Black History Month is always a busy time for UCAN and this year was no exception. Whether we were hosting an event or attending one, we made sure to learn, celebrate and educate during Black History Month!
Between the Great Migration Growing Exodus: The Future of Black Chicago?
We partnered with the University of Illinois at Chicago Institute for Research and Race and Public Policy to discuss their report findings on the state of Black Chicago. Their work, Between the Great Migration and the Growing Exodus: The Future of Black Chicago is eye opening and exposes many truths! To review the report please visit www.irrpp.uic.edu.
Alliance Senior Leadership Conference
Our Executive Vice President of External Affairs & Diversity, Claude Robinson, had the opportunity of speaking at the Alliance Senior Leadership Conference in Savannah, GA. He, along with other executives, furthered the conversation of why it is imperative to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion within the nonprofit sector.
City of Chicago Black History Month Celebration
We had a great celebrating Black History Month with Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other City Officials for her #BHM reception at the South Shore Cultural Center!
Chicago Westside Police and Youth Sports Conference
The Chicago Westside Police and Youth Sports Conference had their Championship Day games at our Arthur L. Turner Gymnasium. The games were a great way to celebrate all the work our youth put into this season. It also showed the support they received from their respective police officers, community, and religious leaders in their districts.
3rd Annual Black Women’s Leadership Brunch
Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee, and employee resource groups, Sisterhood 180, and the Alumni Involvement Council hosted their annual Black Women’s Leadership Brunch: Collaboration over Competition. Our witty panelists Heather Ireland Robinson (moderator), Kimberly M. Foxx, Ayoka Noelle Samuels, Ebonee Williams, Shaundrece Dixon and Kimberlie Jackson, left us empowered; and our group activity tapped into our creativity. #KatrinaWaddy, thanks for using your expertise to sit as a panelists for the group discussion!
STEP Summit
“We cannot be great as a city when our neighbors are starving and suffering. The pain is real and palpable, and we must conquer this in our generation, in our time, and we must start now.”
Thanks Mayor Lori Lightfoot for hosting Solutions Toward Ending Poverty (STEP) Summit today at University of Illinois at Chicago. UCAN’s very own Claude Robinson sat on a panel with policymakers, artists, employers, nonprofit and neighborhood leaders to discuss Chicago’s next big steps to ending poverty.
American Son Viewing and Discussion
In celebration of Black History Month, two of our employee resource groups, Black Men 360 and Multiethnic Affinity Group teamed up for the movie viewing, American Son, which tells the story of the mother of a missing teenage boy, followed by an authentic group discussion.
Dr. Michael Eric Dyson at Dominican University
We had an inspirational time with Dr. Michael Eric Dyson at Dominican University as he took us on a journey through politics, Black history, American history, education, religion, and of course, hip-hop. Dr. Dyson, New York Times bestseller shared deep insight on his book What Truth Sounds Like and introduced us to his new book on hip-hop legend, JAY-Z!
Moving from Allies to Accomplices
In honor of Black History Month, we had the pleasure of hosting nonprofit leaders from around Chicago to discuss “Moving from Allies to Accomplices.” This was an informative ally-building workshop that focused on building effective ally-ship across cultures.
Black Men 360’s 3rd Annual Valentine’s Day Brunch
The Employee Resource Group Black Men 360 made our day with their third annual Valentine’s Day Brunch, complete with a flippin’ flapjack flipper!
50th Annual Black Creativity Gala
Staff joined hundreds of people at the 50th Annual Black Creativity Gala at the for a night of fun networking, inspiration, and to support a great cause!