January 22, 2009 — For the 15th consecutive year, Chicago magazine honored its Chicagoans on the Year, seven individuals who have changed life in the city for the better. Joining a caliber of more than 100 past honorees, this year’s Chicagoans include a Northwest Side housing activist, an African American historian, a philanthropic chef, a concerned mother, a pair of dance makers, and a soulful singer with a voice for the ages. The magazine celebrated their achievements at its annual Chicagoans of the Year Luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago Hotel.
Photography: Bob Carl