Moving Forward to 2022

Like many of you, I await 2022 eager to see what is next. At Chicago United, we have so much to look forward to with new and expanded programming, in-person events, and speaking engagements!

I can’t help but look back at 2021, and take stock in everything we’ve accomplished in the past year.

With a new team and strategic plan in place, Chicago United unveiled five strategic priorities at our Annual Meeting early in 2021. There, we outlined our goals to be advocates for access and opportunity, accelerate inclusive leadership, cultivate a thriving minority and business community, be thought leaders, and continue to build our brand. I am pleased to say, we got straight to work. Here are a few highlights:

Our CEO Roundtable and Diversity Officer Series and Business Leaders of Color Author Series flourished with speakers from Advocate Aurora Health, Nicor Gas, United Airlines, Mesirow Financial, Greeley and Hansen and other companies leading the push for increased diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). We enrolled new corporate members, including Amazon, CDW, Delta Dental of Illinois, LDK Advisory Services, Caroline and Ora Smith Foundation, and other businesses. We continued to build our Minority Business Partnerships program, and we held the Employee Resource Group Symposium in July. I also had the honor of introducing my first cohort of Business Leaders of Color, 50 board-ready executives we honored at this year’s in-person Bridge Awards gala. There, we also recognized Ariel Investments with the Bridge Award. I was beyond humbled to see nearly 600 people gather for the gala, which shows Chicago’s passion and readiness for positive change in business.

And, I’m proud to share that this year, the Corporate Inclusion Institute’s (CII) fourth Inclusion Cluster saw over four dozen graduates—bright new voices, ready to drive their businesses to more inclusive and prosperous futures. Cohort V begins in February, and enrollment is still open!

Still, this is only a fraction of what we were able to achieve in 2021. Add highlights in Crain’s Chicago Business, awards and recognition for our staff’s efforts, over 2,400 new followers on social media, and so much more to the list! Be on the lookout for our Year in Review. In the New Year, follow our website, and our social media feeds, for all the exciting work, advocacy and recognition of DE&I leaders you’ve come to expect from Chicago United.

We couldn't have done this without you, members and partners in this movement. We are grateful for your continued commitment and support. Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season!

• Satisfaction with the program is high with CII faculty, content, and applicability, averaging a 4.5 rating on a 5-point scale;
• Coaching relationships averaged a 4.7 rating on a 5-point scale and deemed extremely valuable; and,
• Approximately 70% of Corporate Guides and Fellows who graduated from the program, showed significant improvement in their cultural competency scores from the Intercultural Development Inventory.

• 45% of participants who responded to CII surveys have been promoted within their companies.

• CII Program Brochure
• Curriculum at a Glance
• Corporate Guide & Fellow Curriculum
• Executive Sponsor & Direct Manager Curriculum