Photo by Marshelle Sanders/Chicago Defender
For dozens of young people from Chicago and its surrounding suburbs, Lollapalooza offered more than just a weekend of music. It provided an opportunity to explore the city, see their favorite artists and discover new ones, enjoy a variety of food and beverages, and experience one of Chicago’s most iconic summer festivals.
Building on its largest-ever investment in the Chicago community, Airbnb partnered once again with My Block, My Hood, My City (M3) on Saturday, Aug. 1, to provide teens from Chicago’s South and West sides with the opportunity to attend Lollapalooza in Grant Park.
The experience welcomed students from neighborhoods across Chicago and the surrounding suburbs, many attending one of the nation’s largest music festivals for the first time.
Leading the group was Brianna Matthews, Manager of Youth Development for My Block, My Hood, My City, who said the outing reflects the organization’s mission of inspiring exploration and developing future leaders.
“We had a great summer,” Matthews said. “We kicked things off with Downtown Day, where we invited 1,000 teens downtown so they could explore the city. Now we’re at Lollapalooza with Airbnb, and we’re also hosting our Mini Explorers program, where seventh and eighth graders travel throughout Chicago to spark their curiosity.”
Matthews said partnering with Airbnb was a natural fit because both organizations share a commitment to investing in young people and strengthening neighborhoods through meaningful experiences.
“We’re super grateful,” Matthews said. “We really align on wanting to build resilient neighborhoods, and that starts with our young people. They’re empowering youth by getting them outside and making sure they have access to one of the greatest experiences our city has to offer.”
She hopes experiences like Lollapalooza encourage students to dream bigger and embrace every opportunity around them.
“I hope young people continue to embrace the moment they’re in and use everything around them as a source to explore,” Matthews said. “That’s how they develop into future leaders and discover who they want to become. Hopefully they’ll think about what part of the Lollapalooza experience they want to help create in the future.”
For Airbnb, supporting M3 reflects the company’s commitment to investing in Chicago and the communities that make the city unique.
Jonathan Buckner, Public Policy Manager for Airbnb, said supporting organizations like M3 is another way Airbnb invests in Chicago’s future.
“My Block, My Hood, My City represents the entire city of Chicago,” Buckner said. “Chicago is incredibly important to Airbnb. Investing in Chicago means investing in our hosts, but it also means investing in Chicago’s youth.”
Buckner, who has lived in Chicago for more than 16 years, said partnering with M3 was an easy decision because of the organization’s long-standing impact throughout the city.
“When I joined Airbnb, partnering with an organization that shares our vision of building resilient neighborhoods was an easy decision,” he said.
Among the students enjoying the experience was 18-year-old Ayden Mahaffey, who said Lollapalooza allowed him to spend time with friends while experiencing something new.
“I feel excited,” Mahaffey said. “It’s cool to see a new community of people gather around, especially with my friends.”
Mahaffey said M3 has introduced him to experiences far beyond Chicago.
“I like how they let us explore new things around the city, but not only the city—internationally,” he said. “Some of us went to Paris during spring break. I like how they let us get out and explore more things.”
Another participant, Morgan, said many of her favorite experiences have come through My Block, My Hood, My City. “I feel like without My Block, I wouldn’t have experienced so many things,” she said. “I’ve gone kayaking for the first time, traveled out of town for the first time, and even went skiing for the first time. There have been so many firsts because of My Block, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.”
Morgan said attending Lollapalooza would not have been financially possible for her as a college student, making the opportunity even more meaningful.
Eighteen-year-old Rashad Washington of Chicago’s Austin neighborhood also credited M3 with expanding his world as he prepares to attend Southern Illinois University Carbondale, where he plans to major in business.
“I never really heard too much about Lollapalooza this year,” Washington said. “When they asked if I wanted to go, I was open to it. I’ve never been, so I wanted to see what the vibes were like. Right now I’m enjoying myself. Everybody’s cool, and we’re just having a good time.”
Washington said the organization has given him opportunities he never imagined, including traveling internationally.
“If it weren’t for them, I probably would have never come here,” he said. “I’ve been to Paris with them. I’ve gone out of the country. It’s a lot of things I’ve experienced that most teenagers wouldn’t experience without this program.”
After participating in M3 for two years, Washington said the organization has also supported him as he prepares for college.
“They’ve helped me with college stuff, too,” he said. “I’m very grateful that I’ve had the chance to experience all these things.”
Washington encourages other young people to take advantage of the opportunities M3 provides.
“I would definitely tell them to join,” he said. “Get outside. Explore your city. There’s so much in Chicago that people don’t even know about. Some people may think the city is boring, but they just haven’t experienced everything that’s here.”
One of his favorite memories was traveling to Paris, where students immersed themselves in French culture while visiting landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower.
Throughout the afternoon, the teens looked forward to performances by artists including Leon Thomas, Olivia Dean and The Neighbourhood while enjoying the festival atmosphere together.
While the music served as the backdrop, the day’s greatest impact extended beyond the performances. Through partnerships like the one between My Block, My Hood, My City and Airbnb, Chicago youth are gaining access to experiences that broaden their perspectives, build confidence and encourage them to see new possibilities—both within their own neighborhoods and around the world.
