Pictured above:  Madeleine Welch of L.E.K. Consulting and Ryan Jones of Cultivate Collective, partners on a recent Corporate Connector project, chatted at the February member meeting. (Photo courtesy Sidley & Austin)‍

Managing Director Brian Fabes thanked members for their investment in our shared purpose to use Chicago firms’ brainpower and economic strength to build a regional economy that works for all at our first member meeting in February 2023 hosted by Sidley Austin LLP.

In 2023, the Coalition aims to expand members' impact, facilitate deeper learning and wider conversations, and experience meaningful growth in our membership, Fabes said.

Also at the meeting:

• Rob McGhee of Fifth Third Bank presented on the bank’s Empowering Black Futures Neighborhood Program, the focus of a recent Business UNusual post spotlighting innovative ways to invest in the regional economy, and how it is working on the ground in South Chicago with local partner, Claretian Associates.
• New CEO Andrea Sáenz of The Chicago Community Trust outlined the community foundation’s focus on closing the region’s racial and ethnic wealth gap, which she called “our region’s greatest challenge.” Saenz emphasized the need for the private sector to be partners in this work.
• We unveiled our 2022 Impact Report, available to download here. Among the highlights from the report, highlighting the successes of our Chicago Resiliency Network, Corporate Connector, EPIC, Fair Chance Hiring, and 5/25 Move to Action initiatives, members’ “Business UNusual” innovations and the continued growth of the Coalition.

Members interested in receiving a link to the agenda and video recording should reach out to us at info@corpcoalition.org to request the link.

Our new video

Our thanks to the multimedia team at Sidley Austin LLP (Official) for this short video featuring interviews with Corporate Coalition members on our work to promote a regional economy that works for all.