Regions

Chicago & the Midwest

All of our content covering Chicago, and also states including Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Upcoming Events

2026 Global Food Security Working Dinner

In-Person EVENT

Council President and CEO Leslie Vinjamuri hosts a working dinner to discuss the Council's food and agriculture work.

Farmer Brandon Hedges walks back to his combine while harvesting soybeans in Pawnee, IL on October 7, 2010.
Seth Perlman / AP
Oct
20

Global Leadership in Action: A Showcase of Collective Impact

In-Person EVENT

The Emerging Leaders Class of 2026 gathers for a project showcase and celebration of their work in the program.

Register Today
Members of the Emerging Leaders Class of 2026 stand on a balcony and look out onto Washington, DC, during the annual cohort trip in May 2026.
Elman Studio / Yassine El Mansouri
Nov
6
View all Upcoming Events related to Chicago & the Midwest

Past Events

The State of American Opinion: The 2026 Chicago Council Survey

PAST EVENT VIDEO

John Lapinski, Dina Smeltz, and Asma Khalid unpack what the results of the 2026 Chicago Council survey tell us about Americans’ foreign policy priorities heading into the midterms.

Oct 1
Speakers on the Council's stage.
Ana Miyares Photography

The World at Our Door: What a City Owes Its Newest Residents

PAST EVENT

Join the Emerging Leaders community for a tour of Little Harbor Academy and a conversation on how Chicago supports newcoming immigrants.

Aug 5
A crowd of people sitting at an immigrant assistance event at Navy Pier on August 15, 2012.
Sitthixay Ditthavong / AP
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Commentary

How Cover Crops Could Help the Midwestern Agriculture Business

COLUMN
ChicagoGlobal by Hope O'Dell

Cover crops help prevent soil erosion and can increase farmers’ yields — but, despite widespread use overseas, they haven’t caught on much yet in the Midwest.

A red barn stands in the background with the green leaves of a corn field in the foreground
Seth Perlman/AP
Food Security & Sustainability

Q&A: Northwestern's New Global Affairs Chair Says Her Department is All About Connection

COLUMN
ChicagoGlobal by Hope O'Dell

In her first year as head of the Buffett Institute, Deborah Cohen talks us through the role of global affairs at Northwestern, in Chicago, and beyond.

Headshot of a woman with curly dark hair and glasses
Becca Heuer
Global Cities
View all Chicago & the Midwest Commentary

Research

Built by Immigrants, Shaped by Immigration

RESEARCH
Public Opinion Survey by Coauthors

Results and analysis of the Council's survey of Chicagoland residents on immigration policies.

blue report cover on a beige background Migration

Majorities in Chicagoland Side with Immigrants and Protesters over ICE

RESEARCH
Public Opinion Survey by Coauthors

In the aftermath of Operation Midway Blitz, residents in Chicago, suburban Cook County, and Lake County say Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions have gone too far.

protesters gather outside an ICE processing facility in the Chicago suburb of Broadview
Nam Y. Huh / AP
Migration
View all Chicago & the Midwest Research

Experts

Richard C. Longworth 

Distinguished Fellow Emeritus, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Council expert Richard C. Longworth
Expertise
Europe
Chicago & the Midwest
Global Cities
Global Politics
Phone
(312) 821-7508
View all Chicago & the Midwest Experts