ABOUT CHICAGO UNITED

Chicago United is an advocacy organization made up of racially diverse CEOs and executive level management who increase economic opportunity for all races by promoting multiracial leadership development in corporate governance, the leadership pipeline and business partnerships. Through a fierce brand of constructive conversation, Chicago United fosters inclusion and provides an opportunity for senior executives from all racial and ethnic groups to learn from one another, confront and break down racial barriers and achieve shared objectives.

Chicago United's members range from emerging businesses to Fortune 500 corporations, representing some of the Chicago’s brightest leaders. These companies have a shared investment in the city and in building sustainable diversity in the workforce and leadership. Members are among the nation’s thought leaders in developing sustainable diversity in a way that strengthens the corporate community, the broader economy and society as a whole.

History

The 1968 riots that followed the tragic death of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. prompted top business leaders to discuss solutions to local economic instability and racial unrest thereby launching Chicago United. For 40 years, Chicago United has maintained the dialogue among multiracial senior leadership driving corporate and minority-owned businesses, civic and non-profit leadership in the common goal of a creating a stronger social and economic climate for all races.

Strategy

To have the greatest beneficial impact in the business environment, we take a holistic view in developing sustainable diversity. For that reason we focus on three key interrelated areas of multiracial leadership:

• Governance
• Management
• Business Partnerships

It is critical to understand the interrelated nature of these three areas and why they impact sustainable diversity in corporate America.

Governance determines the directives that focus on the economic well being of the corporation, including the markets served, vision of the supply chain, workforce development policies and social investment policies. Diversity brings depth and richness to the board decisions, which ultimately benefits the corporations.

Executive level management implements the directives of the corporation as determined by the board. Diversity brings real world sensitivities to the demands of human resource development, marketing, supply chain development, and social responsibility. A diverse leadership group, in conjunction with a diverse board, can affect the types of business decisions necessary to position corporations for sustainable success in the global business environment. As these businesses succeed, the city's social and economic fabric is strengthened, and as the city gets stronger, the corporation's foundation for continued growth and success also gets stronger.

Finally, diverse business partnerships provide business trading partners that mirror the customer base, as well as the demographic environment. It is beneficial for the corporation to develop relationships that add value both in cost containment and market penetration. As corporations and minority business enterprises forge strong business partnerships, the City of Chicago's economic infrastructure gets strengthened by the building of wealth in diverse communities. The enhanced flow of money improves the property tax base, increases employment and earnings, ignites business activity and creates the multiplier effects of local firms and residents spending dollars with other local firms. Chicago United’s Forward Five Initiative, is one example of a strategic effort designed to build a stronger regional economy and minority businesses of scale.

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