YWCA Leader Luncheon Honors Kaplan Institute Exec Director Howard Tullman with Ally Award

                             REMARKS

I want to thank Kristi for her very clever video and I want to congratulate all the other honorees and leaders. And I especially want to thank my good friends at the YWCA for this honor although I’m not sure that I’ve really done anything special to deserve it. Dorri said that I’m only the 3^rd man honored with this award in its lengthy history. I guess if you hang around long enough almost anything can happen. Hopefully we’re all here today to help make some critical changes happen that are long overdue.

My interest in supporting, mentoring and advancing women in several dozen businesses over the last 50 years (take that Michelle!) has always been totally selfish. Apart from the fact that I have 2 terrific daughters and 4 amazing granddaughters who I want to have the very brightest futures and the broadest set of life choices and opportunities possible (they’ve already got great genes and terrific talents) - the fact is that, in every company I’ve ever built (or been a big part of), strong, skilled and passionate women have always played major leadership roles and made important contributions to the design, development and success of those businesses.

This didn’t happen because it was in fashion or the right thing to do or even a special thing to do; it happened because it was the smart thing to do and that’s why I say it was selfish. It was the best thing I could do for my business at the time and it’s been a part of my program ever since. I don’t think anyone does anything important all by themselves these days and I don’t think you can build any business that’s ready for the challenges of tomorrow which isn’t aggressively inclusive and diverse.

Nothing this important happens by itself. And no one who has the opportunity to help make changes like this does it without sacrifices of their own. Time, energy, sleep – these are all at a premium today and I can tell you that I wouldn’t have been able to pull off even a fraction of my “accomplishments” without the support, love and exceptional patience of my family and especially of my wife Judy. She really loves our dogs the most, but I’m pretty sure that I’m a strong third or fourth. 

And, I’ve also been privileged to be a part of and work with several organizations (including 1871 and the YWCA) which have helped to set great examples for today and for the generations to come. I’ve worked closely with Dorri for many years. I want to end by taking a moment to recognize and thank her for the amazing transformation of the Y which she is leading. I’m always proud to call her my friend. Thank you all again. 

1871 AND YWCA METROPOLITAN CHICAGO LAUNCH COMMUNITY-WIDE SEXUAL HARASSMENT AWARENESS INITIATIVES WITH JOINT PROGRAM

1871 AND YWCA METROPOLITAN CHICAGO LAUNCH COMMUNITY-WIDE SEXUAL HARASSMENT AWARENESS INITIATIVES WITH JOINT PROGRAM 1871 Partners With Leading Women’s Organization to Create Safe and Healthy Workplaces With Sexual Harassment Training, Education, and Awareness; Program Will Require Annual Mandatory Training of all Members; Will Offer Six Public Facing Events; Will Establish Anonymous Hotline. PRESS RELEASE | Chicago, IL |  March 21, 2018 Contact: Yun Tai, Communications Associate press@1871.com (910) 391-9496 CHICAGO (March 21, 2017) -- 1871 joined YWCA Metropolitan Chicago on Wednesday to announce a joint initiative that will expand efforts to prevent and address sexual harassment in the workplace throughout Chicago. The partnership affirms 1871’s commitment to its values of diversity and inclusion along with its mission to support and empower Chicago’s entrepreneurs and business leaders of all backgrounds.   As a result of this partnership, 1871 has added a section to its Member Code of Conduct requiring all of its members to take a sexual harassment training course at least once a year. 1871 will also host one optional YWCA-led training course on sexual harassment each month as a benefit for its members; courses will cover preventative education topics to help members better recognize and prevent abusive behaviors. “As the number one incubator in the world, we have an obligation to lead the way when it comes to gender equality in the workplace,” said 1871 COO Tom Alexander. “This partnership withYWCA Metropolitan Chicago ensures that we’re expecting our members to observe and implement the highest standards in terms of diversity and inclusion, and also helps further the discussion on significant gender issues in today’s workforce.” In addition to its training courses, the YWCA will host six public events at 1871 throughout the year to educate and equip the 1871 community with strategies and best practices to identify, prevent, and report sexual harassment in the workplace. The first event will take place in April to commemorate Sexual Assault Awareness Month. The partnership will also provide access to a YWCA hotline for all of 1871’s members, tenants, partners, and staff. The hotline will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will provide support and crisis intervention for individuals who have experienced harassment or discrimination. All hotline users will remain anonymous.                 “Sexual harassment, misconduct, and abuse is unacceptable in any industry, at any level,” saidYWCA Metropolitan Chicago CEO Dorri McWhorter. “When it comes to diversity and inclusion, 1871 is taking significant action and provides a model for other businesses in how to effectively advocate and empower women in the workplace. The YWCA is proud to stand side-by-side with the 1871 community to advance safe and healthy workplaces for all.” Along with its collaboration with the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, the largest provider of sexual assault support services in the Midwest, 1871 has launched extensive efforts to support women in the workforce including WiSTEM, a 12-week, curriculum-based accelerator for women entrepreneurs, whose companies have raised more than $10 million in capital and created over 250 jobs, and ChiBuys, which supports women- and minority-owned food vendors in the Chicagoland area. In addition to its diversity initiatives and programs, 1871 has also built two nursing rooms on its premises to support working mothers, worked aggressively to achieve gender parity among its mentor roster, and continues to reflect its values of diversity and inclusion in all of its organizational efforts including membership, events, recruiting, and programming. About YWCA Metropolitan Chicago YWCA Metropolitan Chicago is the oldest and largest women’s organization in the region, with a mission to eliminate racism and empower women. For more than 140 years, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago has been committed to serving the evolving needs of women and families. Today, they help more than 200,000 individuals annually through Safety & Wellness, Education & Training, and Economic Sustainability. The organization is the largest provider of sexual assault support services in Illinois, offering crisis intervention, counseling, education and medical and legal advocacy services. They administer the state’s largest Child Care Resource and Referral program offering services to families seeking child care and a variety of support resources for child care providers. They also offer career, financial management, digital literacy and business services to help youth and adult members achieve financial stability and obtain training to enter high-growth fields. To learn more, please visit www.ywcachicago.org. About 1871 1871 is the home of over 500 high-growth technology startups and more than 1,500 members supported by an entire ecosystem focused on accelerating their growth and creating jobs in the Chicagoland area. Visit www.1871.com for more information. Located in a 150,000 square-foot space over three floors in The Merchandise Mart, 1871 has more than 600 current mentors available to its members, as well as more than 100 partner corporations, universities, education programs, accelerators, venture funds and other organizations that make its extensive matrix of resources possible. For more on our partners, visit www.1871.com/about/partners, or become a partner by reaching out to contact@1871.com.

1871 hosts Genexus-YWCA Training Program

1871 Hosts Developing Digital Diversity Open House with YWCA and Genexus

1871’s Howard Tullman Developing Diversity

http://negociosnow.com/1871s-howard-tullman-developing-diversity/

   1871’s Howard Tullman Developing Diversity

When Howard Tullman officially took the reins in January 2014 of Chicago technology startup incubator 1871, it was clear that the new CEO would be an agent of change.

The 69-year-old entrepreneur and turnaround expert instilled a new focus on revenue over sheer investor dollars, as well as a more rigorous selection process for accepting tenants into the program.

He’s also pushing for more diversity at 1871, the Merchandise Mart facility that houses some 240 startup businesses, along with accelerator programs TechStars and ImpactEngine. Fledgling tech companies pay $125 to $400 a month for space on month-to-month leases.

“We have a number of programs where our sponsors are allocating portions of their contributions to provide scholarships and other outreach programs, so we’re setting aside funds in order to attract more minority candidates,” Tullman says.

In February, 1871 announced that it will host an Entrepreneur in Residence for one year as part of CODE2040’s residency program. CODE2040 is a national nonprofit group that works to create pathways to educational, professional, and entrepreneurial success in technology for underrepresented minorities. With a focus on African-Americans and Latinos, CODE2040 seeks to ensure that by the year 2040 – when the Unites States’ minority population is expected to outnumber Caucasians – African-Americans and Latinos are proportionally represented in America’s innovation economy.

Google for Entrepreneurs is funding the program, which will award each selected entrepreneur $40,000 in seed capital without asking for equity in return. Tullman says CODE2040 will manage the application process, while 1871 will provide workspace and facilities for a year. The program seeks minority entrepreneurs who themselves have proven to be champions of racial or gender diversity.

“The goal is to identify entrepreneurs and get them additional support so that they can really become part of the tech infrastructure,” Tullman says.

Tullman says he’s also collaborating with the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Wintrust Bank to develop new diversity initiatives. Beyond promoting diversity within its own program, 1871 also is expanding its community outreach efforts, particularly in the schools and colleges.

“We’re working with the Chicago Urban League to push out some technology initiatives along with the YWCA to the Chicago Public Schools, so that will be another way of getting more diverse populations served by technology,” Tullman says. “At the same time, we are trying to develop a stream of young people with an interest in science and technology. We want them to understand that 1871 is a welcoming place, a place full of opportunities. And not just for people who want to have their own business – you can come in here and work for any number of companies. They’re all looking for hard-working, diligent employees.”

Tullman says 1871 is uniquely positioned to promote diversity because it is so closely tied to the business, academic, and finance communities.

“We have access to the universities, the corporations, the venture capitalists, the mentors, and the schools and educational programs,” he says. “There are no other places like this that have all that under one roof.”

Many consider 1871 to be the hub of technology in Chicago, and Tullman – as its top executive – a key ambassador for Chicago’s role in the new digital economy. Late last year, on the heels of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s 2013 announcement of Chicago’s Global Cities Economic Partnership with Mexico City, Tullman visited Mexico City. While there, he joined with Startup Mexico CEO Marcus Dantus to announce a partnership between the two groups, as well as other efforts to foster U.S./Mexico cooperation in the technology industry. Among the goals, Tullman says, is helping Mexico overcome its image problem.

“When I was down there last, one of the things that they denounced was that there was only one venture fund in Mexico,” Tullman says. “And within just a few years there are 10 or 20 firms and a lot of startups and activity. So it has really changed significantly now, and we have to change the world’s perceptions to go along with that reality.”

Clemente Nicado

Publisher