Young artists and content creators are converging on the Obama Presidential Center as the nonprofit True Chicago hosts its 9th Annual Conference, a day built around live performances, panel discussions, and face time with industry leaders. The gathering is taking place at The Forum, the Obama Presidential Center's event space, according to organizers.
True Chicago describes the event as its flagship annual summit, with a stated mission of connecting young creatives to established voices in the industry. According to truechicago.co, the group bills the conference as “our annual summit where diverse industry leaders inform the lives of young creatives with truth.” As reported by wgntv.com, the conference is set for The Forum at the Obama Presidential Center.
The day's format blends performance with practical instruction, moving between staged moments and structured conversation. The program notes promise attendees everything “from live performances to panel discussions,” along with one-on-one engagement opportunities with creatives and industry leaders, per the same account from True Chicago's website.
Panels Tap Obama Foundation, Wintrust and the Blackhawks
Past conference programs have featured sessions with institutional partners. The “Off The Court, Into The Culture” panel appeared in the 2025 conference program in partnership with the Obama Foundation. The “How to Hustle Smart” breakout session appeared in the 2024 program, presented by Wintrust Bank, while “Learning Never Losing” appeared in the 2023 program, sponsored by The Blackhawks Foundation.
CBS News announced that the 9th Annual True Chicago Conference was happening at the Obama Presidential Center. David Johnson also discussed the project's mission in CBS News coverage.
Founder and Artist Describe the Project's Mission
Johnson's vision for True Chicago has also been laid out alongside the voices of the artists it serves. In a separate segment, True Chicago founder David Johnson and artist Sakyrah Morris discussed the project's mission, according to cbsnews.com. That coverage frames the broader goal simply: young artists gathering in one spot to connect and exchange ideas around creativity and collaboration.
Details on the conference's full lineup, ticket availability, and total attendance were not independently confirmed beyond what organizers have listed. What's clear is that the Obama Presidential Center has become the backdrop for a nonprofit built around giving Chicago's next generation of creatives a stage, and a seat at the table with people already working in the industry.
