Day 1

Aligning public, private & philanthropic capital to unlock Chicago's $2B+ opportunity.

Day One of the Urgency of Now Tour is an on-site intensive listening session and fireside chat where public, private, and philanthropic partners move from conversation to action — building stronger, more accessible pathways to funding, investment, and long-term regional growth.

Chicago is leaving billions in competitive grants and federal contracts on the table. This session puts the people who control that capital and the people building the city's future in the same room, with real data on the barriers to funding and workforce needs that city leadership can act on.

Who should attend: City leaders, elected officials & agency heads, and corporate, private & philanthropic funding partners.

DAY 1 AGENDA (Wednesday, November 11)

9:00 AM - Check-in & Registration. Badge pickup and light refreshments.

9:30 AM - Welcome & Opening Remarks. Framing the day: why Chicago’s $2B+ opportunity requires public, private, and philanthropic capital moving together.

10:00 AM - Fireside Chat: Aligning Capital. A conversation on building stronger, more accessible pathways to funding and long-term regional growth.

11:15 AM - Listening Session: Barriers to Funding. Real data on funding and workforce barriers, and intelligence the city can act on.

12:30 PM - Lunch. Lunch break, on your own.

1:30 PM - Panel: A Path to $2B+. A coordinated route to the competitive grants, federal contracts, and partnerships Chicago can access now.

2:30 PM - Closing Remarks & Networking. Open networking with speakers, funders, and city leadership.

3:00 PM - Program Ends