Bookclub Chicago

Graeme Phillips has been rolling up his sleeves with Chinese Mutual Aid for over a decade, building community and making change long before it was cool. At just 19, he co-founded Bookclub Chicago—the city’s first Gen Z-owned music venue—and quickly turned it into a cultural hotspot. He started throwing shows there in 2021, and hasn’t looked back since.
 

One of his standout projects, Audio Awareness, brought local bands and nonprofits together for concerts with a cause—raising funds and awareness for mental health support and homelessness. Not one to stay inside, Graeme also took to the streets (literally) to organize Bryn Mawrket, a vibrant street festival aimed at breathing life back into Bryn Mawr’s retail strip. The event drew over 40 local vendors and a crowd of more than 1,000.
 

In 2024, Graeme brought his hustle to the national stage—working at the Democratic National Convention to help connect delegates with media outlets. That same year, he was named a Presidential Scholar.