About the Event

Chicago Emerging Minority Development Initiative (CEMDI) launched in 2020 with the goal to increase the number of minority developers active in Chicago. Led by Gwendolyn Hatten Butler, Graham Grady, and Leon Walker, CEMDI aims to enrich the local real estate development community ecosystem by advancing opportunities for equitable development and inclusive growth. Over the past year CEMDI has hosted nine events nine events aimed at supporting the real estate ecosystem and making connections. This event marks the launch of the CEMDI Connects series with the aim of providing unique learning and relationship building events for minority developers and professional services firms. We are pleased to host this event with Chicago Architecture Center, I-NOMA, and Arquitectos.

CEMDI Connects is designed to encourage meaningful connections between emerging minority designers and development firms. CEMDI recognizes it is critical to source and build a pipeline of community-focused developers from African-American, Latinx, and other minority communities to participate in commercial real estate development projects citywide.

Cultivating new collaborations is key to our collective success. Making informed connections is complicated as we continue to navigate in virtual spaces. With this in mind, we have curated a targeted list of firms to participate in this Meet-Up. With a spirit of active participation and a willingness to engage, together we can foster a gathering space that is welcoming, conversational, and mutually informative.