Chicago City Wire

To streamline procedures and appraise policies, the Illinois Business Enterprise Program Council for Minorities, Females and Persons with Disabilities met May 23 to focus on committee reports and new business.

 

Two committee updates included reports from the marketing and community engagement committee and the certification committee.

 

Council member Bobbie Wanzo raised the topic of community outreach at local events by her marketing and community engagement committee, as well as ongoing social media communication for the entire council. She announced that a task force on disability employment and economic opportunity was planning recommendations to the council.

 

Sharla Roberts reported that the certification committee reversed a decision regarding absentee ownership, certifying a particular company to do business with the council, and recommended reviewing pertinent policies.

 

New business highlighted the desire to improve internal electronic communications within the committee —particularly to inform members of meeting content ahead of time to allow better preparation. Roberts inquired about possible staff training for certification tracking.

 

When Larry Ivory noted that important new procurement policies are regularly reviewed in Springfield and expressed a desire to have fuller awareness, Chairman Kimberly McCullough-Starks responded that she would try to accommodate the request despite the fact that pending legislation goes through a fast-paced process.

 

McCullough-Starks also announced that corrections department officials expressed a willingness to attend future meetings.

 

New business topics included best practices, sheltered workshop business, diversity in spending for hospitals, and gaming legislation.

 

With just nine out of 16 members in attendance, approval of previous minutes was tabled due to lack of a quorum..