Building Safe Communities Focus for Council on Foundations Annual Conference in Chicago

WHAT: As issues with violence, joblessness, and poverty continue to escalate in communities across the country, the Council on Foundations Annual Conference, April 7-9 in Chicago, will provide a platform for more than 1,000 of the nation's philanthropic and grantmaking leaders to convene on growing issues threatening the safety of our communities.

During the opening plenary session, Building Safe Communities, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will share their perspectives on the societal challenges they face in their major urban communities.

A range of sessions will focus on issues impacting safety in our communities including violence, joblessness, poverty, mental health, disconnected youth, inequities in criminal justice, and bullying. Sessions will examine root causes for problems, identify opportunities for addressing systemic issues, and explore the ability of cross-sector partnerships to achieve lasting impact.

WHEN: Building Safe Communities Opening Plenary, Sunday, April 7, 12:15-1:30 p.m.:

• Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel
• New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu
• Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter
• Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle

Sunday, April 7, Session Highlights:

• Five Reasons to Invest in Girls, 2:30-4 p.m.
• Safe Communities: Investment Strategies that Work, 2:30-4 p.m.
• Opportunity Youth: Pathways to Success for Our Nation's Youth, 4:30-6 p.m.

Monday, April 8, Session Highlights:

• Inequities of Justice, Simultaneous Plenary, noon-1:30 p.m.
• Film + Video Festival: "Bully", 1:45-3:30 p.m.
• Off-Site Session:
  • Connecting Hope and Opportunity in North Lawndale and Pilsen, 2:30-6 p.m.
• Pathways out of Poverty: Job Creation and Sustainable Development, 2:30-4 p.m.

Tuesday, April 9, Session Highlights:

• Activist Philanthropy: Challenging the Status-Quo-Change the Questions, Change the World, noon-1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Hilton Chicago
720 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago
(off-site session will depart from and return to Hilton Chicago)

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The Council on Foundations (www.cof.org), formed in 1949, is a nonprofit membership association of grantmaking foundations and corporations. Members of the Council include more than 1,700 independent, operating, community, public and company-sponsored foundations, and corporate giving programs in the United States and abroad. The Council’s mission is to provide the opportunity, leadership, and tools needed by philanthropic organizations to expand, enhance, and sustain their ability to advance the common good.