Tucked away in the historic Bronzeville neighborhood, up a flight of stairs and through a side entrance, Cynthia “Cyn” McWilliams is building an empire of imagination.
The professional actress, whose face may be familiar from television and film, is the driving force behind CynCity Creative, a vibrant hub designed to shatter the notion that success requires a one-way ticket to New York or Los Angeles.
“I am an actress and I am here living and working on the South Side because I wanted to fill the gap for you,” McWilliams explains in a tour of the space. “I want you to know that you do not have to leave the city of Chicago to be successful.”
CynCity Creative is more than just a rental space; it’s a full-service ecosystem for artists.
The “content lab and creator’s loft” boasts a professional photography studio, a glam suite for hair and makeup, a press room for interviews, and a state-of-the-art podcast studio complete with an audio engineer. Thoughtful touches, like showers, laundry services, and toothbrushes, reveal a founder who understands the hectic, unglamorous reality of production.
“If you’re a producer and you need a place to make things happen, then that’s what we have,” McWilliams says. “We have beautiful space available for you and we have a team of creatives to help you make it happen.”
Reclaiming the ‘Black Metropolis’
The choice of Bronzeville is deeply intentional. McWilliams, a DePaul graduate and adjunct faculty member, didn’t just pick any neighborhood. She planted her flag in the heart of what was once known as the “Black Metropolis,” a legendary center of African-American culture and business in the early 20th century.
“I love Bronzeville, first of all. It’s so full of history,” she says, her voice filled with purpose. “The Black Metropolis, I think to me, still stands bright as an example of what we can be when we are a community that embraces one another and works together.”
This isn’t just a business venture; it’s an act of cultural reclamation.
In an industry where access is often gated by geography and connections, McWilliams is democratizing the tools of creation. She is betting that the next great filmmaker, podcaster, or photographer doesn’t need to be poached from Chicago, but can be nurtured right here, within a community rich with legacy.
Her own background—a 43-year-old Black woman, born in West Berlin, a working actress and educator—informs her mission.
She has seen the industry from the inside and is now using that knowledge to build a ladder for others. CynCity Creative is more than a suite of rooms for rent; it’s a declaration that the stories from the South Side are worth telling, and more importantly, worth investing in.
