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TONIKA JOHNSON

PHOTOGRAPHER & ACTIVIST

Tonika Johnson is a visual artist/photographer from Chicago’s South Side Englewood neighborhood. She was featured in Chicago Magazine as a 2017 Chicagoan of the Year for her photography of Englewood's everyday beauty, countering its pervasive media coverage of poverty and crime.

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KATE SCHMIDGALL

EDITOR & FOUNDER OF BITTERSWEET MONTHLY

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Owner and Director at Bittersweet Creative. Kate founded the company in 2009 built on the premise that art and design have the unique power to transform statistics into stories and awareness into action.

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MELISSA HENNESSY

FOUNDER HENNESSY REPS

A photographer turned agent, and now educator and consultant, Melissa is helping other visual artists grow their confidence and self-worth so they can find their audience and market more effectively to grow their businesses. A freelancer’s champion and cheerleader, she lives by the mantra, “The dream is free, the hustle is sold separately.”

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MARTIN WOODS

OPERA VOCALIST

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Martin L. Woods is a classically trained yet multifaceted Vocalist who has performed all over the world. Martin’s professional concert and operatic debuts include performances on the stages of The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Atlanta opera, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Opera Theater, and the Goodman Theater.

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a jazz multi-instrumentalist (mainly a percussionist) and composer. During the 1970s, he formed the musical groups Ritual Trio and the Ethnic Heritage Ensemble. Kahil EL'Zabar has collaborated with Dizzy Gillespie, Stevie Wonder, Nina Simone, Cannonball Adderley, Paul Simon, Pharoah Sanders, Archie Shepp, Roy Ayers.

Dr. El'Zabar received a doctorate from Lake Forest College, IL, (PHD Interdisciplinary/Arts) in May 2006. Sir Kahil El'Zabar was Knighted by the Counsel General of France for his international contributions to the arts as a performer, educator, and curator, in 2014, making him an official Chevalier (Knight of the Arts). El'Zabar is also co-scored arrangements for the highly acclaimed theatrical version of Disney's,"The Lion King".

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Kahil El Zabar

Artist & Musician

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TRUE CONFERENCE

AN ANNUAL SUMMIT WHERE A DIVERSE LINEUP OF INDUSTRY LEADERS SPEAK CREATIVE TRUTH INTO THE LIVES OF YOUNG CREATIVES. EXPECT WORLD-CLASS INSIGHT ON SUCCESS, FAILURE, AND RESILIENCE IN A VARIETY OF CREATIVE FIELDS.

PAST SPEAKERS

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ELISE SWOPES

Photographer & Designer, Brand Partnerships

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MIKE CARSON

Creative Direction, Big Sean, Rhythm & Flow

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COLBY LEWIS

Hamilton Actor & Producer

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TUAN HUYNH

Senior Art Director, Leo Burnett

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COREY GILKEY

Founder, Leaders 1354 & Boxville

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MELISSA HENNESSY

Founder Hennessy Reps

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DAVID CHOI

Founder, Seoul Taco

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SCOTT GOLDSTEIN

Artist & Entrepreneur

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ROSS KIMBALL

Writer & Actor

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SCOOP JACKSON

Sports & Culture Journalist, ESPN

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MARCUS SMITH

Photographer

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SENTROCK

Artist

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TRASHHAND

Photographer

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LIZ MILLER GERSHFLED

Exec Art Producer, Energy BBDO

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KATE SCHMIDGALL

Director, Founder of Bittersweet

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KAT TUSHIM

Creative Director, Upshot

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DAVE MATA

DJ, Founder, Soul Summit

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TONIKA JOHNSON

Photographer & Activist

WHY ATTEND TRUE CHICAGO?

GET EDUCATED BY ESTABLISHED CREATIVES AND ENTREPRENEURS

GET EDUCATED BY ESTABLISHED CREATIVES AND ENTREPRENEURS

GET ENERGIZED TO DO YOUR BEST WORK

GET ENERGIZED TO DO YOUR BEST WORK

EXPAND YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND INFLUENCE

EXPAND YOUR PERSPECTIVE AND INFLUENCE

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