the May 2024 | Volume 37 | No. 5
ESCAPE THE WHIRLWIND
FIVE TRENDS IN OFFICE PRINTING
MELISSA MCCORMICK
AMY FLESCH
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of the greater rockford business community
COMMUNITY IMPACT IS GOOD FOR THE SOLE
Celebration of Leadership
Life Decisions is grateful to
GRCC recognizes 2024 Leadership Rockford class By Caitlin Pusateri, Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2024 Celebration of Leadership, presented by Mr. Goodwater, on Thursday, April 18, at the Hoffman House. The annual event serves as a platform to recognize Leadership Rockford graduates, a distinguished group of emerging leaders committed to making a positive impact in the community. Leadership Rockford is a prestigious year-long networking program facilitated by the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce. Participants engage in a comprehensive exploration of the community, gaining valuable insights by
networking with key stakeholders across various sectors, including job makers, healthcare leaders, government officials and educators. Through a series of tours, panels and immersive experiences, participants deepen their understanding of the community’s challenges and opportunities, equipping them to contribute meaningfully to its growth and development. This was the 69th graduating class of Leadership Rockford, formerly known as CAP. Since the program began, nearly 2,000 professionals have participated. To deepen connections with fellow classmates and instill a love for community, participants completed a project for a community nonprofit. This year’s projects included: • Exposure opportunities for the Tommy Corral Memorial Foundation. • Much-needed seasonal prep work for Hoo Haven.
• A shoe drive for Life Decisions. • Project work for Voices of Inspiration. • A painting project and scope determination for Patriot’s Gateway. • StigmaFree Community exposure work for NAMI Northern IL. • A blood drive for Rock River Valley Blood Center. From strategic consultation to handson labor, participants learned countless ways to be involved and engaged in the Rockford community. Keynote speaker Rebecca Francis, a respected diversity, equity and inclusion consultant and owner of Ignite Change Solutions, addressed the crowd about being an authentic leader. An authentic leader leads with integrity, sincerity and a genuine connection to their values, beliefs and emotions. Francis says authentic leaders are transparent and self-aware, staying true to themselves (continued on page 8)
GUEST COLUMNIST
Celebrating 75 years of community building Nichol Fricks, executive director, Northwest Community Center
THE VOICE IS PUBLISHED BY
Join the Chamber on Social Media
The Voice is online at rockfordchamber.com
The power of collaboration
As we celebrate our remarkable journey of 75 years serving the city of Rockford, it fills me with immense pride and gratitude to witness the profound impact we’ve had on our community. Northwest Community Center has long been hailed as a hidden gem, nestled within wooded side-streets in northwest Rockford. But while our physical location may be tucked away, our impact is anything but hidden. In fact, we are strengthening our presence in Rockford, ensuring that our voice is heard loud and clear as we strive to meet the evolving needs of our neighbors.
In an era where the needs of our community continue to grow, the demand for quality programming and support has never been greater. At Northwest, we firmly believe that the future of sustainable community centers lies in the power of collaboration. By joining forces with like-minded individuals and organizations, we can amplify our impact and create lasting change that benefits us all. One of the most powerful examples of collaboration in action is our partnership with Alignment Rockford. As a proud member of the Alignment Rockford (continued on page 6)
the Rockford community for its overwhelming generosity during the organizations 60day shoe drive fundraiser. Life Decisions youth and mentors collected 9,000 pairs of gently used shoes. The donated shoes will generate funds for Life Decisions’ operations, enabling them to extend their day home hours and provide training for mentors working with youth.
“It was truly a community contribution to support our youth and mentors in making a local, environmental and global impact,” said Ali Rogers, chief development officer of Life Decisions. Dozens of businesses, churches and schools, along with countless individuals, donated to the cause. Participants from the Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce (GRCC) Leadership Rockford class also assisted with the shoe drive. Life Decisions partnered with Funds2Orgs which pays a per pound price for the collected shoes. Funds2Orgs coordinates fundraising drives throughout the U.S. and repurposes donated shoes to help create micro enterprises in developing nations. Want to do more with Life Decisions? The next big community event will be the fourth annual 815 Fun Fair on Aug. 17 at Dahlquist Park. Attendees will enjoy caricatures, games, inflatables, a foam pit and much more - all planned by Life Decisions youth and their mentors. Life Decisions welcomes anyone interested in becoming a volunteer adult mentor. Visit www.lifedecisions.net for more information and to apply.
SAVE THE DATE 2024 Greater Rockford Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner Thursday, September 19 5-8 p.m. Tebala Event Center 7910 Newburg Rd Rockford, IL 61108 Register online at rockfordchamber.com presented by: