CONGRESSMAN DANNY K. DAVIS, STATE REPRESENTATIVE LA SHAWN K. FORD AND BRIGHT LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE HOST 47TH ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL PICNIC & PARADE


CONGRESSMAN DANNY K. DAVIS, STATE REPRESENTATIVE LA SHAWN K. FORD AND BRIGHT LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE HOST 47TH ANNUAL BACK TO SCHOOL PICNIC & PARADE

Mayor Brandon Johnson, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman, major sponsors and hundreds of organizations join 47-year community tradition

Congressman Danny K. Davis, State Representative La Shawn K. Ford, and the Bright Leadership Institute will host the 47th Annual Back to School Picnic & Parade on Saturday, August 15, 2026, bringing together children, families, seniors, elected officials, government agencies, businesses, health institutions, schools and hundreds of community organizations for one of Chicago's longest-running back-to-school traditions.

Among the elected and government leaders participating in this year's celebration are Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, Illinois Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford, Oak Park Village President Vicki Scaman, Congressman Danny K. Davis and State Representative La Shawn K. Ford, along with other federal, state, county and municipal officials and agencies.

“Join me in celebrating Congressman Danny K. Davis at his 47th Back-to-School Parade as we honor his remarkable 47 years of service! Let’s march together through the West Side, thanking him along the route, as we promote a successful school year and provide essential resources for all our students. Your support truly makes a difference!”

— State Representative La Shawn K. Ford

The day begins with parade lineup at 8:30 a.m. at Bloomingdale and Central, followed by the parade kickoff at 10:00 a.m. The procession will travel south on Central, east on Madison, south on Laramie and west on Jackson into Columbus Park, where the picnic begins at 12:00 noon.

MORE THAN 1,500 BOOK BAGS AND 3,000 HOT DOGS AND SNACKS EXPECTED THIS YEAR

Organizers expect to distribute more than 1,500 book bags filled with school supplies to children and families preparing for the new school year.

More than 3,000 hot dogs and snacks are expected to be distributed, along with water and other refreshments. Families can also enjoy the Taste of Austin, entertainment, children's activities, health services and free community programming. Event materials feature free school supplies, hot dogs and beverages as part of the celebration.

HEALTH FAIR & COMMUNITY RESOURCE VILLAGE

A major component of this year's picnic will be a Health Fair and Community Resource Village, bringing health care, government and social-service organizations directly into the community.

Dozens of booths and exhibitors will connect residents with services and information in areas including health care and wellness; health screenings; behavioral and mental health; substance-use treatment and recovery; social services and family assistance; senior services; youth programs; education; employment and workforce development; reentry services; government programs and constituent services; community and neighborhood resources; organ and tissue donation education; and technology and digital opportunities.

Participating health and human-service organizations include Rush, Sinai Chicago, UI Health/UIC, Loretto Hospital, Loretto Hospital Foundation, Erie Family Health Centers, PCC Community Wellness Center, Gift of Hope, National Kidney Foundation, Habilitative Systems, Inc., Bobby E. Wright Behavioral Health Center, SAFER Foundation, Introspect Youth Services, Inc., Mobile Vision Care Clinic and the Chicago Department of Public Health, among others.

The goal is to make the picnic a place where a family can receive school supplies, enjoy a meal, obtain health information, connect with social-service providers, meet government representatives and learn about educational, employment and community opportunities — all in one location.

AI EXPERIENCE, TECHNOLOGY IN THE PARK & CONGRESSIONAL APP CHALLENGE

A major feature of this year's celebration is the AI Experience, providing young people with a hands-on, student-friendly introduction to artificial intelligence.

Students can participate in Ask AI Anything, Create With AI, AI Homework Helper, Future Career Challenge and “Can You Spot the AI?” Activities encourage young people to explore AI while learning about fact-checking, misinformation, deepfakes, responsible technology use, education and future careers.

The youth technology programming also includes Technology in the Park and the Congressional App Challenge.

100 COMPUTERS TO BE RAFFLED

Congressman Davis and Representative Ford will raffle 100 computers during the picnic. The drawing is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at Columbus Park, and participants must be present to win.


SPECIAL SENIOR EXPERIENCE

Seniors will have a dedicated Senior Tent and Special Lunch for Seniors beginning at noon. Seniors and senior organizations are also welcome to participate in the morning parade caravan before joining the luncheon and afternoon activities at Columbus Park.

SPONSORS, PARTNERS AND PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS

The 47th Annual Back to School Picnic & Parade is made possible through an extraordinary network of businesses, institutions, nonprofit organizations, health providers and community partners.

Sponsors and supporters include Mondelez International, PepsiCo, DaVita, Target, Capitol Counsel, Lenovo, McDonald's, National Kidney Foundation, Bright Leadership Institute, Sankofa Safe Child Initiative, Rush, Sinai Chicago, UI Health/UIC, Loretto Hospital, Loretto Hospital Foundation, Erie Family Health Centers, Gift of Hope, PCC Community Wellness Center, Habilitative Systems, Inc., SAFER Foundation, Project Exploration, Alexander Movers, Fathers Who Care, Black Men United, Westside Ministers Coalition, Mother's House Concern Citizens, Bobby E. Wright Behavioral Health Center, Introspect Youth Services, Inc., Mobile Vision Care Clinic, Chicago Department of Public Health and the 7th Congressional People's Assembly, among others.

Hundreds of additional community organizations, schools and universities, churches, health organizations, neighborhood associations, social-service providers, businesses, government agencies and volunteers have participated in and supported the Back to School Picnic & Parade throughout its 47-year history.

“THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART”

As the Back to School Picnic & Parade marks its 47th year, Congressman Danny K. Davis offered a personal message of gratitude to the generations of people and organizations that have sustained this tradition:

“For 47 years, this picnic and parade has belonged to the community. Hundreds of organizations and businesses and thousands of volunteers and residents have given their time, resources, food, school supplies, services and, most importantly, their love to our children and families.

Over these 47 years, together we have distributed approximately 47,000 book bags and school supplies, served approximately 141,000 hot dogs and snacks, and provided approximately 94,000 bottles of water — while connecting generations of children, seniors and families with health services, educational opportunities, technology, entertainment and community resources.

Those numbers tell us something about the size of what we have accomplished together, but the real story is the people. It is the children who came to the picnic for a book bag and years later returned with their own children. It is the volunteers who came back year after year. It is the hundreds of businesses, churches, hospitals, schools, government agencies, elected officials and community organizations that continued to ask, ‘How can we help?’

This has never been the work of one person or one organization. It has been 47 years of a community coming together for its children. To every sponsor, organization, business, elected official, volunteer, parent, senior, young person and resident who has walked with us during these 47 years: Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

— Congressman Danny K. Davis

EVENT AT A GLANCE

Saturday, August 15, 2026

8:30 a.m. Parade lineup at Bloomingdale & Central
10:00 a.m. Parade kickoff
12:00 noon 47th Annual Back to School Picnic at Columbus Park
12:00 noon Senior Tent & Special Senior Lunch

Afternoon Health Fair & Community Resource Village; AI Experience; Technology in

the Park; Congressional App Challenge; Taste of Austin; free book bags and

school supplies; food; entertainment; health, social-service and government

resources

3:00 p.m. 100 Computer Raffle Drawing

5:00 p.m. End

Columbus Park
5701 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, Illinois

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