A City That Works … For All: Join us in 2021

by Jennifer Brandel and Derek Eder, Civic Exchange Chicago Founders

If you feel like writing off 2020 as a loss, or are struggling to imagine a better future for 2021, believe us when we say: we’ve been there. There have been moments for each of us in 2020 that have been so difficult, so seemingly insurmountable, that we’ve been tempted to give in to cynicism or even despair. 

But when we lift our heads for just a moment, we see something. We see Chicago, a city that we love and care so much about. At the end of a year in which we’ve experienced the ongoing tragedy of a global pandemic, witnessed police brutality, participated in protests, and fought for free and fair elections, we’re a different city than we were at the beginning of the year. The needs of the people of Chicago—specifically those already at the margins—have grown.

But these needs do not cause us to further despair. Rather, they cause us to stop and consider: How do we make Chicago a city that works … for all? And in this question, we find great hope and great energy. We find a reason to keep our heads up. A reason to expand our field of vision to consider all of the ways in which Civic Exchange Chicago and its member organizations can work towards a more equitable future for all Chicagoans. A reason to enter a new year with an increased commitment to connect people who see a new future for Chicago and are shining light on the possible realities to come, with credible paths to get there.

And we’d love for you to join us in the new year.

How?

We, along with other Civic Exchange leaders, have developed a roadmap centered around a core question: How might Chicago and Illinois become the most supportive, responsive and equitable places in the United States?

Our goal for 2021 is to answer that question through convening and re-imagining the sectors in which our member organizations are already deeply rooted: food security, journalism, democracy, technology access and ownership, entrepreneurship and education. 

Over the past six months, we have created a strategy guide for this work for 2021. What we need now is someone (you?) who can help us make this strategy happen.

Civic Exchange is currently hiring a part-time Implementation Manager and we’d love for you to apply! Specifically, we’re looking for someone who will take the Civic Exchange 2021 strategy and turn it into a project roadmap, managing the timing, execution and operations of the strategy.

If you dream of a more fair and equitable future for all Chicagoans and if you’ve got experience in making a client’s strategic vision a reality, along with the ability to design, plan and produce online and in-person events, we’d be thrilled to hear from you!

Please read the full job description for this position, and apply as soon as possible. We’re accepting applications until January 11, 2021 and will be reviewing candidates on a rolling basis.

Wishing you all the best this holiday season and holding great hope for you, for Chicago and for our world in 2021.

— Jenn and Derek