February 21, 2024

Leading In Color Newsletter

February 2024


Chicago United - Leading in Color Newsletter
February 2024
Insights from Leadership. Tiffany Hamel Johnson, President & CEO of Chicago United

Stay The Course

Remember, this fight is still about access and opportunity.

There are still underrepresented groups that still just need to be able to get to the starting line. They are talented, experienced and qualified, but cannot get their foot in the door because of the structural and systemic barriers that have been ingrained within our culture.

Do not let a small group of ill-meaning critics take your eyes off the importance of why we are doing the work we are all doing related to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

As we stay the course, we must not let them intimidate and divide us.

They are aligned. We must remain aligned as well.

Be well, 


Save The Date: Chicago United’s 2024 Annual Meeting

Save The Date: Chicago United’s 2024 Annual Meeting

Save the date for Chicago United’s 2024 Annual Meeting. Taking place Thursday, March 21, the meeting will be held from 8:30-10:30 a.m. Highlights of the agenda includes the installation of the 2024-2025 Board of Directors and Executive Committee Members, a featured Panel Discussion, and an awards presentation honoring our Members’ mission-advancing contributions in 2023. All Chicago United Members, Partners and Supporters are encouraged to attend.

Click here to register →
Tiffany Hamel Johnson Named 2024 Daniel Burnham Fellow

Tiffany Hamel Johnson Named
2024 Daniel Burnham Fellow

Tiffany Hamel Johnson, President and CEO of Chicago United, was named one of 26 top executives selected for the 2024 Cohort of Leadership Greater Chicago’s (LGC) Daniel Burnham Fellowship. The Fellowship is a strategic partnership accelerator designed for executives to urgently impact the region’s workforce and economic progress in their roles as change leaders and decision-makers.
Luz María Vargas Promoted To Director of Leadership Development and Organizational Capacity

Luz María Vargas Promoted To Director of Leadership Development and Organizational Capacity

Luz María Vargas has been promoted to Director of Leadership Development and Organizational Capacity. In this role, she is responsible for developing Chicago United’s Mid-Level Manager and Emerging Leaders Programming series, spearheading the biennial Business Leaders of Color honors, and facilitating various Chicago United research and analysis projects. 
We CU

Gail Arrigo, Executive Vice President of Chicago United, along with Robert Henry, Director of Membership Development, attended the Cook County State's Attorney Democratic Primary Debate hosted by ABC 7 Chicago and moderated by anchor Ravi Baichwal, where she posed a question focused on racial disparities in the criminal justice system to the candidates. 

Byron F. Taylor, Partner at Sidley Austin (a Chicago United Member Company) and a 2023 Business Leader of Color, was named one of six honorees for the 2024 Earl B. Dickerson Award presented by The Chicago Bar Association.

Mary Smith, Vice Chair of Veng Group, President of the American Bar Association, and a 2023 Business Leader of Color, was named one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ 2024 Notable Women in Law. 

Enrique Carrillo, a 2023 Business Leader of Color, has been named Director-Midwest Customer Growth and Strategy at Accenture Song.


Chicago United
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312-977-3060 • www.chicago-united.org