TCN'S VISION STATEMENT
  As the preeminent organization for Chicago's leading professional women, we are compelled to:
  • Connect with each other for professional & personal growth
  • Advance our civic, business & philanthropic communities
  • Inspire & support the next generation of leaders
FUTURE LEADERS PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTED
TCN's Future Leaders Program was highlighted in an article published by the University of Illinois at Chicago, one of TCN's partner universities. The article entitled, " The Power of Outside Perspective for Career Services," discussed how the partnership between TCN and UIC exemplifies an approach that other career services can embrace to garner outside perspectives on careers and higher education that meet the needs of today's students.

Thy Nguyen, Director of Career Services at University of Illinois at Chicago, and the UIC staff point of contact for the Future Leaders Program, wrote the article. To read more, click here!
TCN Members in the News
COOK COUNTY GETS $1.85 MILLION GRANT FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM  
Julia Stasch, president of the MacArthur Foundation, announces a grant to study changes in the Cook County criminal justice system on Oct. 4, 2017. (Zbigniew Bzdak/Chicago Tribune)

As Cook County revamps a criminal justice system long criticized for letting poor black and Hispanic detainees languish in jail, leaders recently received a nearly $2 million grant from The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. MacArthur Foundation President Julia Stasch told reporters during a news conference that the organization has made a strategic decision to focus on reducing county jail admissions by pouring an additional $11 million into eight counties nationwide including Cook County.

County board President Toni Preckwinkle said the county still has much to do to address racial disparities in the court system. Blacks and Hispanics make up about half of the county's population but about 86 percent of detainees in the Cook County jail.

State's Attorney Kim Foxx agreed, telling reporters that resources need to be spent on those driving the violence in a handful of communities.

The grant will also fund a pilot program that would send suspects in nonviolent crimes to a treatment program shortly after their arrest if they're exhibiting signs of drug addiction, mental illness or both rather than to the county jail. The money will also pay for anti-racial bias training for police officers, prosecutors and public defenders. Read more...
COMED RECEIVES APPROVAL FOR PLAN TO EXPAND ENERGY CHOICES
The ICC has approved ComEd's ( Anne R. Pramaggiore) plan to expand the energy choices of Illinois consumers by opening the market for community energy. Community solar development is a feature of the Future Energy Jobs Act.

"ComEd's community solar plan expands choice for consumers by giving ComEd customers a new option in their energy menu, ComEd's plan is an important step to Illinois' energy future both because it expands consumer choice and because it animates Illinois' new energy economy," said Anne R. Pramaggiore. Read more...
BRIDGET GAINER AND TONI PRECKWINKLE PROMOTE NEW PROGRAM FOR 'FIXER-UPPERS'
A new program in Cook County is designed to make the process easier for buying "fixer-upper homes" in the city. The Cook County Land Bank Authority (CCLBA), which was formed in 2013 under the leadership of Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer is administering the Homebuyer Direct Program, which was launched on Sept. 25.

"You saw neighborhoods like Chatham, even Morgan Park, that were very desirable, and people wanted to buy housing and couldn't get access to it," Bridget Gainer said, "because it was caught up in court or they didn't have access to mortgage capital ... things that really are an impediment to people's ability to purchase housing and for vacant housing to become not vacant."

In a prepared statement, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle said the program allows residents to realize a major life goal: owning a home. Read more... 
MARIA WYNNE FEATURED ON WGN-TV'S ADELANTE
Maria Wynne, CEO, Leadership Greater Chicago, appeared on WGN-TV's Adelante during Hispanic Heritage Month to discuss how developing Hispanic leaders are critical to Chicago companies and consumers. She also shared that the 2019 Leadership Greater Chicago Fellows Program Application opened on October 1 and encourages young Hispanic leaders to apply.  https://portal.lgcchicago.org/apply

To watch the video featuring Maria, click below!
GIRL AND THE GOAT TO DONATE PROCEEDS TO PUERTO RICO ON WORLD FOOD DAY
Stephanie Izard's restaurant Girl and the Goat is among 150 eateries that are joining World Central Kitchen's relief effort to donate Proceeds to Puerto Rico on World Food Day. Read more...
SUSANA MENDOZA ANNOUNCES "PETS FOR VETS" EVENT
Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced that an all-day statewide pet adoption event known as "Pets for Vets" will be held on November 11, 2017.  During this event, veterans will be able to adopt a cat or dog for free at participating shelters.

"What's great about this event is that we're finding loving homes for animals in our state's shelters and that is helping our veterans.  When we don't have as many animals in our shelters, it also helps our state's bottom line. It's a win all across the board," said Susana Mendoza. Read more... 
BANK OF AMERICA AMONG WORKING MOTHER MAGAZINE'S 2017 100 BEST COMPANIES 
Last week, we highlighted TCN member companies included in the 2017 Working Mother 100 Best Companies list and regrettably excluded Bank of America ( Amy Hughes) , which is ranked in the top 10 on the list and is in its 29th year of making the list. To view the full list, click here!
Women on Boards 
VICKI ESCARRA JOINS ADVISORY BOARD OF MY NEXT SEASON
Vicki Escarra has joined the advisory board of My Next Season in the capacity of Senior Advisor. As former Global CEO of Opportunity International, former President and CEO of Feeding America and former Chief Marketing Officer at Delta Airlines, will bring insight and expertise to the renowned executive transition consulting organization.

"I am beyond excited about the opportunities and challenges my role as Senior Advisor will bring and look forward to working with executives and organizations to create additional value for both," said Vicki Escarra. Read more... 
Announcements 
LISA JOHNSON AND LAMAR JOHNSON FORM ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN FIRM
From Lisa Johnson:

I am pleased to announce that Lamar and I have formed the Lamar Johnson Collaborative, LLC, an architecture and design firm focused on partnering with owners and developers to produce distinctive designs that enhance the success of businesses and communities. The firm has recruited a talented team of experienced professionals to collaborate with clients to produce extraordinary environments.
 
LJC has announced that it has executed a lease for its corporate offices at 300 North Elizabeth Avenue in the Fulton Market district of Chicago.
ADLER PLANETARIUM TESTIFIES IN HEARING ON "THE GREAT AMERICAN ECLIPSE: TO TOTALITY AND BEYOND"
The Adler Planetarium ( Michelle Larson) was invited by the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, the Subcommittee on Research and Technology and the Subcommittee on Space, of the U.S. House of Representatives to testify in a hearing titled "The Great American Eclipse: To Totality and Beyond." The hearing was held on Thursday, September 28 in Washington, DC.
 
The Adler's portion of the testimony can be found between the minute markers 36:06 and 41:06 here.  
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