Log on for our first networking event of the year! GRCC is partnering with the Andersonville and Uptown chambers to present an afternoon of business networking. This is a great chance to develop new relationships as we deepen the connection between our communities.

What to Expect

First, you’ll get updates from the presenting chambers and our spotlight guest, State Senator Mike Simmons (IL 7th District). Then, we’ll split into breakout rooms for small group discussions. This will also give us a chance to talk about the Clark Street Crossroads study and get your feedback about potential enhancements for Clark between Montrose and Foster avenues. After that, we’ll come together to go ’round the Zoom for group intros, elevator pitches, and chatroom shenanigans.

Businesses from all three neighborhoods are invited to join us! We’re excited to share some important information and offer a fun, no-pressure environment for making connections. The event begins at 11:30 AM on Thursday, February 17, 2022. There is no cost to attend. Registration for this event has closed.

Let’s Get Lunch on Clark St

As a fun way to highlight Clark Street Crossroads, we’re encouraging attendees to order coffee or lunch from a restaurant within the study area. One lucky attendee will win free lunch from an area business of their choosing.

Spotlight Guest: State Senator Mike Simmons

Mike Simmons’ roots run deep in the Illinois 7th State Senate District (map). He was born in Lincoln Square, the son of a single black mother and an Ethiopian refugee father. His mother, Ramona, who opened her own business, Salon Pastiche, in Rogers Park at 31 years old and ran it for 25 years, raised him and his sister. His father, Mulugetta, was also a small business owner and ran a bar, the Wild Hare, in Lakeview for 25 years. Mike Simmons family was one of the first Black families to integrate Lincoln Square after the U.S. Supreme Court mandated that public housing be built on Chicago’s Northside.

With his lived experiences and equity mindset, Mike Simmons has committed his life to advocacy and public service. He is dedicated to amplifying the voices of seniors, refugees, the transgender community, people experiencing financial instability, single mothers, and other silenced voices in our democracy.

He is the first black person to serve the 7th District, the first openly gay member of the Illinois Senate, and the third openly gay, black state senator in the nation. Mike Simmons is a trailblazer for the 7th District and statewide. He believes in opening doors for people who have historically been treated unjustly by the government. Click here for Senator Simmons’ complete bio.

About the Greater Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce

GRCC is a non-profit organization that provides resources for entrepreneurs in Ravenswood and its surrounding communities. Our partnerships with the City of Chicago include; operating a Neighborhood Business Development Center with support from the Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protections; participating in the Department of Planning & Development’s Local Industrial Retention Initiative; and managing SSA#31, which provides additional services to business and property owners along Ravenswood’s commercial corridors.

We are guided by the belief that creativity, sustainable living, and diverse industry position Ravenswood as a destination neighborhood. We create programs and provide services that connect the dots between businesses, residents, non-profit organizations, local government and area schools. Click here to learn more about who we are.

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