Women’s Networking Mixer

Join us on Friday, June 7 for the next Uptown Women's Networking Mixer in the Global Guild Suite at the Institute of Cultural Affairs!  Meet and connect with other women leaders from local businesses and non-profit organizations across Uptown while enjoying a cup of coffee.  

Featured speaker:  Kenya Merritt, Chief Small Business Officer for the City of Chicago

Our networking events build community among Uptown businesses, non-profits and neighborhood groups, strengthening our local economy through the development of strategic partnerships.

Thank you to our generous sponsor of this event:  Weiss Memorial Hospital


ABOUT OUR SPEAKER:
Kenya Merritt is a highly skilled public servant with a broad range of executive-level experience.  With more than 19 years of public service with the City of Chicago, Kenya previously worked as Chief Financial Officer with the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; Chief Financial Officer at the Department of Family and Support Services as well as the Office of Budget and Management as an Analyst.  Kenya has a wealth of institutional knowledge including fiscal and operations management. In each of her roles, Kenya has brought a fresh perspective. She has worked to improve communities by forging partnerships with individuals, organizations, and businesses to provide a variety of programs from social services, business support to arts and culture.

Ms. Merritt currently serves as the Chief Small Business Officer for the City of Chicago, where she is responsible for public engagement and program development for small businesses. She also leads the NBDC (Neighborhood Business Development Centers) program which is the linchpin connecting the City and external partners to the community.  She is responsible for outlining Chicago's small business agenda and strengthening programs that support business growth and invigorate communities in every corner of  Chicago.

Kenya has been featured in the Chicago Tribune, conducted interviews on WVON and participated in numerous panels and discussions.

Kenya holds a Masters in Public Service Management from DePaul University and a BA from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a resident of the Austin Community and the proud mother of Caleb.



ABOUT OUR HOST:

The mission of the Institute of Cultural Affairs  (ICA) is to build a just and equitable society in harmony with planet Earth through empowering cultural dimensions of the social process.  In Uptown, the 8-floor, 166,000 square foot ICA GreenRise building is home to over 25 different non-profits and social service providers. The GreenRise is committed to sustainability, as indicated by its array of 485 photovoltaic panels, participation in RetroFit Chicago, and sustainable design throughout the building. ICA coordinates sustainability programming across Chicago and in Uptown that connect residents and organizations to learn and collaborate. Current Uptown programming includes the Uptown Coastal Initiative and annual Uptown Garden Walks.



FROM OUR SPONSOR:
 
At Weiss Memorial Hospital, we have been serving Chicago’s North Side and surrounding communities providing excellent health care services for over 60 years. We’ve grown to better serve our community to include more than 450 doctors representing 42 medical specialties and more than 800 employees, all committed to providing you with personalized care.  Weiss is a Joint Commission-accredited facility providing a full range of health care services to meet the needs of our diverse community. Our 236-bed facility includes the state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options administered by highly trained, compassionate health care professionals.  Our dedication to the health of our community includes outreach programs and support groups coordinated by Weiss.