Leadership Series Session 3 | Trust: Who Has It Now and Why Does It Matter?
Join us for the 2026-27 LGC Leadership Series session three! National surveys tell a familiar story: trust in institutions is collapsing everywhere. New Chicago data tells a more nuanced one. ChicagoSpeaks, a representative survey panel built by NORC at the University of Chicago, finds that while trust in business, media and even one’s own employer declined over the past year, trust in local nonprofits grew. Chicagoans have not given up on institutions. They reward the ones that show up and speak up.
Our distinguished panelists include:
- Moderator Kimbriell Kelly – Editor-in-Chief, Chicago Public Media
- Amanda Edelman – General Manager, Edelman Chicago
- Brian Fabes (LGC Fellow since 2001) – Managing Director, Corporate Coalition of Chicago
- Andrea Sáenz (LGC Fellow since 2009 and Daniel Burnham Fellow) – President and CEO, The Chicago Community Trust
- Eric Smith (Daniel Burnham Fellow) – Vice Chair, BMO U.S.
The data carries a warning — and an opportunity for business. Expectations of business leaders in things like investing in communities, providing good-paying jobs and genuinely caring for the community, rose while perceived performance fell across every category. Despite public perception, many companies are making substantial investments in local hiring, fair chance employment and neighborhood development. The problem is not just action, it’s visibility. Join us to consider how gaps can be closed and leaders can earn trust at the local level.
To register, click here.
Due to limited seating and high demand, we kindly ask that you register only if you are certain you can attend. Tickets for this event are exclusively for Fellows and Sponsor Participants. (The LGC Signature Fellows Class of 2027 and Sponsor Participants are preregistered, no ticket required).