On October 31, we (virtually) hosted our next Demystifying Social Impact Careers program exploring foundation roles! Moderated by Daniel Moss, CFRE, Chicago leaders Channing R. N. Lenert, Mary Pounder, Ebony Chuukwu, and Sandra Aponte shared their career journeys and the skills and insights they developed along the way.
Annual Meeting of Membership | August 2023
SR Chicago guests, board members, and sponsors came together for an energizing and inspiring 2023 Annual Meeting. We celebrated another great year of social impact programming as well as the many contributions of Immediate Past President Brandon Davis and outgoing board members Anne Gross, Damion Heron, and Michelle Mahoney. We also welcomed Kate Nardin as President for a two-year term and announced new board members David Chudy, Paul Feith, Phylicia Manley, Tovah McCord, Morlie Patel, and Maggie Sugrue, MPH.
Special thanks to our event sponsors Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Chicago Cares, Chicago Public Library Foundation, EY, For Good Advisory, and YWCA Metropolitan Chicago!
Conversation, Q&A, book signing and giveaway with acclaimed author of The Gray Rhino and You Are What You Risk, Michele Wucker | May 2023
Sharing from her new book, “You Are What You Risk,“ Michele Wucker, offered a bold new framework for understanding and re-shaping our relationship with risk and uncertainty to live more productive and successful lives.
Special thanks to Michele Wucker and FBRK Impact House
PROGRAM TAKEAWAYS & RESOURCE LINKS
Beyond the Box Office – Exploring new ways of supporting arts and culture | March 2023
The arts and culture sector is inextricably tied to the economic success of Chicago, generating more than $4 billion in economic activity across the state. Our world-famous performance venues, museums, and public art drive tourism and beautify spaces; invite our diverse communities to connect with their history, to document their lived experience, and remember their past; and provide accessible employment, opportunities to learn new skills, and advocacy for community-specific social issues.
This vibrant sector is fueled throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods by a unique ecosystem of earned income, foundation support, government programs, and corporate sponsorship—but covid has impacted many of the traditional ways we champion and interact with the arts. We explored the crucial role the arts and culture sector plays in growing and sustaining a more thriving, vibrant Chicago, and to heard more about new ways of partnering for greater impact.
Panelists
- Kalena Chevalier, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
- Allison Clark, Associate Director of Impact Investments at MacArthur Foundation
- Vanessa Hall, Manager, Community Partnerships & Engagement, Peoples Gas/North Shore Gas
- Vershawn Sanders Ward, CEO of Red Clay Dance Company
Moderator
- Crystal Coats, Director of Programs and Initiatives, IFF
Special thanks to the Harris Theater for Music and Dance
PROGRAM TAKEAWAYS & RESOURCE LINKS
Innovating to Advance Health Equity | February 21, 2023
The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted longstanding health disparities in Chicago and the need to leverage data, innovation, and partnerships to advance health equity. According to the Chicago Department of Public Health, there is a 9.2 year life expectancy gap between Black Chicagoans and non-Black Chicagoans. The gap widens even further when comparing specific neighborhoods, including a staggering 30 year life expectancy gap between Streeterville and Englewood just 9 miles south. Our neighbors living in the lowest-resourced communities have higher rates of chronic conditions and less access to care and services to help prevent adverse health outcomes and address health needs. This cross-sector panel examined how health systems, communities, and the private sector can co-develop innovative solutions to advance health equity and create positive change across Chicagoland.
Panelists
- Dr. Allison Arwady, MD, MPH, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health
- Laron Taylor, Director of the Blue Door Neighborhood Centers, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
- Dr. Garth Walker, MD, MPH, Senior Medical Director of Value-Based Care, RUSH Health
Moderator
TAKEAWAYS, RESOURCE LINKS & PROGRAM RECORDING
Healthy Neighborhoods | December 2022
Healthy Neighborhoods are a vital part of ensuring the stability and wellness of communities across Chicago. What makes a healthy neighborhood relies on a multitude of factors and can vary depending on geography and demographics. In this conversation we explored three organizations whose work significantly contribute to the health of neighborhoods across Chicago, providing resources impacting education, healthcare, and crime prevention sectors. We discussed how these priorities intersect, merge, and sometimes even compete – all in the efforts to support the needs of Chicagoans.
Panelists:
Paul Robinson, Director of Service Strategy, Chicago CRED
Moderator:
Jennifer Parks, Executive Director, Habitat for Humanity Chicago
PROGRAM TAKEAWAYS, RESOURCES & LINKS
Opportunity Employment: Talent is Everywhere, Opportunity is Not
November 2022
Too often, entire communities of people are overlooked in hiring processes. This disconnection between jobs and potential employees hurts individuals, communities, and businesses. In a time when employers are struggling to fill roles, it is especially important to recognize the opportunities that arise when companies thoughtfully commit to building a more equitable workforce. Ou panel of experts shared how to EXPLORE the business case of opportunity hiring, ENACT hiring changes and FOLLOW-THRU on development for individuals.
Panelists:
Juan Carlos Linares, President and CEO of Association House of Chicago
Marianne Merola, Education Program Manager, McDonald’s
Kimberly Shin, Managing Director of Talent Rewire at FSG
Thank you to Barnes & Thornburg LLC for hosting this event
Professional Sports Teams Investing in Chicagoland Communities September 2022
Chicago’s world-class sports teams invest millions in philanthropic support
through direct grants, community programs, player appearances, in-kind
donations and more. Our line-up of leaders shared their
approach to making positive social impact through strong community
partnerships and by mobilizing thousands of fans into making a difference.
Many thanks to our panelists:
William Barnard, Community Engagement Manager, Chicago Sky
Cares Foundation
Adrienne Curry, Vice President of Community Engagement, Chicago
Bulls
Alicia Gonzalez, Executive Director, Cubs Charities
Sara Guderyahn, Executive Director, Chicago Blackhawks Foundation
Christine OReilly, Vice President of Community Relations, Chicago White Sox & Executive Director, Chicago White Sox Charities
Thank you to Cubs Charities for hosting this event
Building a Stronger, More Resilient Workforce | June 2022
Building a strong local workforce that works for everyone requires robust partnerships between educational institutions, businesses, nonprofits, government, philanthropists, and others. As more and more functions become automated or move online, the jobs of tomorrow will require dynamic, adaptive local ecosystems, that are collaborative and can solve problems at scale. How are our city’s most innovative workforce development programs shifting their approach to anticipate and meet this growing need? Our panelists discussed how the social impact sector supports a forward-thinking and inclusive Chicago workforce.
Tech in the City – Building a Thriving Chicago Tech Ecosystem | March 2022
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, employment in computer and information technology occupations is projected to grow 13% from 2020 to 2030, faster than the average for all occupations. Yet, while technology has permeated every aspect of our lives, our country faces an acute shortage of tech talent. With its potential for solving programs and driving economic health, how do we create more inclusive pathways to these jobs of both today and the future? Our panel discussed how Chicago organizations and individuals are coming together to leverage technology and data for the greater good—and what challenges remain to be solved.
Unpacking the Impact of a More Sustainable Food Future | February 2022
Chicago is well known as one of our country’s best food cities. Yet too many people still go hungry—Feeding America estimates that food insecurity in Cook County rose by 51% in 2020 alone—and the ongoing pandemic has impacted supply chains and the hospitality sector in unprecedented ways. Recent reports show that individuals, businesses, and organizations have responded to the increasing need, with philanthropic giving to food-related causes up more than 600% nationally….but how do we move past first response and toward a more sustainable food future? We unpacked the impact that food has on our economy and the health and wellbeing of all Chicagoans.
Galas, Volunteering, and Auctions Oh My! Re-Envisioning Engagement & Impact in Today’s World | January 2022
Many nonprofits have historically relied on engaging philanthropic partners in their mission—and inviting giving—through galas, auctions, volunteer days, and other special events. But with Covid-19 canceling, postponing, and radically reshaping most in-person gatherings, many are now beginning to scrutinize these activities more closely. Are we moving past the Gala-addiction and, if so, what does this revenue stream turn to? Is virtual volunteering here to stay? How can we drive impact and engagement in innovative ways? Social Responsibility Chicago’s panel of experts weighed in on new models for maximizing impact in today’s world, both for nonprofits and funders.
SRC JAN 2022 TAKEAWAYS AND LINKS
Adler Planetarium 2021 Look Back Report
Adler Planetarium Zooniverse Overview Prepared for Members of SRC
Coming Together to Support Our Students: Counteracting the Impact of COVID-19 on Social Emotional Learning | December 2021
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) refers to the crucial, lifelong skills we all need to develop to be healthy and contributing members of society. From self-awareness and emotional competency to empathy and interpersonal skills, building these aptitudes from a young age helps to increase academic achievement and decreases negative outcomes later in life. After two years of traumatically interrupted learning and relationships, SEL in our schools is more important than ever.
Our program brought together expert panelists as we learned more about how the pandemic is impacting students—and what solutions across sectors are emerging to ensure that our children are healthy, resilient, and supported.
Sustainable Solutions: Connecting Around Climate Change | October 2021
UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports show that limate change is “widespread, rapid, & intensifying,” increasing incidents of extreme drought, fires, floods, and food shortages across the globe. It will take incredible coordination on local, national, and global levels to adapt to and mitigate these impacts.
Our experts discussed tackling climate change from a range of perspectives—from growing our green spaces to more sustainable property development to advancing the commitments of the world’s largest restaurant chain. We explored how climate change is impacting Chicago—and how individuals, nonprofits, and businesses are moving the needle on the most pressing issue of our time.