Newsletters
To celebrate our partners and clients and the work we do together, we produce a newsletter periodically. The newsletter allows our partners and other interested parties stay up to date on our work and highlights the extraordinary contributions our pro bono partners make to the region. To subscribe to our monthly newsletter, click here.
2024
Doubling the reach of Chicago’s mental health crisis response program
March
Civic Consulting Alliance’s pro bono partners Kearney and Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila provided specialized expertise in legal analysis, labor modeling, and implementation planning to help Chicago double the geographic reach of its promising Crisis Assistance Response and Engagement (CARE) team.
2023
Plan of Action for Regional Transit (PART): A collaborative effort to reform our transit system
December
The new PART report includes a broad set of recommendations to address both the
immediate budget crisis and the underlying reforms needed for a sustainable, thriving
transit system for the Chicago region.
Cook County launches new program to help municipalities make critical infrastructure investments
November
An influx of capital and recovery funding provides an opportunity for municipalities to make infrastructure investments that will improve residents' quality of life, reduce racial and ethnic disparities, and mitigate the effects of climate change.
How can our region sustainably support asylum seekers?
June
Civic Consulting Alliance recently completed several collaborative projects with local and state governments to meet the urgent needs of asylum seekers, and prepare long-term, sustainable strategies for future influxes of new arrivals to Chicago.
Ensuring safer communities through effective collaborations
March
In 2023, it is estimated that approximately $175M in public funding will go to violence prevention and intervention, a significant leap from the $10M spent in 2017. This increase in funding over a short period of time has created monumental shifts in the violence prevention and intervention ecosystem for both grantmakers, and those who are delivering services at the ground-level. To meet this challenge, Civic Consulting Alliance is supporting multiple, interconnected clients to ensure quick and effective scaling of these concerted violence reduction efforts.
2022
Enhancing the Economic Vitality of our Region
August
Our latest newsletter highlights two recent projects and final reports from our Economic Vitality platform, where we focus our efforts to contribute to the Chicago region’s long-term vitality by growing an economy that works for everyone.
Reimagining Our Public Safety Systems
July
Over the past year, we supported multiple projects that advance collaborative efforts to reimagine our current public safety systems and make them more accountable, transparent, and, in turn, effective at ensuring safer communities.
Advancing an Equitable Recovery through the American Rescue Plan Act
June
Since March 2021, Civic Consulting Alliance and our partners have committed significant resources to support the City of Chicago and Cook County in planning for effective investment of transformative recovery funds to maximize their impact on the issues most critical to our region’s future. In recent months, our collaborative focus has transitioned to turning these plans into action.
Accelerating Collaborative & Systemic Approaches to Violence Reduction
March
In 2021 and early 2022, Civic Consulting Alliance supported two projects to accelerate collaborative, systemic approaches to violence prevention—to ensure that these resources advance real change and safer communities.
2021
Creating a Framework to Re-Engage Chicago Public Schools Students
November
While the COVID-19 crisis continues to impact school communities and our education system as a whole, the return of Chicago Public Schools students to classrooms for the 2021-2022 school year is a significant step forward. Civic Consulting Alliance supported CPS in critical student re-engagement efforts leading up to the start of the new school year.
Announcing the Civic Consulting Alliance 2021 Impact Report
October
In Civic Consulting Alliance's 2021 Impact Report, we look back on a year of critical projects driving progress towards an equitable COVID-19 recovery for our region.
Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities Supports Collaborative Violence Reduction Strategies as it Enters its Fifth Year
September
Within our Safety & Justice platform, Civic Consulting Alliance facilitates institutional reform and collaborative transformation to holistically reduce violence. One initiative that we support is the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities, which made important progress and entered a new phase over the past year.
Facilitating a First-of-its-Kind Strategic Planning Process for the Metropolitan Water
Reclamation District
August
In June 2021, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) released its 2021-2025 Strategic Plan, after a first-of-its kind collaborative strategic planning process. Civic Consulting Alliance conducted the strategic planning process in collaboration with the MWRD’s Board of Commissioners and Executive Team.
Building Meaningful Healthcare Employment Pathways in a Time of Change
June
Since West Side United was founded in 2017, Civic Consulting Alliance has helped this innovative health equity collaborative incubate, launch, and execute initiatives to address the social determinants of health for the West Side’s 550,000 residents. One key initiative is the development of ‘career pathway programs’ that connect low-wage workers to in-demand, well-paying healthcare roles.
Supporting Community-Driven Vaccination Efforts
May
Building off prior work supporting the City of Chicago's Racial Equity Rapid Response Team, Civic Consulting Alliance helped the City develop a hyperlocal structure for collaboration to ensure that COVID-19 interventions and vaccination efforts were community-driven and targeted to immediately mitigate harm in high-need areas.
Working Together to Reimagine Public Safety
March
We highlight three recent examples of projects that are part of our work to help the City fulfill the vision of its comprehensive public safety plan, “Our City, Our Safety.” These projects incorporated collaboration and community input as central design tenets, key to ensuring that our public institutions’ policies and practices are effective, just, and equitable.
Sustaining Momentum Towards a COVID-19 Recovery
February
This month, we highlight two examples of projects Civic Consulting Alliance undertook in 2020 to address the COVID-19 crisis and to lay the foundations for a more equitable Chicago region.
2020
Announcing the Civic Consulting Alliance 2020 Impact Report
December
In Civic Consulting Alliance's 2020 Impact Report, we look back on a year of critical projects to address the COVID-19 crisis and to work towards a more prosperous, equitable future for our region.
Our Focus on Equity - An Update from Our CEO: Civic Consulting Alliance Newsletter
November
We give an update on our work to become a more diverse, inclusive, and equity-focused organization, and highlight two recent examples of client projects that address the root causes of inequity in our region.
Chicago's Racial Equity Rapid Response Team a Model for Other Cities: Civic Consulting Alliance Newsletter
October
Three in four people in Chicago who have died from COVID-19 are Black or Latinx. Civic Consulting Alliance is proud to support the City's Racial Equity Rapid Response Team, a coalition that seeks to flatten the COVID-19 mortality curve in Chicago’s Black and Latinx communities and build a foundation for future racial health equity by rectifying historical institutional and systemic racism.
Chicago’s Young People Give Back
August
Civic Consulting Alliance and our pro bono partner Slalom stepped up to help the City of Chicago plan and implement the Chicago Youth Service Corps, a summer program that employed young people in remote COVID-19 crisis response activities—giving youth a way to give back, while creating space for celebration and community.
COVID-19 Response and Recovery Update
July
Civic Consulting Alliance continues to mobilize to support a cross-sector, comprehensive, and inclusive COVID-19 response and recovery that centers equity. This month, we highlight two compelling examples of this critical work: the City of Chicago's Recovery Task Force and the State of Illinois' reopening guidelines.
Leveraging Data Visualization to Equitably Support Small Businesses
June
Civic Consulting Alliance has mobilized to support a cross-sector, comprehensive, and inclusive COVID-19 response and recovery that centers equity. One compelling example of the critical impact of this work is our collaboration with the City of Chicago's Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection to provide rapid and equitable financial support to Chicago's small business owners most impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.
A Message from Our CEO and President Rebekah Scheinfeld
June
CEO and President Rebekah Scheinfeld discusses the killings of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, and Civic Consulting Alliance's commitment to address systemic racism and achieve our mission.
An Interview with Bureau of Economic Development President Xochitl Flores
May
We sat down with Xochitl Flores, the new Chief of the Cook County Bureau of Economic Development. From October 2019 to January 2020, Civic Consulting Alliance collaborated with Chief Flores and her team to revamp the Bureau’s mission and vision.
A Message from New CEO and President Rebekah Scheinfeld
April
Rebekah Scheinfeld officially joined Civic Consulting Alliance as our new CEO and President on Monday, March 16, 2020. She writes about her vision for Civic Consulting Alliance's future, and our ongoing response to the COVID-19 crisis.
A Letter from Outgoing CEO Brian Fabes
February / March
Outgoing CEO Brian Fabes looks back at 15 years with Civic Consulting Alliance, highlighting key projects, partnerships, and lessons from the journey.
West Side United Invests $500K in West Side Small Businesses
January
West Side United’s Small Business Accelerator initiative recently celebrated an exciting milestone: the investment of $500,000 in 29 small businesses on Chicago’s West Side.
2019
Collaborating to Curb Violence
December
In summer 2019, Civic Consulting Alliance and our pro bono partners supported summer gun violence reduction initiatives that have had a significant impact on the Mayor's Office of Public Safety and the new administration’s approach to gun violence.
A Year in Review
September
We are excited to share our 2019 Impact Report, a reflection on a year in which Civic Consulting Alliance responded to a wide range of opportunities to impact the issues we believe matter most to the Chicago region.
Implementing A Vision For Community Policing
August
Over the past year, Civic Consulting Alliance has helped transform the Chicago Police Department’s Office of Community Policing so that it can more effectively track, measure, and improve the Department’s community policing efforts.
181 Neighborhood Groups Combating Violence
June
On May 28th, the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities (PSPC)—a coalition of over 40 funders working to substantially reduce gun violence and increase police legitimacy in Chicago—announced $1.1 million in grants to 181 community-based organizations for programs, services, and events this summer and fall.
47 Days To Prepare: Accelerating A Mayoral Transition
May
On May 20, 2019, Lori Lightfoot took office as Chicago’s 56th Mayor. While Lightfoot’s term is just beginning, preparations to ensure her success kicked into high gear immediately following the runoff election. Civic Consulting Alliance provided support to her transition team during this critical time, utilizing our project management expertise and our diverse, cross-sector network of partners to accelerate a smooth transition and ensure effective government from day one.
West Side United Awarded $3 Million in JPMorgan Chase Advancing Cities Challenge
April
JPMorgan Chase announced West Side United and Chicago as one of five winning cities in its inaugural AdvancingCities Challenge. West Side United was chosen to receive the three-year, $3 million grant from among 245 applications across 45 states and 143 communities. In collaboration with multiple West Side United partners, Civic Consulting Alliance staff organized and structured submission of the grant, which will support scaling initiatives in West Side United’s Economic Vitality focus area.
A 100-Day Plan for the Cook County Assessor's Office
March
New Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi took office in December 2018. Civic Consulting Alliance worked with Kaegi to prepare for and implement a 100-Day Plan, which came to a close on March 13, 2019, setting the course for Kaegi’s work going forward.
Moving Toward Consent Decree Compliance at CPD and COPA
February
In January 2019, a federal judge approved a consent decree on policing in Chicago mandating significant changes at several city agencies, including the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA). Civic Consulting Alliance and our pro bono partners have helped CPD and COPA prepare for and execute requirements of the consent decree.
Chicago Police Department Looks to the Future
January
Transforming one of the nation’s largest police departments is a monumental, complex task, requiring a clear vision and detailed strategy. The Chicago Police Department turned to Civic Consulting Alliance for support with this significant undertaking, and, on January 8, 2019, Superintendent Eddie Johnson unveiled the result: a new three-year Strategic Plan for the Department.
2018
Reflecting on Civic Leadership: One Year In
November/December
In November 2017, we introduced Civic Consulting Alliance’s newest platform area, Civic Leadership. Chicago benefits from a long and distinctive history of extraordinary civic leadership, and the private sector’s tradition of involvement in the advancement of our region is a national model.
Integrating a Vision at the Cook County State's Attorney
October
When Kim Foxx was sworn in as Cook County’s State’s Attorney two years ago, the County faced an unprecedented level of violence and distrust between criminal justice institutions and communities of color. Determined to change this, SA Foxx set out to create a State’s Attorney’s Office (SAO) that seeks the fairest outcomes in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities.
A Summer of Impact
September
For ten weeks, five graduate students joined Civic Consulting Alliance as Summer Associates. They worked on a diverse array of projects across Civic Consulting Alliance's platform areas, with clients including West Side United, the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Public Schools, the Pritzker Traubert Foundation and the Civic Committee.
Collaborating to Optimize Overtime Usage at the Chicago Police Department
August
In 2017, the Chicago Police Department spent more than $157 million on overtime, significantly greater than the budgeted amount of $78 million.
A Growing Partnership to Reduce Gun Violence in Chicago
July
Over the past two years, a coalition of more than 30 Chicago funders and foundations have joined together to reduce gun violence.
Data-Driven Decision-Making at the Cook County Bond Court
June
The average daily population of Cook County Jail has decreased by close to 40% over the past few years, from 10,000 to about 6,000 today. This remarkable drop is the result of many people and organizations who have worked together toward a common goal: reducing the use of monetary bail so that those accused but not convicted of non-violent crimes receive the support they need to be productive citizens.
Two Decades of Working Together
May
Over the past year, Chicago Public Schools has been in the news for all the right reasons.
In a significant, peer-reviewed study , Stanford University’s Sean Reardon found that CPS elementary students are making educational gains faster than students in any of the nation’s 100 other large, urban school districts. In fact, Reardon found that Chicago students achieved six years' worth of learning in five years' time.
A New Leader Takes the Helm at COPA
April
A committee of diverse stakeholders completed a national search for the Chief Administrator of COPA, Chicago's Civilian Office of Police Accountability. After four months of vetting candidates and deliberating, the committee submitted Sydney Roberts, the director of the Illinois Secretary of State Police, to Mayor Rahm Emanuel, and the full City Council confirmed the appointment on April 18th.
Collaborating to Improve Health Equity on Chicago's West Side
March
Life expectancy in the Loop is 85 years. Six miles away in West Garfield Park, life expectancy drops to 69. This single, stark difference exemplifies the many challenges faced by residents of Chicago’s West Side. A growing body of scientific evidence shows that the fundamental causes of many illnesses that shorten life expectancy are not based in biology or behavior.
From Dallas to Chicago: Fellow Spotlight
February
Nikita Kansra worked with the Civic Consulting Alliance team from June to December as a Fellow from BCG-Dallas. Nika Duan worked with the Civic Consulting Alliance team from October to February as a Fellow from Bain-Dallas...
Fellow Spotlight: Rachel Doubek
January
From June to November, Rachel Doubek worked with the Civic Consulting Alliance team as a KPMG Fellow: What projects were you involved in during your time at the Civic Consulting Alliance? "As a KPMG fellow, I was involved in two projects during my six months at Civic Consulting. I first joined a team supporting Rush University Medical Center and the West Side Total Health Collaborative (WSTHC), a grassroots collaborative seeking to address the social determinants of health on Chicago's West Side. After three busy months with the WSTHC, I moved to the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (SAO). At the SAO, I worked on a team creating a new system of performance metrics for the State’s Attorney Office. In both settings, my work was dedicated to identifying and implementing new performance measurements that would improve the lives of Chicago and Cook County residents."
2017
Rethinking Civic Leadership
November
Chicago benefits from a long and distinctive history of extraordinary civic leadership. Our tradition of private sector involvement in the advancement of our region is the envy of other cities Today, the context in which civic leadership is exercised is changing. Traditional senior corporate leaders face growing national and global responsibilities, economic growth is increasingly driven by younger, entrepreneurial leaders with high expectations for civic engagement of themselves and their employees, and attitudes and trust in public and private institutions and the leaders of those institutions have deteriorated sharply. Meanwhile, the complexity of the challenges and opportunities we face as a region are increasing, requiring new ways to work across sectoral, functional, racial, and other traditional silos...
A United Front Against Gun Violence
October
Last year, following a decade of progress in reducing violence, Chicago suffered more than 4,000 shootings and nearly 800 homicides, a level of violence unheard of since the 1990s. Many are stepping up to stop gun violence, and among the responses is the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities, a coalition of more than 30 Chicago funders and foundations committed to aligning their work to support proven and promising approaches to reducing gun violence...
Looking Back and Ahead
September
Dear Friends, Our thirty-third year has been a time of both stability and change at Civic Consulting Alliance. What has not changed is our belief that the collaborative work of our talented staff, dedicated clients, and generous pro bono partners is the most promising vehicle to effect meaningful, positive change in the things that matter most to everyone in Chicagoland. We continue to invest in this model, and we believe passionately in its potential to develop high quality education, inclusive economic vitality, dependable public safety, fair application of criminal justice, and effective civic leadership...
Three Paths to Impact for Civic Consulting Alliance Summer Associate
August
Civic Consulting Alliance Summer Associates Kerry Kraemer, Sean Crowley, and Kathleen Woods followed different paths to the Civic Consulting Alliance and plan to pursue different future careers. This summer, they have spread out across the City of Chicago and Cook County to work with several of Civic Consulting's biggest clients on wide-ranging projects: Kerry with the Cook County State's Attorney's Office (SAO), Sean with Chicago Public Schools (CPS), and Kathleen with the Chicago Police Department (CPD). But when they describe their experiences as summer associates, some common themes emerge. In just a few short weeks, all three found themselves deeply engaged with the people and institutions that make Chicago and Cook County government run. And all three were given significant responsibility and autonomy to drive impact on their projects...
Connecting Leadership Vision to Change at CPD
July
I joined West Monroe Partners as a Consultant in the Operations Excellence practice because I was attracted to both the firm's expertise in change management and the firm-wide commitment to its "1-1-1 Program" to invest 1% of its "time, talent and treasure" for social good. When Civic Consulting asked West Monroe Partners to assist the Chicago Police Department (CPD) with implementing its 2017 commitments, I was in the right place at the right time...
Putting Adaptability to Work in Supporting Police Accountability
June
I have always been interested in social impact work, and when I joined EY, I was interested in opportunities to apply what I learned through consulting to the civic sector. When I heard about Civic Consulting Alliance, I immediately looked into whether it would be possible to set up a fellowship program. I could not believe my luck when EY invited applications for an externship with CCA earlier this year and I jumped at the chance...
Bringing a Global Perpective to Chicago's Challenges
May
Growing up in Denmark, I had the benefit of educational and healthcare systems that worked well, even for families like mine with relatively modest means. When I came to Chicago, I looked for ways I could help my adopted city achieve similar outcomes for its residents. My new role as Principal at Civic Consulting Alliance gives me the perfect platform to do that, bridging my previous experiences in government and consulting...
Our time at the Cook County State's Attorney's office
April
Earlier this year, Civic Consulting welcomed two Deloitte fellows to the team, Kayla Abrahamson and Anna Kwawer. Over the course of four months, Kayla and Anna supported Cook County's new State's Attorney, Kim Foxx, and her leadership team in developing a change management strategy for an office of more than 1,000 employees, including roughly 800 attorneys...
Taking my consulting experience to the next level
March
As a Senior Associate Consultant at Bain & Company, I had the opportunity to complete an externship with a not-for-profit for four months. Bain has a long-standing relationship with Civic Consulting Alliance, and I knew from conversations with prior externs that Civic Consulting leverages the skills built at Bain to drive civic outcomes to a new level. Needless to say, I was excited to join their team...
Using analytics to help the library meet patrons' needs
February
When I heard about a possible fellowship at Civic Consulting Alliance, I was intrigued to see if the data analytics background I had developed at KPMG would be a good fit. Fortunately, my fellowship presented an exciting opportunity to apply my data-driven problem-solving skills to the civic space. My fellowship project was with the Chicago Public Library. The Library wanted to improve patrons' access to materials that needed to be delivered to their home branch from other branches in the Library system, a process that usually took more than a week...
Advancing economic vitality, one small business at a time
January
I first had a chance to experience the impact and pleasure of public interest work while attending the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where I helped consult for a non-profit. At Accenture, I continued to seek public interest opportunities and was thrilled when Accenture offered me the chance to work as a pro bono partner with Civic Consulting Alliance...
2016
Prioritizing safety and justice
December
On December 1st, Kim Foxx was sworn in as the new Cook County State's Attorney. Leading the second-largest prosecutor's office in the country, State's Attorney Foxx will play an enormous role in protecting public safety and ensuring justice in our region. Cook County faces both an unprecedented level of violence and a critical lack of trust between criminal justice institutions and communities of color...
Thanksgiving wishes from Deb and Brian
November
Thanksgiving is a time of introspection—to recall where we came from, to take stock of where we are, and to set course for what is to come. And to give thanks...
Building a better bond court
October
This October marks two years since Civic Consulting Alliance and our partners began helping to address issues in Cook County's criminal justice system, including revamping Cook County Central Bond Court. We have been working with Cook County's criminal justice Stakeholders—the Cook County Board President, Sheriff, Chief Judge, State's Attorney, Public Defender, Clerk, the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts, and the Illinois Supreme Court—to reduce the detainment of non-violent individuals...
Looking back on 2016
September
Reading the popular press coverage of Chicago and Illinois can be discouraging, with financial, political, and social challenges dominating the headlines. Fortunately, I get to work every day with an extraordinary mix of dedicated public servants, private sector leaders, and Civic Consulting Alliance staff who see those challenges as opportunities for improvement—and then take action...
City-County collaboration accelerates neighborhood economic growth
August
Five years after the Great Recession, too many neighborhoods still suffer from double-digit unemployment. While these neighborhoods have significant assets that could be used to spur regional economic growth, including land and human capital, new industrial investment has been lacking...
Connecting Cook County
July
The average Cook County family doles out $10,000 annually on train tickets, bus passes, car payments, and gas. Second only to housing as a yearly expense, transportation poses a financial burden to many families in our region...
A changing of the guard
June
On July 1, Deborah DeHaas will take over as Chair of the Civic Consulting Alliance Board. After six years as Chair, Jim Glerum will step down from that role, but will remain a member of Civic Consulting's Board and its Executive Committee...
Make no small plans: Revamping higher education strategy in Illinois
May
As the new head of Oliver Wyman's Chicago office, I wanted the office to be more active in the civic community. I looked at various options for myself and the office, and Civic Consulting Alliance offered an ideal way to get involved. I reached out to the Civic Consulting team and was able to work with them to craft an initial opportunity through which Oliver Wyman's skill sets could be best leveraged...
Police Accountability Task Force Calls for Sweeping Changes
April
The Police Accountability Task Force earlier this month released a 190-page report outlining their findings and sweeping recommendations for reform of the Chicago Police Department. The report provides a blueprint for fundamentally changing the way in which the public engages with the police, and how CPD can develop effective oversight and auditing and create a transparent and predictable system of accountability...
As a Civic Consulting extern, I got more than I bargained for
March
I aspire to work on behalf of or directly for the public sector at some point in my career. So when Bain offered me the opportunity to take an externship, I knew I wanted to work with Civic Consulting Alliance...
Police Task Force Releases First Recommendation
February
The Police Accountability Task Force was charged by the Mayor to lay the foundation for rebuilding trust between the police and communities they serve by facing hard truths and creating a blueprint for transparency, respectful engagement, accountability and change.....
Turning Insight Into Impact
January
As a senior audit associate at KPMG, I had been looking for a way to give back to Chicago, but I wanted to maximize that impact by using my financial knowledge and analytical skills to provide real value. I got my opportunity in January of 2015, when KPMG selected me for an externship with Civic Consulting Alliance....
2015
What is "placemaking" and why is Chicago doing it?
November
Chicago has a new outlet for placemaking - the art of creating attractive spaces in underutilized public space - through Activate!, a partnership between the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) and Latent Design Corporation...
Lanterns Partners lands a new CTO for the State of Illinois
October
Lantern Partners has a reputation for recruiting highly qualified C-level executives for growth-stage companies and leadership for a wide variety of consulting firms. So when Civic Consulting was asked to help recruit a new chief technology officer for the State of Illinois, CEO Brian Fabes placed his first call to Lantern Partners founders Paul Maranville and Chris Morgan...
A message from the Chair
September
In Chicago, public-private partnerships are part of the city's DNA. Civic Consulting Alliance, in turn, is responsible for some of the most tangible, high-impact work in our region. I work with Civic Consulting because I get the opportunity to develop the most essential elements of our community...
Mayoral committee recommends priorities in public engagement, economic growth, and pre-K
August
In April, Mayor Emanuel asked a committee composed of 10 government, business, and community leaders from across Chicago's civic landscape to engage on the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing the city...
On finding your calling
July
Civic Consulting Alliance and I are old friends. Ever since I was introduced to the organization as a pro-bono partner, I have been consistently impressed...
A panoramic view of partnership
June
My perspective on partnership with Civic Consulting Alliance might be unique. I’ve been an Associate Principal at Civic Consulting Alliance, a City client, a CTA client, and a County client, and I’m now a pro bono partner with Deloitte...
Banking on Chicago
May
As new financial analysts at The PrivateBank in Chicago, we typically don’t work closely with top public sector executives to address the city’s most pressing needs. Our externship at Civic Consulting Alliance was anything but typical...
A “Model City,” says Arne Duncan
March
Earlier this month, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan declared Chicago a “Model City” on behalf of the President’s Council on Financial Capability for Young Americans...
Governor Publishes Transition Plan
February
On Friday, January 9, then Governor-elect Rauner’s Transition Committee published its report for the new administration...
Mayor showcases our partnership’s impact on education
January
Recently, Mayor Rahm Emanuel described his future education agenda and highlighted the successes of the past four years. Civic Consulting Alliance and its partners have been central to many of the successes Mayor Emanuel described...
2014
Reinventing Chicago’s healthcare future
November
While City Colleges of Chicago prepares 13,000 students each year for careers in healthcare, its healthcare education programs are spread out across several colleges and satellite sites...
Becoming a Chicagoan
October
Traveling so much for my job, I didn’t always feel connected to Chicago. But during my six-month externship at Civic Consulting Alliance, I got to know my city...
Looking back at 2014
September
On June 30, our 2014 fiscal year ended. During fiscal 2014, we and our partners invested, collectively, $15 million in pro bono services that will benefit residents of our region for years to come...
A Message from the Chair
August
Our model seems simple enough: civic-minded leaders come together to help government clients make change and solve big problems...
Building Chicago’s Future
June
This past week it became official that Chicago will be home to the (newly named) Lucas Museum of Narrative Art...
George Lucas turns his attention to Chicago
May
On April 17, Mayor Emanuel appointed a 12-member Task Force to recommend a site for the Lucas Cultural Arts Museum...
City aims to triple STEM credentials
March
On March 27, Mayor Emanuel announced a city-wide strategy to triple the number of Science, Technology, Engineering, Math (STEM) degrees earned by Chicago youth within four years...
Long-term partnerships drive sustained impact
February
Summer 2012 was particularly violent in the City of Chicago. It was tragic to see the city we love in turmoil. Fortunately for us, we felt like we were able to do something about it...
KPMG extern reflects on regional innovation, personal development through Civic Consulting Experience
January
Jeff Ceretto, a Manager in the Chicago KPMG LLP Advisory practice, recently talked about his six-month Civic Consulting externship at the annual KPMG Chicago Town Hall meeting...
2013
Public-Academic-Civic Collaboration: How to Improve the CCA Model
December
On November 21st, Civic Consulting Alliance, the University of Chicago and the Harris School of Public Policy jointly hosted a roundtable discussion...
Public-Private Partnerships Improving Government Performance
November
Recovery has been slow and uneven for metropolitan Chicago following the Great Recession of 2008-2009...
Congratulations to more than 500 civic leaders
September
Dear Friends and Colleagues, Since 2006, our unique partnership has invested, collectively, more than $100 million...
What's the perfect prescription for our Public Hospital?
July
A year ago, the heads of the public hospital and Cook County government asked for our partnership...
Pro bono partner feature: Three perspectives on Civic Consulting
June
I've had the opportunity to engage with Civic Consulting in three different ways...
"This will create ladders of opportunities for all of our kids" --First Lady Michelle Obama
April
First Lady Michelle Obama made an inspiring appeal to business leaders...
"Pro bono projects: A living lab to test new tools" --Kevin Brockenbrough, Burrell
March
My job as a strategist often calls for me to get someone to open up...
"How we invest our time and resources tells those around us what really matters." --Bryan Funkhouser, Deloitte
February
Think. Invest. Advance. At Deloitte, we use these words...
"I am proud to have used my expertise to help Cook County." --Dan Phelps, Northern Trust
January
As a Senior Civic Fellow at Civic Consulting Alliance...
2012
"These projects benefit the entire Chicago community." --Kish Khemani, A.T. Kearney
December
A.T. Kearney is committed to community involvement...
"This work is just beginning, and we must do more." --Thomas Wilson, Allstate
November
Systemic problems require innovative, collaborative solutions...
"We take great joy in finding ways to make a difference" --Dan Reidy, Jones Day
September
More than a dozen Jones Day attorneys have enthusiastically participated in Civic Consulting initiatives...
Civic Consulting Partnership Invests $14 Million
August
Sixty-one companies contributed their time and talent to the public sector last fiscal year...
"The need is greater now than ever before." - Michael Scimo, Accenture
July
Accenture's long-standing involvement in corporate citizenship links our people...
Designing Our Way to a Better Chicago - Andrew Burroughs, IDEO
June
Civic Consulting Alliance does a great job of connecting the immense talents of the world's leading firms...
Partner Feature: Jim Rechtin, Bain & Company
May
"What is Civic Consulting Alliance all about and why do you work with them?" is a question I often get...
A Message from Civic Consulting Board Chair Jim Glerum
March
2011 was an exceptional year for our partnership...
2011
County Closes $315 Million Budget Gap
December
Cook County passed a $2.9 billion budget last month, closing a gap of $315 million...
City-County Collaboration Saves $11 Million for FY2012
November
The City of Chicago and Cook County will save a combined $11 million in FY2012...
Civic Consulting Partners Help Accelerate Implementation of Mayoral Transition Plan
September
At the 100-day mark, Mayor Rahm Emanuel released a progress report on his Transition Plan...
Chicago's Private Sector Invests More Than $20 Million Pro Bono
August
Over the past year, 385 organizations invested more than $20 million pro bono through Civic Consulting...
County President, City Mayor Outline $140 Million in City-County Collaboration
June
$66 million to $140 million in annual savings and revenue could result from an unprecedented collaboration...
Mayor-Elect Publishes Transition Plan
May
On Tuesday, Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel published a transition plan detailing expectations for his term...
Mayor-Elect Launches Transition Teams
April
In February, Mayor-Elect Emanuel asked Civic Consulting to guide and support the work of his transition committees...
President Toni Preckwinkle Publishes Cook County Transition Plan
February
In December, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle published a transition plan...
2010
Civic Consulting Alliance Celebrates 21 Years of Partnership With Mayor Richard M. Daley
December
On December 2nd, more than 185 Civic Consulting Alliance Board members, partners, and staff gathered...
Recovery Partnership Dashboards Show Impact of Chicago's $2 Billion in Stimulus Funds
September
The Chicago Recovery Partnership, a cross-sector collaboration created to maximize the benefits of ARRA funds...
Civic Consulting Partners Donate More Than $12 Million
August
In the past year, 229 foundations, firms, corporations, and organizations worked with Civic Consulting...
Mayor Daley Meets With Civic Consulting Partners
July
On July 22, Mayor Daley recognized a group of Civic Consulting partners...
Partners Help Implement the Chicago Climate Action Plan
June
Civic Consulting Alliance partners play a key role in implementing the Chicago Climate Action Plan...
Pro Bono Teams Help Launch Chicago Career Tech
May
175 Chicago residents became members of the inaugural class of Chicago Career Tech (CCT), a new...
Civic Consulting Partners Recognized at 25th Anniversary
April
Civic Consulting Alliance Board members recently convened at Chicago's historic Federal...
Mayor Daley Calls for Reinvention of City Colleges of Chicago
March
Last week Mayor Daley recommended the appointment of ComEd Vice President Cheryl Hyman as...
Restructuring of Chicago's Career and Technical Education
January
Mayor Daley joined Chicago Public Schools officials to announce a comprehensive re-...
2009
Chicago Climate Action Plan Leads Way to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
November
A year ago, the City of Chicago launched the Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP),...
230 Partners Working Together
September
We've closed the books on FY 2009, another successful year for the CCA community....
State Finance, Public Safety, and Recovery
June
Last Thursday, Governor Quinn's Taxpayer Action Board presented its final report to the...
Chicago Workforce Investment Council Launched
May
Last week Mayor Daley announced the creation of the Chicago Workforce Investment Council...
CTA Recognized As the Most Improved Metro
April
Improvements at the Chicago Transit Authority are receiving international recognition......