African American Heritage Water Trail named a winner of the 23rd annual Chicago Innovation Awards

African American Heritage Water Trail named a winner of the 23rd annual Chicago Innovation Awards

Lillian Holden, Openlands Water Trails Manager (left) with Zorbari Nwidor, Chicago Adventure Therapy Associate Executive Director (right) at Thursday's awards ceremony.

CHICAGO -- The African American Heritage Water Trail has been named one of the Collaboration Award winners of the 23rd annual Chicago Innovation Awards.

Openlands and partners accepted this prestigious recognition at this year’s awards ceremony held on Thursday, November 14th at the UIC Forum. “The Chicago region continues to be a global leader in innovation,” said Tom Kuczmarski, co-founder of the Chicago Innovation Awards with Chicago journalist Dan Miller. “The 2024 winners are solving unmet needs and making a difference in healthcare, finance, the environment, artificial intelligence, education, consumer products, energy, manufacturing, social services, economic development, food, and government.

The African American Heritage Water Trail is a powerful example of collaboration, community, and partnerships coming together to bring history to life and create new opportunities for education and recreation. This project highlights the rich legacy of African American history along the Little Calumet River, connecting significant sites along the Underground Railroad with modern-day stories of resilience, resistance, and activism.

The trail represents a collective effort to preserve and share local history through outdoor engagement. This initiative reflects a shared commitment to cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and fostering connections between communities, nature, and history.

Openlands gratefully acknowledges the following partners who exemplify collaborative excellence:

Chicago Adventure Therapy

Chicago’s Finest Marina

FRESH

Friends of the Chicago River

Friends of the Forest Preserves

Golden Gate Homeowners Association

Midwest Underground Railroad Network

People for Community Recovery

Robbins History Museum

The Field Museum

The Forest Preserves of Cook County

The Metropolitan Planning Council

The Village of Robbins

We Keep You Rollin’ (Bike & Wellness Group)

Through these deep partnerships, the African American Heritage Water Trail has become a landmark project for education, recreation, and celebration of Chicago’s Black history.

“I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our partners for their contributions to the narratives, unwavering support, courage, and intelligence, all which have been instrumental in connecting families and children to the African American Heritage Water Trail,” said Openlands Regional Water Trails Manager, Lillian Holden, who attended the event. “This journey would not have been possible without your dedication.”

“350 organizations were nominated for this year’s awards,” said Luke Tanen, President and CEO of Chicago Innovation. “As a group, these nominees are responsible for generating over $4.2 billion in new revenues and creating nearly 6,000 jobs. The winners represent the best from this very impressive group.”

The complete list of this year’s Chicago Innovation Award winners can be found at www.chicagoinnovation.com.

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