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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 the 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. “From day one, our administration has been focused on making Illinois the best state in the nation for women and girls. The wage gap gets a lot of attention, but the root of the issue goes deeper. As a working mother and caregiver, I have been directly impacted by some of the systemic hurdles that continue this cycle of inequity,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “We Thrive is a commitment to help Illinois’ women through all phases of financial decision-making, whether it’s accessing childcare, negotiating salaries, getting out of debt or planning for retirement. When women thrive, we all thrive.”

The We Thrive initiative kicked off with a roundtable discussion with women leaders hosted by Lt. Governor Stratton convening to discuss both the obstacles to and opportunities for Illinois’ women to advance in our economy.  Subsequently, Lt. Governor Stratton will host We Chats, listening sessions to engage women from diverse backgrounds in every corner of our state. “As an organization dedicated to creating economic power for women across Illinois, we are tremendously proud to be joining Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton for the We Thrive launch,” said Cherita Ellens, President and CEO of Women Employed. “I applaud the attention that Lieutenant Governor Stratton is placing on the gaps for women in the workplace, and I hope that this new initiative puts a spotlight on the issues working women face, but also finds solutions to make sure every woman in Illinois can thrive.”

The Chicago Loop Alliance (CLA) releases an extensive five-year strategic organizational plan, commissioned to take advantage of the evolving downtown and CLA’s role in the Loop following several years that significantly altered the district and organization’s business model. To create the report, CLA contracted consulting firm BDS Planning and Urban Design, who conducted focus groups with Loop stakeholders and partners; analyzed the current landscape of Chicago Loop Alliance; and advised on the future trajectory of the organization to meet the Loop’s needs. View the full strategic plan at LoopChicago.com/StrategicPlan. The five-year strategic plan also incorporates some elements of the recently released Elevate State report developed by an Urban Land Institute technical assistance panel.

Key findings include:

• A refined vision and mission for the organization, as well as four new strategic priority areas – Building Confidence in the Loop; Increasing Chicago Loop Alliance’s Profile and Impact; Ensuring Everyone’s Neighborhood; Creating a Complete Urban District

• Ambitious major moves for the organization to appropriately manage and promote the Loop, including increased revenue streams; enhanced staffing and budget; and significant resources devoted to making the Loop an iconic global destination

• Substantial emphasis on modifying the business model of Chicago Loop Alliance to meet the needs of the district through a Business • Improvement District (BID), which requires state legislation and local government approval

• A situational assessment of Chicago Loop Alliance compared to other major metros, identifying key areas of focus like safety, return to office, and traditional downtown usage shifts

The full list of catalytic actions in each category can be found at LoopChicago.com/StrategicPlan.

Photo Credit: Chicago Loop Alliance

In an effort to make commercial and housing development processes more efficient across Chicago, Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an Executive Order aimed at streamlining city approvals. This Executive Order requires 14 City departments to evaluate their existing processes and propose solutions that facilitate development by removing bottlenecks and accelerating review and approval timelines. The City acknowledges that some development policies and processes, although well-intentioned, can hinder the speed and viability of development. Mayor Johnson announced the Executive Order at the groundbreaking of Grace Manor Apartments, a $40 million project that is 100 percent affordable in Chicago’s North Lawndale neighborhood. The ground floor will be utilized for community and commercial tenants, including health and wellness service providers, as well as job training and wealth-building classes, while the second through the sixth floors will include 65 affordable housing units with a unit mix of 31 one-bedroom and 34 two-bedrooms, complete with a rooftop deck on the sixth floor. The building was developed by East Lake Management Corporation in partnership with Grace at Jerusalem Community Development Corporation. The Executive Order will: 

• Require relevant departments within 90 days of the Order’s issuance to submit a report to Deputy Mayor of Business and Neighborhood Development Kenya Merritt on proposed changes to streamline processes and incentivize commercial and housing development.   

• Establish a Director of Process Improvement in the Mayor’s Office tasked with managing implementation across City departments and sister agencies.

On Thursday, December 7th, Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar partnered with the Office of the Cook County President and the Town of Cicero to host an Equity Town Hall. The event was held at the Cicero Community Center and brought representatives from three Cook County departments to discuss equity initiatives with local residents and community organizations. The town hall featured a panel discussion led by Commissioner Aguilar, as representatives from Cook County’s Digital, Transportation, and Justice Departments detailed their efforts to increase equity throughout Cook County. There was a specific emphasis on reaching Spanish-speaking populations, with the panel discussion and question and answer sections held in both English and Spanish. Cook County has made immense strides in increasing equity and positive outcomes for residents. During the townhall, panelists discussed multiple initiatives that Cook County has implemented.  The Source Grow Grant program funds $10,000 in grants to provide advising to historically excluded businesses—including those owned by people of color, women, veterans, LGBQT+ and persons with a disability. The county has given over $100 million in grants, through the Justice Advisory Council, to community organizations committed to reducing violence.

Photo Credit: Office of Cook County Commissioner Frank J. Aguilar