracy works best when everyone’s voice is heard. In Illinois, some voices have been excluded for too long. That’s why we’re proud to launch our weekly series highlighting the legislators championing the RACE Act, a bill that restores voting rights for people in prison and expands civic education across our state.
For AAPI month, we are highlighting The South Asian American Community to Renew Democracy . Hear directly from them about why they support this important work, and learn how you can take action too.

🚨COMMUNITY CALL TO ACTION! Follow and through the Linktree in our bio, take the following actions TODAY:
* Write a letter to your lawmaker urging them to support the RACE Act
* Sign our RACE Act petition
* Call , , and Senate President urging them to pass the RACE Act
* Join the Unlock Civics Coalition by reaching out to [email protected]
* Sign up to register voters inside the Cook County Jail
* Call your lawmaker urging their support of the RACE Act
* Read, share, and distribute the RACE Act fact sheet

SPEAK UP. SPEAK OUT. ⭐️

Join 🗳️ & 🔺 🔵 🟨 for a celebration of creativity, culture, and advocacy!

We’re joining forces for an open mic night that uplifts Chicago talent and empowers our community with civic tools, knowledge, and resources ahead of the 2026 General Election. You’ll hear directly from our organizers and creatives on how you can be an active participant in our democracy, and how to take local action to fight for the change we want to see.

Join us as we
✨ Celebrate collective community
✨ Advocate for a more equitable democracy
✨ Raffle off exclusive Studio Shapes & Chicago Votes merch

🎤 Featuring special performances by Chicago’s very own & !

📆 Friday, June 12th
⏰ Doors open at 7:00 p.m.
💫 Show starts at 7:30 p.m.
📍 2425 W 14th St

MC 🔥

Interested in sharing your song, poem, talent, or other form of art?
Sign-up sheet will be available on a first-come, first-served basis upon arrival. All art mediums welcome.

Free entry with RSVP. Link 🔗 in bio!