Archives

    In The Arena with Darrious Hilmon

    March 22, 2023
    Matt Strauss grew up in Wilmette, where professionals have no problem networking their way to new jobs. But while mentoring at tech incubator nonprofit I.C. Stars, he saw first-hand how many job seekers on the South and West sides of —particularly those with criminal pasts or gaps in employment didn’t have the same networking ability, or the resources so readily afforded to him and his Wilmette peers.. When he came upon research confirming that a person’s ZIP code at birth is a major indicator of economic success throughout their lives, he was compelled to launch RiseKit, a software company that connects job seekers to employers and social services. This week’s guest is the founder and CEO of RiseKit, Matt Strauss.
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    In The Arena with Darrious Hilmon

    March 15, 2023
    She is an international Speaker, fashion and lifestyle model, and children’s book author…she is also the producer of the upcoming documentary, Project: Building Hope. She’s also the founder and Executive Director of a non-profit committed to leaning into the ‘simple good’ in us all to empower youth to become positive activists through art and discussion. Last year, Crain’s Chicago Business named her one of its ‘Notable Leaders in Community Development’. This week’s guest is Priya Shah.
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    In The Arena with Darrious Hilmon

    March 8, 2023
    Be inspired by Tracy Baim, a trailblazer in the publishing industry. She transformed The Chicago Reader from a struggling publication on the brink of closure to a thriving non-profit with diverse funding sources. Tracy’s impressive track record also includes co-founding Chicago’s oldest LGBTQ newspaper and currently serving as its majority owner and board president.
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    In The Arena with Darrious Hilmon

    February 19, 2023
    Throughout his 16 + year career, he has sought out opportunities that allowed him to combine his Technology & Finance skills with his passion for People + Culture. While US Born, his family returned to Lagos when he was only months old, when he returned to the US just in time for high school, he realized just how similar…and different his experience as a Black man was depending on the country…the continent..upon which his two feet stood. Our guest this week is Yemi Akisanya
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    In The Arena with Darrious Hilmon

    February 8, 2023
    This incredibly successful veteran of real estate private equity, has nearly two decades of experience as an entrepreneur…he also almost flunked out of college his freshman year. Father to Sofia and Solomon, and husband of Rebecca, he is a Chicagoan through and through…a Chicagoan whose love for his family – and his community – is palpable. Recently the commercial real estate firm he co-founded – and currently serves as CEO – announced plans to build a $257 million data center in the Illinois Medical District, making it one of the year’s biggest projects. Our guest this week is Craig Huffman
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    In The Arena with Darrious Hilmon

    January 26, 2023
    The son of a single black mother and an Ethiopian refugee father, he has committed his life to advocacy and public service. 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. This weeks guest on In The Arena is Mike Simmons.
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    In The Arena with Darrious Hilmon

    January 18, 2023
    This week Andre Baker, Executive Director, Market Director-Consumer Banking for JPMorgan Chase steps In The Arena with Darrious Hilmon to discuss investing more in underserved, under-resourced communities.
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    In The Arena with Darrious Hilmon

    January 13, 2023
    As President and CEO of Chicago Foundation for Women, she leads strategic efforts to invest in women and girls, transgender, and gender nonbinary people…fighting for gender equity, and building stronger communities for all.
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    In The Arena with Darrious Hilmon

    December 17, 2022
    At the very height of the COVID-19 Pandemic, Leslie Anderson-Rutland braced herself against the words no woman – or man – wants to hear “you have breast cancer. Leslie steps In The Arena to discuss her journey in battling breast cancer.
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