Join us in Chicago in May for the Spring Learning Session! Reunite with colleagues near and far as we:
- celebrate your community’s milestones
- recognize the challenges of the past year, and
- discuss foundations, definitions, and data tools for ending homelessness
Are you attending? Below you’ll find a detailed agenda and suggestions of what to pack for the Learning Session!
Learning Session Location:
Hyatt Regency McCormick Place
2233 South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60616
Detailed Agenda
Click here to download the full agenda as a PDF.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I register for the Learning Session?
Links to register your team have been emailed directly to your Built for Zero Team Leads, who will lead your team in prioritizing which members of your team should attend. If you aren’t sure who your Team Lead is, or if you are your community’s lead and haven’t received the registration link, email bfzlearningsession@community.solutions.
Is there a maximum number of people from my community who can attend?
UPDATE as of 4/11/2022: Yes, each community will now be able to register up to six (6) people to attend.
Is there a minimum number of people from my community who should attend?
Don’t come alone! We recommend sending at least two participants. We’ll be doing a lot of assessing, planning, and decision-making. This will be easier and more fun with at least two people in conversation.
How do I decide who should attend from my community?
We recommend prioritizing your Team Lead and Data Lead. For the additional slots, we recommend including other members from your core improvement team. During this Learning Session, we’ll likely build on past Learning Sessions to center racial equity in our work. Keep this in mind as you prioritize who will attend this Learning Session, and consider inviting those who would be most able to provide feedback during these conversations, particularly people with lived experience of homelessness.
Will any of the sessions be live-streamed or recorded for those who can’t attend in person?
We are looking into different options for virtual participation. We hope to either be able to livestream some sessions, or include intentional touch-points where the team participating in person can check-in with the team back home. We’ll have more information about this as the agenda develops.
How do I book my hotel?
Update as of 4/26/2022: The first-come, first-serve hotel block at the Learning Session hotel — the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place — is now sold out. We recommend making hotel reservations at the nearby Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown South Loop or Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Central Loop, which are a short ride-share ride away from the conference hotel.
What Covid protocols will be taken during the event?
Built for Zero will follow all local and state guidelines while hosting this event. Attendees are strongly encouraged to take their own precautions and safety measures to ensure their health and safety at the event. At this time, it is our understanding that the city of Chicago and state of Illinois do not require proof of vaccinations. We encourage you to monitor city and state guidelines for the latest news, updates, and information as the event draws near.
In addition:
- All registrants are asked to attest to full vaccination status at the time of registration, and if unvaccinated, will be asked to wear a mask at all times during the Learning Session.
- We will be updating our mask protocol for all participants in accordance to local guidelines closer to the event. We will have masks available for all participants.
- We have capped registration to around 55% of the occupancy capacity in the plenary spaces in order to better support social distancing. We are also working to ensure that there is outdoor space available for all meals so that attendees can eat outdoors if they choose.
- All hotel staff will be masked and gloved when serving meals.
- Click here to stay up to date on the venue’s cleaning policies.
Helpful resources:
When is the deadline for registering?
The last day to register for the Learning Session is April 27.
When is the deadline for booking my hotel room(s)?
Update as of 4/26/2022: The first-come, first-serve hotel block at the Learning Session hotel — the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place — is now sold out. We recommend making hotel reservations at the nearby Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Downtown South Loop or Hilton Garden Inn Chicago Central Loop, which are a short ride-share ride away from the conference hotel.
What if I need to cancel my registration or swap registration with another teammate?
If you would like to cancel or modify the registrants for your community, please email bfzlearningsession@community.solutions.
What if I need to cancel my hotel room after the cancellation deadline?
Please contact the hotel directly to change or modify your reservation. You will receive a full refund if you cancel 72 hours before your arrival. After 72 hours you will be charged for one night’s room rate and tax. We suggest travel insurance to cover last-minute flight/hotel cancellations. You can research travel insurance options at SquareMouth or Insure My Trip.
When should I plan on arriving & departing from Chicago?
Official Learning Session activities will begin by 9 a.m, on Wednesday, May 11, so we recommend teams plan on arriving on Tuesday evening. Learning Session programming will conclude by 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 12, and we encourage teams to book travel out of Chicago on Thursday evening.
Will travel stipends be offered?
We are thrilled to be able to offer travel support for communities! Once you’ve registered for the Learning Session, you are eligible for a $1,000 travel stipend from Community Solutions to reimburse your community for collective hotel costs. We will follow up with your community lead about this opportunity once we have received all registrations.
I have more questions.
Email bfzlearningsession@community.solutions with any additional questions.
