Karen Freeman-Wilson, president and CEO, delivered a strong message at Crain’s Girls of Affect Luncheon on Thursday, March 6, 2025, in Chicago. Her phrases resonated amid the present financial and political local weather dealing with the nation.
Freeman-Wilson acknowledged the consideration of being acknowledged amongst achieved ladies whereas utilizing the second to situation a name to motion and converse reality to energy.
“It’s really an important and humbling honor to be acknowledged among the many unimaginable ladies who’ve been honored earlier than me,” Freeman-Wilson stated. “My dad and mom and Sunday faculty academics taught me to at all times say ‘please’ and ‘thanks’ and to recollect the Golden Rule — deal with folks the way in which you wish to be handled. Additionally they instilled in me the assumption that we’re all blessed to be a blessing.”
Her assertion harassed management that emphasizes service over self-interest at a time when many Individuals expertise financial disparity and political division.
Freeman-Wilson’s work on the Chicago City League facilities on advocacy for the Black neighborhood and different marginalized populations combating for entry to schooling, employment, housing and healthcare.
“I’ve had the privilege of residing out these classes not solely with a loving household but in addition by means of my work, surrounded by an incredible crew on the Chicago City League. It has been my honor to work on behalf of the Black neighborhood and different underserved communities, serving to to make sure equal alternative and entry to assets that many people take with no consideration.”
Freeman-Wilson related historic struggles to current challenges, noting her upcoming participation in commemorating Bloody Sunday and the march from Selma to Montgomery.
“Whereas many keep in mind that time as one in all disruption, it was really a motion to realize the identical rights and alternatives that others already had — good housing, good jobs, high quality well being care, entry to public lodging, and, most significantly, the proper to vote.”
Her name for unity resonated most strongly. “If we mirror on the divisions we see right now, we acknowledge that that is an equally difficult time. However simply as within the Fifties and ’60s, I consider there are extra issues that unite us than divide us. At our core, all of us need the identical issues — high quality schooling for our youngsters, entry to good well being care, enterprise alternatives, honest housing, and every part that makes up the American dream.”
Freeman-Wilson was one in all a number of distinguished honorees acknowledged on the luncheon, together with:
- Natalie Brown, CEO, Mesirow Monetary Holdings
- Rita Sola Cook dinner, president, Financial institution of America Chicago
- Lisa Duarte, fairness companion, Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres
- Christy George, CEO, Intersect Illinois
- Julie Giese, president, Chicago Road Race, NASCAR
- Ashley Duchossois Joyce, chair, Duchossois Capital Administration
- Suzanne Yoon, founder and managing companion, Kinzie Capital Companions
President and CEO, Chicago City League at Crain’s Girls Of Affect Luncheon (Photograph credit score: Eddy “Exact” Lamarre)
President, Financial institution of America Chicago at Crain’s Girls Of Affect Luncheon (Photograph credit score: Eddy “Exact” Lamarre)
Fairness companion, Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres at Crain’s Girls Of Affect Luncheon (Photograph credit score: Eddy “Exact” Lamarre)
CEO, Intersect Illinois at Crain’s Girls Of Affect Luncheon (Photograph credit score: Eddy “Exact” Lamarre)
Chair, Duchossois Capital Administration at Crain’s Girls Of Affect Luncheon (Photograph credit score: Eddy “Exact” Lamarre)
Founder and managing companion, Kinzie Capital Companions at Crain’s Girls Of Affect Luncheon (Photograph credit score: Eddy “Exact” Lamarre)
