The Loc’d Life Expo will highlight loc culture, natural hair, fashion, entrepreneurship, and community at Kennedy-King College on September 12.
Locs are more than a hairstyle, they represent culture, identity and self-expression”— Gail MitchellCHICAGO, IL, UNITED STATES, August 25, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Gail Mitchell, who serves as Executive Director of the Loc’d Life Foundation, will helm Chicago’s first Locs Festival, the Loc’d Life Expo, on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at Kennedy-King College, situated at 740 W. 63rd Street in Chicago.
Running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., the Loc’d Life Expo will unite members of Chicago’s loc’d and natural-hair communities for a day devoted to culture, creativity, entrepreneurship, education, and self-expression.
Mitchell, a Chicago native whose parents emigrated from Jamaica, has worn locs for 18 years and has navigated her own natural hair journey—moving from relaxed hair to a loose natural style, and finally to locs. Through the Loc’d Life Foundation, she aims to shift the perception of locs from simply a hairstyle to an ultimate form of self-expression.
“Locs are more than a hairstyle, they represent culture, identity and self-expression,” said Gail Mitchell, Executive Director of the Loc’d Life Foundation. “The Loc’d Life Expo gives our community a place to celebrate that.”
The festival will include a live hair and fashion show, panel discussions, demonstrations, performances, music, food, vendors, swag bags, and a dedicated Kidz Korner—offering a full-day experience for both adults and families.
Attendees will also be able to explore businesses that provide products and services for locs and natural hair, while supporting entrepreneurs who serve Chicago’s loc’d and natural-hair communities.
Alderwoman Jeanette Taylor and Korporate will be recognized as honorees during the Loc’d Life Expo, and Dr. Kisha Roberts Tabb along with Dilla will take part in the day’s programming.
Another key feature of the Expo will be the recognition of the winners of the first-ever Loc’d Life LadyLocs Awards, adding further celebration to a day focused on individuals making a difference within the loc’d community.
Loc’d Life Magazine is a sponsor of the Loc’d Life Expo.
The Expo also receives support from community partners such as Styles4Kidz, Black Girl Vitamins, and the Center of Equity for Creative Arts at Kennedy-King College, among others.
In addition to her role at the Loc’d Life Foundation, Mitchell is an Associate Professor of Communication Design at Kennedy-King College, one of the City Colleges of Chicago, where she shares insights from the publishing industry with her students.
Mitchell has also spent more than 20 years working in Chicago’s design industry. Her professional history includes positions at the Chicago Tribune; Associated Publications, which publishes Sophisticate’s Black Hair Styles and Care Guide; Johnson Publishing Company, home of Jet Magazine; [culture] Magazine; and the Chicago Defender.
That blend of personal experience, education, publishing, and design has shaped Mitchell’s vision for the Loc’d Life Foundation and the Loc’d Life Expo. Through the organization, she is working to increase visibility for the loc’d community while creating opportunities for cultural celebration, education, representation, and entrepreneurship.
For Tickets, click the "Loc’d Life Expo" link above.
Event Details
Event: Loc’d Life Expo — Chicago’s First Locs Festival
Date: Saturday, September 12, 2026
Time: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Kennedy-King College
Address: 740 W. 63rd Street, Chicago, Illinois
Website: www.locdlifefoundation.org
About Gail Mitchell
Gail Mitchell is Executive Director of the Loc’d Life Foundation, an Associate Professor of Communication Design at Kennedy-King College, and a Chicago design and publishing veteran with over two decades of industry experience. A Chicago native born to Jamaican immigrants, Mitchell has worn locs for 18 years and has transitioned from relaxed hair to loose natural hair to locs. Her professional background includes work with the Chicago Tribune, Associated Publications, Johnson Publishing Company’s Jet Magazine, [culture] Magazine, and the Chicago Defender. Through the Loc’d Life Foundation, Mitchell aims to reframe the narrative around locs—presenting them not merely as a style, but as a powerful form of self-expression.
About Loc’d Life Foundation
Loc’d Life Foundation is committed to celebrating and elevating the visibility of the loc’d community through cultural programming, community engagement, and events like the Loc’d Life Expo.
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