Chicago City Council July 24, 2019
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC, CAPITAL AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
Resolution Calling For Diversity Among Corporate Boards and Leadership
WHEREAS, Chicago has one of the world's largest and most diversified economies, employing more than four million people and generating over $600 billion in gross regional product annually; and,
WHEREAS, our City is wonderfully diverse, with its population consisting of nearly one third African-America, one third Latinx and one third white; and,
WHEREAS, this diversity is ignored by the Corporate elite at the highest level, forgoing Chicago's biggest strength in favor of Corporate Boards made up overwhelmingly of white men; and,
WHEREAS, businesses that call Chicago home should have Boards that reflect the population of its home city; and,
WHEREAS, businesses will be strengthened by embracing diverse voices at every level, including the very top; and,
WHEREAS, Chicago's economy as a whole would be further strengthened if companies would embrace the city's diversity whole heartedly; and,
WHEREAS, The City Council should further explore options to increase diversity at all evels of private companies while considering the positive impact it could have on Chicagoans for decades to come; and,
WHEREAS, This Resolution should be adopted as quickly as possible and then shared with the corporate boards and CEOs of every large company in Chicago; and,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, are committed to finding ways to increase diversity in all sectors of the economy; and,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That our Council will continue to pressure Corporations to embrace diversity until every Chicago Public School student can identify with a significant portion of Corporate Board Members.
Gilbert jVillegas Alderman, 36th Ward