Make No Little Plans

The Commercial Club of Chicago works to shape Chicago’s future to make our region a better place for everyone to live, work, and do business.

Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago

Focus Fuels Progress.

The Civic Committee works with business leaders, public officials, and other civic and community organizations on game-changing initiatives to promote the social and economic well-being of our region.

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AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS

Our work continues through the efforts of our affiliated organizations – extending our impact on the City, region, and State.

Civic Consulting Alliance

Kids First Chicago

P33

WHO WE ARE

We are senior leaders spanning the business, education, civic, and cultural sectors — unified by our excitement for the future of Chicago.

MEET THE MEMBERS
Ms. Jennifer Scanlon

Ms. Jennifer Scanlon

Former President/Chief Executive Officer of USG Corporation | Board Member of Norfolk Southern Corporation

Member Since 2017

Mr. Newt Minow

Mr. Newt Minow

Senior Counsel, Sidley Austin LLP

Member Since 1974

Mr. Walter Massey

Mr. Walter Massey

President Emeritus, SAIC | Retired Chairman of the Board of Bank of America | Sr. Advisor to President of University of Chicago

Member Since 1983

Mr. Steve Easterbrook

Mr. Steve Easterbrook

President and Chief Executive Officer, McDonald’s Corporation

Member Since 2015

WHERE WE MAKE AN IMPACT

DIVE INTO INITIATIVES TO MOVE THE REGION FORWARD.

EXPLORE INITIATIVES

Veterans Working Group

We’re helping our companies hire, retain, and support returning veterans.

Neighborhood Jobs Connection

Connecting employers with Chicago’s untapped neighborhood talent, we’re helping address one of the City’s most critical issues – access to jobs.

  • Lester Crown

    “For 142 years, the Commercial Club has been the voice and vision of the business and professional communities in Chicago. It has recommended and then collaborated with the political leadership of the City and State to advance those projects that helped make Chicago a great city. Don Perkins advanced this concept when he developed the Civic Committee as an action arm of the Commercial Club in 1983.”


    Lester Crown
    Chairman Emeritus | Henry Crown and Company

    Member Since 1972

  • Barbara Gaines

    “The Commercial Club of Chicago provides a proverbial “big tent” under which the compassionate leaders of our City can gather, share ideas, and dream of bold new ideas that will address the challenges facing our modern American city.”


    Barbara Gaines
    Artistic Director, Carl and Marilynn Thoma Chair | Chicago Shakespeare Theater

    Member Since 2016

  • Austen Goolsbee

    “With such a collection of civic and business leaders and its range of speakers on key issues, I have found the Commercial Club, basically, indispensable.”


    Austan Goolsbee
    Robert P Gwinn Professor of Economics | University of Chicago Booth School of Business

    Member Since 2017

142

YEAR HISTORY

383

ACTIVE MEMBERS

1,069

MEETINGS OF COMMERCIAL CLUB MEMBERS
LEARN ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Commercial Club in the News

Restore Illinois: A Foundation for Growth

Promoting fiscal stability in Illinois and creating an environment for growth

Civic Committee, 2/5/2019

P33 Technology Initiative

How Chicago Plans to Be a Global Tech Player Following Amazon HQ2 News

Forbes, 11/20/2018

Education and Area Regional Analysis

5 Tough Questions A New Report Puts Front-and-Center for Chicago’s Next Mayor

Chalkbeat, 9/21/2018
Critical Issues

Opportunities and Challenges for Illinois and Chicago

Imperative for Mayor-elect Lightfoot: Enhance Chicago's status as a global city.

Chicago Tribune, 5/13/2019

Sustaining Chicago's Education Progress

To learn about improving urban public schools, we should study Chicago. Yes, Chicago.

Washington Post, 2/9/2018

Transportation for the Chicago Region in the 21st Century

From road repairs to transit expansions, $33 billion in capital bill will have ‘monumental’ impact.

Chicago Tribune, 6/7/2019

CONTACT US | 21 South Clark Street Suite 4301, Chicago, IL 60603 | (312) 853-1200 | Fax (312) 853-1209

CIVIC COMMITTEE 
CIVIC CONSULTING ALLIANCE
KIDS FIRST CHICAGO
P33

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