Chicago’s Minority-Owned Business Support Ecosystem to Gather at Loyola University Chicago
Supported by a federal grant, the daylong workshop will help foster an equitable system of economic support in Chicago.
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Primary Contact:
Matthew McDermott
mbedugnis@LUC.edu
CHICAGO – June 3, 2024
Chicago’s leading organizations serving minority-owned businesses and grassroots organizations across Chicago’s 77 community areas will gather June 6 at Loyola University Chicago’s Quinlan School of Business for a day of collaboration and learning.
The workshop, called Capacity Building for Capacity Builders, seeks to strengthen the minority-owned business ecosystem in Chicago by enabling minority business serving organizations (BSOs) to share best practices, insights and strategies. The workshop was planned by a steering committee of more than 20 minority-serving organizations with the support of the Quinlan School of Business.
Featured speakers:
- Illinois Small Businessperson of the Year 2024 Jackie Jackson, who is a Loyola alumna and owner of Kilwins Chicago
- BSO representatives including from the Chicago Inclusive Growth Coalition, Allies for Community Business, and the Women’s Business Development Center
- Government representatives including Geri Aglipay, Regional Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration, and representatives from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, the City of Chicago, and Cook County
- Business representatives including from Baker Tilly, Comcast, and EY
- Loyola representatives including Quinlan School of Business Dean Michael Behnam and Institute for Racial Justice Dean Malik Henfield
Capacity Building for Capacity Builders is one of the key activities of the Quinlan School of Business’s Social Impact Initiative, which is supported by a $625,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration. The three-year initiative is collecting data on equity gaps faced by minority-owned businesses and developing equitable outreach strategies. It will result in the creation of a dashboard enabling minority-owned businesses to easily access support services.
“We are honored to partner with the community, government, and business to help address inequality in Chicago,” said Michael Behnam, dean of the Quinlan School of Business. “This initiative is a direct reflection of Quinlan’s mission to be difference makers and to support difference makers in Chicago and beyond.”
For more information, visit the Capacity Building for Capacity Builders webpage.
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About Loyola University Chicago
Founded in 1870, Loyola University Chicago is one of the nation’s largest Jesuit, Catholic universities, with nearly 16,600 students. The University has five campuses: four in the greater Chicago area and one in Rome, Italy, as well as course offerings at the Cuneo Mansion and Gardens in Vernon Hills, Illinois. The University features 15 schools, colleges, and institutes. Ranked a leading national university by U.S. News & World Report, Loyola is also among a select group of universities recognized for community service and engagement by prestigious national organizations including AmeriCorps and the Carnegie Foundation. To learn more about Loyola, visit LUC.edu or follow us on Twitter via @LoyolaChicago.
About the Quinlan School of Business
The Quinlan School of Business at Loyola University Chicago educates responsible leaders who strengthen the local and global business system. Quinlan draws on the resources of a world-class location in the heart of Chicago and on industry-leading faculty to offer leading undergraduate, graduate, and executive education. Quinlan’s highly respected degrees include the Baumhart Scholars MBA for purpose-driven professionals and the one-of-a-kind Next Generation MBA. The school is named for Michael R. Quinlan, a double Loyola alumnus, and former president and CEO of McDonald’s Corporation. Learn more at LUC.edu/Quinlan or find us on LinkedIn, as well as on Twitter and Instagram at @LoyolaQuinlan.
