Two Generations Rising Together: The Proof and Promise of Hope Chicago

Thursday, Jul 16, 2026
Doors Open at 11:30 am / Event Begins at 12:00 pm
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Location

Maggiano's Banquets
111 W. Grand Avenue
Chicago, IL 60654
Map and directions

The inaugural class of Hope Scholars is graduating debt-free, marking a major milestone for Hope Chicago’s bold two-generation investment in education and economic mobility. Launched in 2022, Hope Chicago provides students from five Chicago neighborhood high schools, along with one parent or guardian, the opportunity to pursue postsecondary education at no cost to them.

Join a conversation with Hope Scholar and Hope Parent Scholar graduates, Hope Chicago CEO Dr. Aaron Kuecker and Illinois State Representative Kam Buckner as they discuss the impact of Hope Chicago’s model and what it means for the future of higher education, workforce development, and economic opportunity in Illinois.

Speakers

Illinois State Representative Kam Buckner

Representative Kam Buckner is a native of the Southside of Chicago, the 4th child of a Chicago Public School Teacher and a law enforcement officer. He represents the 26th Legislative District in the Illinois House of Representatives. The District, completely situated in the City of Chicago contains parts of South Chicago, South Shore, Washington Park, Woodlawn, Hyde Park, Kenwood, Bronzeville, the South Loop, Downtown, River North, Streeterville and the Gold Coast.

He previously served as Executive Director of World Sport Chicago, the non-profit legacy of Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympic Games; an organization that uses sports as a tool to provide positive life skill training and opportunities to youth in Chicago's most under-resourced communities. Buckner previously worked in the Front Office of Major League Baseball’s Chicago Cubs, where he led the team’s government and neighborhood relations efforts; serving as an integral part of the contingent that successfully negotiated a deal to renovate and expand historic Wrigley Field; a first of its kind stadium deal that is expected to yield $1.2 billion in economic activity. He previously spent a number of years in the public sector on the staffs of Mayor Mitch Landrieu of New Orleans, LA and U.S. Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois.

He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was a member of the Fighting Illini football team and received a B.A. in Political Science. He holds a J.D. from DePaul University

College of Law. Kam has served as an adjunct professor in the Undergraduate College of Public Policy at the University of Chicago and has been a contributor for the political newspaper and website the Hill and Crain’s Chicago Business. He formerly served on the Board of Trustees of Chicago State University. He was a fellow with the Chicago Council on Global Affairs as well as the Chicago Urban League’s IMPACT Leadership Development Program and a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, the Business Leadership Council, the Illinois Advisory Board of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition, the Leadership Circle of the Illinois Democratic County Chair’s Association and Major League Soccer’s Chicago.

Dr. Aaron Kuecker

Dr. Aaron Kuecker is the Chief Executive Officer of Hope Chicago, an economic mobility initiative that removes barriers to postsecondary success for two generations of South and West Side Chicago families.

He previously served as president of Trinity Christian College. Under his leadership, Trinity advanced bold institutional transformation focused on increasing affordability, access, and student belonging. Over more than two decades in higher education, Dr. Kuecker has served as a professor, academic dean, provost, and president, with a leadership style shaped by his earlier experience as a youth and associate pastor. He is a recognized thought leader in reimagining higher education economics, a Locke Innovative Leader Awardee from Wesleyan Impact Partners, a frequent national presenter on community economic development, and a convener of influential conversations in collaboration with the Aspen Institute’s Financial Security Program.

His work has often centered on building partnerships between institutions and local communities to address systemic challenges, from student loan debt to equitable workforce development, in ways that create mutual benefit for students, neighborhoods,and employers.

Dr. Kuecker holds a Ph.D. from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, a master’s degree from Western Theological Seminary, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Central College in Iowa. His academic work has examined how communities build identity and foster collaboration across differences. This focus on connection and opportunity continues to guide his approach to expanding access to education and economic mobility through Hope Chicago.

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City Club of Chicago event tickets are non-refundable. Tickets are transferrable.

Our venues are wheelchair accessible. To request any other accessibility, please submit a request to info@cityclub-chicago.org