BACP Business Education Webinars

The Dept. of Business Affairs and Consumer Protections (BACP) offers free business education workshops or webinars every Wednesday afternoon and Friday morning. All programs are currently being offered as webinars. Topics include business licensing, operations, financial resources, marketing, and more. Programs are free and open to the public and taught by industry professionals, not-for-profit agencies, and government agencies.

To register visit www.chicago.gov/businesseducation

How to Become a Nonprofit in Illinois

Certificate Categories Legal Business Operations & Licensing Finance

July 16th 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Presented by Agostino Filippone of Chokshi Filippone Law LLC

Setting up a nonprofit is one tool for those interested in providing a positive benefit to their community. This presentation details the Illinois-specific steps to forming a nonprofit and provides a summary of the process as well as considerations when deciding whether a nonprofit is the best fit for you and your goals.

Register

Empower Hour: Gray Matter Experience

Certificate Categories Business Operations & Licensing Marketing Finance

July 17th 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm

In honor and recognition of Youth Skills Day, celebrated in July, this month’s Empower Hour will feature BACP Chief Small Business Officer Lotika Pai chatting with Britney Robbins, Founder and CEO of Gray Matter Experience.

The Gray Matter Experience closes the opportunity gap for youth with big visions but limited access by using entrepreneurship as a tool for personal and community transformation. Founder and CEO Britney Robbins witnessed entrepreneurship and innovation firsthand as her parents worked hard to build businesses and generate wealth. But because of gaps in access to funding, mentorship, and insider networks, entrepreneurship for many in her community wasn’t a fast track to success. It was survival. The cornerstones of what it means to be authentically Black – creativity, innovation, and culture – were powerful business drivers. Yet few tables were set for leaders who looked like her. So, she built a new one.The Gray Matter Experience was created to close the support and access gap; and, to amplify the intelligence, originality, and leadership already alive in overlooked communities. Inspired by the brain’s gray matter – where thinking, memory, and innovation live – the name reflects the brilliance often ignored, and the belief that young people already have what they need inside them to lead.The candid conversation will cover the start and growth of the nonprofit, youth entrepreneurship programs, and the organization’s role in building economic power in underrepresented communities. The webinar will end with a Q&A for attendees to ask questions.

Register

The Power of Lifestyle for Leaders and Teams

Certificate Categories Business Operations & Licensing Marketing Finance

July 18th 9:30 am to 11:00 am

Presented by National Association of Women Owners (NAWBO) member Dr. Dominika Hertsberg from Balanced Flow Wellness

What if your most overlooked business advantage was your health? In this engaging talk, Dr. Dominika Hertsberg shares how foundational lifestyle habits can dramatically improve your focus, energy, and emotional intelligence as a leader, and ripple out to elevate your entire organization. Learn how to use Lifestyle Medicine to fight burnout, boost productivity, and build a company culture that thrives.

Register

Business Education Resources:

• To view upcoming webinars, visit www.chicago.gov/businesseducation

• To view past webinars, visit www.YouTube.com/ChicagoBACP

Neighborhood Business Development Centers

Chicago-based chambers of commerce and business support organizations, often referred to as Neighborhood Business Development Centers (NBDC), assist in the development of small businesses in Chicago, serve as liaison between local businesses and the City of Chicago, and provide neighborhood business development services. They have a strong neighborhood network and coordinate efforts with local aldermen, the city, and other community partners. They can help start-up entrepreneurs and existing business owners. Find your local NBDC by visiting chicago.gov/NBDC.