5 Quick Education Summit Reactions

On May 18, 2017, A Better Chicago hosted its second annual Education Summit. Our half-day event convened over 250 business and civic leaders to explore how philanthropy can accelerate change and deliver a world-class education to every Chicagoan. Wes Moore, CEO of The Robin Hood Foundation, best-selling author and social entrepreneur, opened the event with a key note message. His remarks were followed by panels discussing the student experience in Chicago, Illinois’s school funding model, school choice and A Better Chicago’s strategic plan. John B. King, Former U.S. Secretary of Education, delivered the closing address. We spoke with participants immediately following the summit. Here are some of the key insights they shared.

“This year’s summit challenged the way I think about education. The student poems helped me understand the urgency for change and the panels gave me clarity on the issues that exist within our education system.”

“You can’t understand the micro, unless you address the macro. Wes (Moore) set the tone for me. You can’t thoughtfully address funding, or school choice without first addressing the structural reasons why such inequities exist.”

“(The Summit) helped me see where I can help to create the change we’re all looking to make in Chicago. It’s one thing to see the issues, but it’s another to have clear, actionable steps that I can use. Now I can start being a more effective champion of the mission.”

“I’m still processing the wealth of information. It’s thinking about how I can spread this message to others. I have friends who give without much thought. A Better Chicago is at the center of smart philanthropy.”

“It’s clear that fixing education is key to making our city a better place.”

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Stay tuned for more content from #EdSummit17. Sign up for A Better Chicago to learn more about how we are transforming philanthropy to improve our city.