This summer is predicted to be the hottest on record according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with temperatures 30 to 50 percent above normal in much of the United States. Extreme heat harms human health, especially the elderly and outdoor workers, with 2300 deaths nationwide in 2023, a number that is increasing annually.

Cooked: Survival by Zip Code delves into the story of the worst heat disaster in U.S. history in 1995 in Chicago, when 739 residents—mostly elderly and black—died over the course of one week. The film links the deadly heat wave’s devastation back to the manmade disaster of structural racism, shining a light on the issues of poverty, race, class, and education that underlie how natural disasters take lives.

We will have resources and conversation about how our city is working on resilience within our neighborhoods and how you can take action.

Light refreshments will be available. Please reserve your free tickets to help us with planning. 

Questions? Contact [email protected].