In the Chicago Leadership Circle, a joint venture between the University of Chicago Graham School and Crain’s Chicago Business, senior leaders gain a deeper understanding of Chicago’s greatest challenges and opportunities and then craft a vision for making a difference. As their capstone project, a group of Fellows developed a pilot program focused on establishing a community resilience and economic stability hub in Greater Roseland. Leaders from the Greater Roseland Chamber of Commerce, American Red Cross of Illinois, and Chicago State University collaborated on solutions for an area that has faced many years of disinvestment.
From her office window in Roseland, on Chicago’s far South Side, Andrea Reed can see the downtown skyline. The two areas are separated by more than geography. For decades, the people of Roseland have often been left out of economic opportunity and city services.
“Downtown is way up there, but we’re part of the city also,” she said. “There’s a big gulf between us, but there should be no separation.”
As Executive Director of the Greater Roseland Chamber of Commerce, Andrea works alongside residents, businesses, and neighborhood leaders to bring investment and hope for the future to a community that has been too often overlooked. Through the Chicago Leadership Circle (CLC), she found two new partners ready to help advance that work.
Andrea joined CLC Fellows Connie Esparza of the American Red Cross of Illinois and Lauren Finch of Chicago State University to develop a pilot program for a community resilience and economic stability hub in Greater Roseland. Their capstone proposal illustrates what can happen when leaders build relationships across institutions and apply their experience to a shared civic challenge.
Forging solutions in a community of leaders
The CLC experience is about forming connections to make a real difference in Chicago. A joint venture between UChicago Graham School and Crain’s Chicago Business, CLC supports leaders in deepening their understanding of the economic and social issues shaping Chicago and developing a vision for their own contributions.
“Everyone was at CLC for the same purpose,” Lauren said. “We were all there to connect and expand our networks. And we really have an interest in Chicago and helping the community.”
For their capstone, Andrea, Lauren, and Connie decided to focus on the Greater Roseland area because they saw opportunities to address problems that have emerged through decades of disinvestment. The struggles that began when major employers exited the neighborhood in the 1960s still linger: Between 2020 and 2024, median annual income in Roseland was $48,745, compared to $77,902 citywide, and the unemployment rate was 17.4%, (more than double Chicago’s overall rate).
Along with dwindling job openings and aging infrastructure come threats to public safety. There were 142 shootings in Roseland in 2025. In the same year, the Chicago Fire Department received calls for more than 160 fires in the Ninth Ward, which includes most of the neighborhood.
Local leaders like Andrea are determined to achieve a future of economic stability in which the community is prosperous and secure from hazards like crime, fire, and climate change. She helped establish an Entrepreneur Hub to support local businesses and participated in efforts to improve public transportation access, including the successful campaign to extend the CTA Red Line. She brought that deep knowledge of Roseland and its residents to the CLC capstone.
As Associate Vice President for Integrated Marketing and Communications at Chicago State University, located on the border between the Roseland and Burnside neighborhoods, Lauren was already familiar with Andrea’s achievements from her appearances on local news. The two Fellows quickly began brainstorming a project that would make an impact in Roseland.
When Connie, Regional Communications Director for the American Red Cross of Illinois, heard their conversation, she recognized an opportunity to contribute experience in disaster preparedness, emergency response, and community education.
“It was just talking things through and making those connections that brought us together,” Lauren said. “It worked out really well.”
Instilling resilience in under-served communities
The CLC Fellows sought to harness the resources of their respective organizations toward a shared goal of building a scalable, sustainable model of resilience.
The seed of the pilot program came from Andrea’s years of working with local government and businesses to bring justice and economic growth to the area. From her perspective as a leader and advocate with a long history in the neighborhood, she knew that centering residents was the only path toward meaningful and enduring change.
“If we are waiting for the police to come or for some organization to come save the day, it’s not going to work that way,” she said. “It takes the initiative of the people: boots on the ground. Nobody’s going to care more about what you are experiencing than you.”
With Connie and Lauren, Andrea set out to promote investments in Greater Roseland that would cultivate community leadership and economic opportunities. The proposal established a structure for informing people in Roseland about available resources and enabling them to address dangers to the community proactively, including plans to:
- Train Roseland community members in disaster preparedness and emergency response
- Establish a voluntary, neighborhood-based disaster response team.
- Provide free smoke alarm installation and fire escape education
- Set up a community volunteer action network
“Rather than viewing resilience solely through the lens of emergency response, we focused on empowering residents, strengthening neighborhood partnerships, and increasing volunteerism within the community itself,” Connie said. “My experience in communications also reinforced the importance of listening first, elevating community voices, and ensuring that solutions are developed with, not for, the people we hope to serve.”
Forming an enduring partnership
Through their collaboration, the Fellows found ways for their respective organizations to apply their collective resources for common objectives. The organizations all have vital, interdependent roles to play:
- The Chamber of Commerce channels its longstanding relationships with community businesses and local leaders to drive economic activation and workforce development initiatives.
- CSU provides space for CPR, first aid, and emergency response through its Continuing Education Program at Gift of Hope. The University can also connect community members with professional and volunteer opportunities through, which partners with a variety of nonprofits and businesses.
- The American Red Cross equips community members with preparedness education and lifesaving skills while inspiring them to become Red Cross volunteers. Through this collaboration, participants gain the knowledge and confidence to prepare their families and neighbors for emergencies and help ensure trained volunteers are ready to respond when disasters strike their communities.
This proposal is just the beginning of the collaboration between the group members and their organizations. For example, Andrea invited representatives from the Red Cross and CSU to connect with community members at gatherings like a Juneteenth celebration and the annual Shop Roseland vendor event.
“I leave the Chicago Leadership Circle not only with new knowledge, but with a remarkable network of leaders I now consider friends and collaborators,” Connie said. “I am incredibly grateful for the experience and know it will continue to influence both my leadership and my commitment to building stronger, more resilient communities for years to come.”
The Chicago Leadership Circle is a launchpad for leaders who are dedicated to driving real-world impact. Learn more about how this unique program can provide the resources and network you need to pursue economic and community development initiatives.
