Think differently.
Act collectively.

We are an alliance of companies using our assets and capabilities to address inequities in the greater Chicago region.
Morningstar
United Airlines
The University of Chicago
Northwestern Medicine
Verizon
Mars Wrigley
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
Hyatt Hotels
Fifth Third Bank
ComEd, an Excelon Company
Amazon.com
First Women's Bank
Allstate Insurance
Starbucks
Zeno Group
Rudd Resources
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The Chicago region cannot prosper while more than half of residents are excluded from mainstream economic, civic, and social life.

Regions that are more equitable grow faster than those with high levels of inequality.

Coalition members are taking action.

Based on community input, companies are identifying new ways to deploy their capital, capabilities, and employee enthusiasm.

Now is the time to act.

COVID-19 brought into sharp relief deep racial and economic disparities. The murder of George Floyd refocused the nation's attention on racial justice. Widespread gun violence and its devastating consequences for individuals, families, and whole communities remind us that we must do more than react.

We must address the root causes. We must move beyond "business as usual" to catalyze permanent systemic change.

OUR APPROACH

Business as usual.

Business UNusual.

1. Move beyond philanthropy.

Philanthropy plays a critical role in our region, but businesses can have a greater impact than philanthropists alone. When companies challenge themselves to do business in ways that actively address inequities, change is possible. Equity and business success become linked—each promotes the other's growth.
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2. Rethink business investment and operations.

Large and small, public and private, old and new—businesses are the lifeblood of our region. To reduce and sustain reductions in inequality, companies must invest and operate in ways that help businesses, residents, and the entire region thrive.
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Hiring from local talent pools
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Creating healing-centered workplaces
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Investing in community-led real estate
development projects
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Retaining and advancing employees
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Working with local vendors
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Growing business operations regionally

3. Take action.

Our members focus on what they can do today to create sustainable change in the Chicago region. The Coalition offers practical and innovative initiatives that amplify the impact of each hour and dollar spent.

4. Work together.

When we act together, we can challenge "business as usual" and build something new in its place. We can pool our resources and know-how and hold each other accountable for doing more. Together, we have the potential to change the culture of doing business in Chicago.

TAKING ACTION

Business as usual.

Our Initiatives

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Chicago Resiliency Network

Building trauma-informed, healing-centered workplaces that are better for employees and better for business.

Companies learning, applying principles, and sharing new practices, challenges, and results.

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"It's weird how things connect when you have the right people making the connections."

Corporate Connector

Fostering relationships between catalytic real estate projects, related businesses, and Chicagoland's corporate community.

Bringing expertise and opportunities to community-led real estate developments and businesses to increase the likelihood of success.

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EPIC is a lifeline for projects that need pre-development capital to unlock opportunity.

EPIC

An innovative equity product that invites companies to invest in community-led catalytic real estate projects in neighborhoods affected by disinvestment.

Capitalizing $50-million pool of funds to provide flexible, patient, risk-tolerant, affordable equity capital.

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Fair Chance Hiring

Expanding our region's talent pool to include individuals with criminal records—millions of whom can become engaged and productive employees.

Companies come together in a cohort-based program to assess barriers, identify opportunities, and implement strategies with peer companies and local and national experts.

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5/25 Move to Action

Individual corporate commitments to build an inclusive and equitable Chicago by changing business operations—backed by action plans and impact measurement.

25+ firms have made specific pledges to act in three principal categories: inclusive workforce, businesses of color, and neighborhood investments.

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Discovery Phase

Fair Chance Contracting

Client contracts often restrict vendors from placing employees on-site who have criminal backgrounds, creating an additional hurdle for vendor companies to consider when hiring fair chance talent.

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Discovery Phase

Invest Together

The Corporation Coalition is partnering with Just Act Partners to execute Invest Together, a new exploratory effort to identify Chicago employers who might be willing to move jobs to the South and West sides, and then matching those employers with development projects seeking corporate tenants.

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Chicago Resiliency Network

Building trauma-informed, healing-centered workplaces that are better for employees and better for business.

Companies learning, applying principles, and sharing new practices, challenges, and results.

Learn More

Corporate Connector

Building trauma-informed, healing-centered workplaces that are better for employees and better for business.

Companies learning, applying principles, and sharing new practices, challenges, and results.

Learn More

EPIC

Building trauma-informed, healing-centered workplaces that are better for employees and better for business.

Companies learning, applying principles, and sharing new practices, challenges, and results.

Learn More