How The Arts & Business Council of Chicago Helped Us Succeed

As with various inflection points in our organization’s history, we met an important ally during the program that has continued to serve us personally and professionally. One of the consultants we were paired with was a woman named Chevy Williams, who became our dear friend and confidant, and still advises us to this day.

It’s a reminder that connection is key, and that being super open to listen when smart people care enough to speak up is an important posture to retain. We’ve always tried to emphasize the notion that appealing to folks’ ‘experience and expertise’ would put willing collaborators and supporters in the best position to help us achieve results.

The Business Volunteers for the Arts Program helped us do exactly that. And having the experience so early in our organizations history has meant that we have adopted a culture of strategic iteration and efficient implementation that has seen us bring art to every ward in Chicago.

Art nonprofits in Chicago should, quite frankly, be required be part of this program. They produced a 3 year strategic plan, mapping out finances and development. We also implemented some systems for documenting and organizing ourselves, and although everything we came up with hasn’t born itself out, it was so much more about committing to a process of strategic planning that got us realistic about setting organizational goals & achieving them.

We cannot be more thankful to the Arts & Business Council of Chicago and their commitment to the BVA Program & wish them continued success!