Entered by Choose Chicago

In late summer 2025, Chicago faced a reputation crisis. Escalating national rhetoric and media coverage portrayed the city as dangerous, chaotic, and defined by political conflict. But that narrative did not accurately reflect the lived experience of the vast majority of Chicagoans and visitors. Chicago was having a record-setting summer for tourism. Neighbourhoods, restaurants, and attractions were thriving, and major conventions, festivals, and sporting events were drawing enormous crowds.

Choose Chicago saw an urgent need to close the gap between perception and reality—but recognised that they should not attempt to do this alone. In a 24-hour period, the team conceived of and launched “All for the Love of Chicago.” What began as a social media campaign providing Chicagoans and visitors a platform to share their stories has since evolved into a multichannel initiative including podcasting and in-person PR and marketing roundtables.