Our six Chicagoans of the Year are a dauntless bunch. Consider the most well known, Roger Ebert. Robbed of his voice, the indomitable movie critic crafted a captivating new eloquence in his online blog and acclaimed memoir. Like Ebert, each of this year’s other honorees—a healer, an impresario, an educator, a volunteer extraordinaire, and a taxman—imaginatively persevered to create something new and necessary. At a January luncheon at The Peninsula, sponsored in part by American Airlines, Chicago will celebrate the achievements of these remarkable individuals, the intrepid heroes who make our city—and our world—a better place. Click the thumbnails below for more on each honoree.

Photography: Katrina Wittkamp