CIVIC LEADERSHIP
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SYMPOSIUM
South East Chicago Commission (SECC) invites you to the 8th annual regional economic development symposium focusing on economic growth and prosperity of small businesses.
The 2026 SECC Southside Connection Symposium is focused on opportunities for business development, changes in the local marketplace, and investments in regional commercial corridors. Chicago entrepreneurs, business executives, property owners, investors, practitioners and policy leaders will attend the Symposium at The David Rubenstein Forum. #seccsymposium2026
2026 Southside Connection Symposium
Anchored for Impact
Friday | October 9, 2025
8:00 am – 12:00 pm
SECC is a 501(c)3 non-profit. Donations are welcomed.
Overview of Events
- Doors Open / Check In at 8:00 am
- Coffee & Breakfast Bar
- Business Resources Tables
- Opening Remarks at 9:00 am
- Keynote Conversation
- Break: Quick Connections
- Public Sector Panel
- Drawing & Wrap Up
Building Inclusive Economic Pathways
- Anchored for Impact: Aligning institutional investments, anchor partnerships, and regional capital with community-centered growth.
Why Attend:
- Business Owners: Position for anchor procurement, access commercial corridor capital, and tap into new foot-traffic drivers.
- Community Leaders: Secure policies and partnerships that advance equitable development while protecting neighborhood stability.
- Residents: Connect to high-growth workforce pipelines and ensure public investments enhance your neighborhood’s quality of life.
Connecting Businesses to Resources and Opportunity
Beyond the featured conversations, the symposium will offer networking and direct connections to organizations providing business development, workforce, funding, procurement, City services and community resources.
Attendees will also receive a light continental breakfast and opportunities to build relationships with entrepreneurs, institutional partners, community leaders and business-serving organizations from across Chicago and the region.
Starting the Day
The 2026 SECC Southside Connection Symposium begins with registration check-in, casual networking, photos with friends and colleagues, access to business development resource tables and a light continental breakfast by BARDAVID to jumpstart the day.
Keynote Conversation
Civic Voice & the Connected City
Moderated by Phaedra Leslie | Vice President of Diversity, Workforce Development & Community Engagement, ALL Construction Group, this session features:
- State Rep. Kam Buckner (26th District) | Speaker Pro Tempore of the Illinois House of Representatives
- Janice R. Thomas | Deputy Executive Director of External Affairs & Chief of Staff, Metra
- Joel Hamernick | Executive Director, A More Just Chicago
- Turning major tourism and transit foot traffic into small business revenue.
- Safeguarding neighborhood stability and preventing displacement amid rising investment.
- Aligning city governance through open, repeated, citywide deliberation and codified charter reforms.
Public Sector Panel
People, Place & Possibility
Panelists will highlight practical pathways for businesses to pursue opportunities involving procurement, concessions, permits, event activation, technical assistance and neighborhood business networks. The conversation also will address place keeping, heritage tourism, public-space activation and strategies for ensuring longtime businesses and entrepreneurs remain connected to new investment and development.
Moderator: Lotika Pai
Chief Small Business Officer
Small Business Advocacy
Managing Deputy Commissioner
City of Chicago
Department of Business Affairs
and Consumer Protection (BACP)
Carlos Ramirez-Rosa
General Superintendent
& Chief Executive Officer
Chicago Park District
Genora Stone
President
Jackson Park Conservatory
- Public Spaces & Vitality: Activating parks and public infrastructure to drive foot traffic and neighborhood commerce.
- Workforce & Emerging Industries: Preparing residents and small businesses for jobs in technology, green infrastructure, and innovation sectors.
- Business Corridors: Ensuring local entrepreneurs participate and can create new jobs as they grow.
2026 Symposium Sponsors
Sponsorship Opportunities
SECC welcomes your collaboration and partnership and invites you support the Symposium. Choose between one of the sponsorship tiers or customize your partnership. Check out the guide to see some of the available options.
LOOKING BACK AT THE 2024-2025 SYMPOSIUM
Thank you to everyone who registered and attended, our incredible collection of speakers, the SECC board and staff, our volunteers and all of our partners and sponsors who contributed to the success of last year’s Symposium.
2005 Symposium Sponsors
