We are grateful to our panelists for the Racial Equity Leaders Lunch. They will share successful strategies that preserve current work while strengthening systems for cross-sector collaboration. After the panel, guests will engage in roundtable conversation on issues that matter most to them.
See all of the speakers and their bios here.
12:00 – 12:30 p.m.:
Registration & Lunch
Entertainment & Ice Breaker
(Live Entertainment provided by Rahul Sharma & Chihsuan Yang)
12:30 – 12:35 p.m.:
Welcome
Monique B. Jones, President & CEO, Forefront
12:35 – 12:50 p.m.:
Opening Remarks
Honorable Kwame Raoul, Attorney General, State of Illinois
12:50 – 12: 55 p.m.:
Introduce Panelists
Sharmin Shahjahan, Director of Racial Equity Collective, Forefront
12:55 – 1:55 p.m.:
*No video recording during panel conversation
Moderator:
Kayce Ataiyero, Chief External Affairs Officer, Joyce Foundation
Panelists:
Lawrence Benito, Executive Director, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Venu Gupta, Executive Director, Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Amanda Hwu, Executive Director, Illinois Community Power Fund
Diane Yentel, Executive Director, National Council of Nonprofits
*Read more about the NCN Executive Order Tracker and the Nonprofit Resilience Hub
1:55 – 1:57 p.m.:
Introduce REC 2026 Cohort Members
Sharmin Shahjahan, Director of Racial Equity Collective, Forefront
1:57 – 2:00 p.m.:
Spotlight REC Cohort Alumni
Krystle Everrett, BOSS Sistah Outreach
Alici McNeal, State of Illinois
Nan Parson, Action Ridge
2:00 - 2:02 p.m.:
Outline Roundtable Conversations
2:02 – 2:32 p.m.:
Roundtable Conversations
2:32 – 2:37 p.m.
Closing
2:37 - 3:00 p.m.:
Networking
*All items are nut free
Veggie Spring Rolls (Vegetarian / Dairy-Free)
Butter Chicken Samosas (Halal)
Roasted Tandoori Veggies (Vegan / Vegetarian / Dairy-free )
Alu Gobi [Cauliflower & Potatoes] (Vegan / Vegetarian )
Chicken Tikka Masala (Halal)
Lamb Seekh Kabob (Halal)
Naan (Vegetarian)
Pea Polau (Vegan / Vegetarian / Dairy - Free)
Salad
Raita (yogurt sauce to lessen spiciness of entrée)
Dessert: Gulab Jamun (Vegetarian)
We value your feedback. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts so we can improve future programming.
If you'd like to join the Racial Equity Collective's Illinois Database of Racial Equity Asset Map (IDREAM), please click here.
When you arrive, please enter through the Randolph St. Entrance on the north side of the building.
Visit the Chicago Cultural Center's Plan Your Visit page for parking and transportation details.
