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Emanuel Helps Kick Off Chicago Ideas Week

By Ted Cox | October 9, 2012 12:41pm
 Mayor Rahm Emanuel will take part in a panel discussion on "Democracy: State of Our Union" to kick off Chicago Ideas Week Monday.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel will take part in a panel discussion on "Democracy: State of Our Union" to kick off Chicago Ideas Week Monday.
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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

DOWNTOWN — Mayor Rahm Emanuel joined three other big-city mayors in a panel discussion on the topic of "Democracy: State of Our Union" to help launch Chicago Ideas Week Monday.

Now in its second year, Ideas Week comprises 130 sessions — both panel discussions and so-called labs — across the city through Sunday. Organizers expect attendance to more than double to more than 28,000 this year.

"Chicago Ideas Week sparks innovations, new initiatives and new relationships that help make our community more connected," Emanuel said. "Chicago Ideas Week captures the spirit of ingenuity and inventiveness of our city, and I am excited to take part."

Mayors Michael Nutter of Philadelphia, Annise Parker of Houston and Acquanetta Warren of Fontana, Calif., were expected to join in the discussion on "Democracy" at 7 p.m. Monday at the Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph St., along with political journalists John Heileman of New York magazine and Michael Duffy, Richard Stengel, Mark Halperin and Nancy Gibbs of Time, a co-sponsor of the event. NBC News "Meet the Press" host David Gregory will serve as moderator.

"Chicago Ideas Week is about turning ideas into action, which we achieve by bringing globally recognized thinkers and doers to Chicago, and creating a platform ripe for inspiration and provocation," said Brad Keywell, Ideas Week founder and chairman. "Our focus is to make this great city a destination for global innovation, igniting the imagination of our diverse and highly engaged attendees."

Tickets to both the discussions and the labs are $15, available at chicagoideas.com, which also has a schedule of events. Later sessions include "Disruptive Innovation" at 7 p.m. Tuesday and "Meaning of Life," including panelists Mitch Albom and Deepak Chopra, at 7 p.m. Thursday, both at the Oriental Theatre.

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