The Public Square Talks Series: Eric Williams

What does it look like when an entrepreneurial enterprise is also a community hub? What happens when independent artists and artisans are prioritized over fast fashion? Eric Williams is the Owner and Creative Director of The Silver Room, a retail, events and community space on Chicago’s South side. Eric has made his business by developing an involved, socially conscious, fashion-forward community. Through a partnership with individual artists and small, independent fashion houses and a series of community events and festivals throughout the year, The Silver Room is a unique place. It doesn’t have to be. Eric will share his journey to create a conscious business and support community development through retail and the arts. He’ll share what’s worked, what hasn’t, and why he believes entrepreneurial commerce is the biggest lever for social change and growth.

Eric Williams is the founder and creative director of the Silver Room, an innovative retail, arts, education and community events space opened in 1997. The Silver Room intersects the worlds of fashion, music and visual art, and acts as a boutique, gallery, and community arts center. Williams is committed to creating spaces and curating events that strengthen communities and fuel positive economic impact. He holds a degree in Finance from the University of Illinois at Chicago and is a currently a Loeb Fellow at the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University

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