digitalundivided (aka "DID") is the leading research, data, programming, and thought leadership organization championing an equitable entrepreneurial landscape. The organization announced the appointment of Leah Williams as its new Chief Executive Officer, ending digitalundivided's year-long nationwide search for a permanent leader. Williams brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to lead the organization through its next growth phase with her successful track record as a C-Suite leader across startups, new ventures, and quasi-governmental organizations.
Supermodel and beauty entrepreneur, Winnie Harlow, is sharing her Coca-Cola AI generated holiday cards to give fans a unique take on what's most important to her this festive season: kindness and empowerment.
This month marks a special achievement for veteran theatre artist Darryl Maximilian Robinson, Founder, Artistic Director and Producer of the multiracial chamber theater known as The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago.
H. R. 3226, the “Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) Reauthorization Act of 2023,” or the PREEMIE Act, legislation to improve pregnancy outcomes and infant health by continuing research and education programs aimed at preventing preterm births passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation was introduced by U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (IL-02), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Anna Eshoo (CA-16), and Michael Burgess (TX-26).
Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton is launching a new initiative dedicated to advancing women’s financial wholeness: We Thrive. We Thrive is focused on fostering financial health, freedom and resilience for all women in Illinois. As both a woman leader and Chair of the Illinois Council on Women and Girls, Lt. Governor Stratton understands women have a huge role to play in our state’s financial success, but systemic barriers continue to prevent women from wholly engaging in the economy. We Thrive is a major step towards financially empowering women across Illinois—half of our state’s population—to engage in the economy with confidence.
The City of Chicago’s Office of Community Safety announced a new, community-led initiative – The People’s Plan for Community Safety – that brings together government, community organizations, philanthropy, youth leaders, faith organizations, researchers and businesses to address historic disinvestment as co-creators of safety.
In partnership with Action Lines Productions and The Joffrey Ballet, the Adler Planetarium announces a new, cutting-edge collaboration of the immersive production Cosmic Rhythms, running Wednesday evenings from February 14 through April 17, 2024. On view at Chicago's Adler Planetarium, located at 1300 S Lake Shore Dr., the fulldome film experience takes audiences on a mesmerizing journey through the universe by blending dance with animation, computer-generated imagery, and insightful commentary from Adler astronomers. Cosmic Rhythms marks the first-ever collaboration between the Adler Planetarium, Action Lines, and Joffrey Ballet.
Exelon Corporation (Nasdaq: EXC), the nation’s premier transmission and distribution utility company, and the Exelon Foundation have awarded Green Lab Grants for the third consecutive year. To date, the program has provided $2.5 million to more than 70 grantees, which include public schools, private schools, and education-focused nonprofit organizations that run out-of-school programs serving Title I-eligible middle and high school students.
The Elmhurst Art Museum announces programs for A Love Supreme, a solo exhibition by Norman Teague inspired by legendary jazz musician John Coltrane, with an adjoining group exhibition in the Mies van der Rohe’s McCormick House featuring over 30 Chicago-based BIPOC artists titled A Love Supreme: McCormick House Reimagined. Teague uses Coltrane’s album “A Love Supreme” as a cultural touchstone to consider design influences from his life-long home in Chicago, exploring how the power of bold improvisational jazz and unapologetic Black aesthetics have expanded the minds and inspired creative communities of color. Celebrating BIPOC designers and a variety of cultural influences in Chicago at a time when the country is reckoning with representation across industries and disciplines, A Love Supreme takes place at the Elmhurst Art Museum from January 20 to April 28, 2024.
The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office returned nearly $47 million in missing money during November, Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs announced.
Choose Chicago, the city's official destination marketing organization, announces the highly anticipated return of the annual Chicago Restaurant Week (CRW). Produced annually by Choose Chicago, the beloved event celebrates its 17th year Friday, January 19 through Sunday, February 4, 2024. Food lovers can reserve tables and view menus online beginning today for multi-course meals at more than 381 Chicagoland eateries at eatitupchicago.com.
The City of Chicago was awarded the esteemed national Bond Buyer 2023 Deal of the Year award and the 2023 Deal of the Year award in the Midwest category. The City was honored for its innovative financing techniques to invest in social initiatives in the Chicago Recovery Plan, its capital investments, and the refinancing of outstanding debt, all of which generated significant debt-service savings for the City.
The Grace and Peace Community Center brought holiday cheer to Chicago’s Austin neighborhood with its annual “A Christmas To Remember” event. Celebrating its 25th year, the event served many of the migrant families recently relocated from Venezuela, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and other countries that the Center has been providing resources and support to. At the event, 250 families in need received toys, food, and winter essentials thanks to event sponsor DoorDash, who provided $2,500 to support the event.
The Artists Run Chicago Fund is supported by the Hyde Park Art Center. It provides funds to artist-run platforms that give opportunities to other artists, enable them to show their work, support artists in making artwork and make connections between artists and the work they make. The fund also gives priority to platforms led by Black, Indigenous, People of Color, LGBTQIA +, women artists and artists with disabilities. The hope is they can use the funds to strengthen the city’s art communities and artist-to-artist support networks.
As Chicago United for Equity enters a season of transition, its mission remains the same, to build a just, equitable and inclusive city. Chicago United for Equity was founded in 2016 by Niketa Brar and Elizabeth Greer as part of activism around and National Teachers Academy, where the population at the school and its surrounding communities were changing. There was a need for a different kind of leadership in the city.