2018 National Thought Leader Forum Program Book

2018

James C. Tyree Auditorium | May 1, 2018

NATIONAL THOUGHT LEADER FORUM

A CONVERSATION WITH

COMMON FOUNDER THE COMMON GROUND FOUNDATION

Sponsored by

Hosted by

PROGRAM PLEASE NOTE No photos, videos or audio recordings are allowed during the event.

Thank you for your cooperation.

3:00 REGISTRATION James C. Tyree Auditorium

3:30 WELCOMING REMARKS

On Behalf of Host Les Coney Executive Vice Preisdent, Office of the Chairman Mesirow Financial

On Behalf of Sponsor Vilma Chan Diversity Leader, Central Market PwC LLP

3:45 A CONVERSATION WITH COMMON Gloria Castillo President and CEO Chicago United

National Thought Leader Common Founder The Common Ground Foundation

5:00 ADJOURN SHARE YOUR FAVORITE INSIGHTS & MOMENTS! GET CONNECTED USING #CULEADS

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@ChgoUnited @Common @CommonGroundFND @MesirowFin @PwC_LLP

BIOGRAPHY

Academy Award, Golden Globe, Emmy, and Grammy-winning actor and musician Common has lent his talents to film, T.V., and music projects that address the issues of race, economics, and social injustice head on.

He appeared on the big screen in the Oscar nominated film, Selma, a film centered around the civil rights marches that changed America. Alongside John Legend, he won the Academy Award and Golden Globe in 2015 for “Best Original Song in a Motion Picture” for “Glory,” featured in the film.

Common’s 11th studio album, “Black America Again,” was released Nov. 4, 2016 on ARTium/Def Jam Recordings. The album includes socially conscious single, “Black America Again” featuring Stevie Wonder and the anthem “Letter to the Free,” the end-title track to Ava Duvernay’s powerful Oscar-Nominated documentary 13TH, for which he also received the 2017 Emmy for “Best Music and Lyrics.” The film examines the connections between race, justice, and mass incarceration in the United States.

Common was featured on Andra Day's song for Open Road Films' Marshall soundtrack, “Stand Up for Something,” co-written by Common and eighttime Academy Award-nominee Diane Warren. The film chronicles an early court case of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall when he was a young NAACP attorney. The original song has received Oscar, Grammy, NAACP, and Critic Choice Award nominations, as well as the “Hollywood Song Award” at the 2017 Hollywood Film Awards.

He currently serves as an executive producer of Showtime's new TV series The Chi, a coming-of-age story from writer Lena Waithe that tackles the complexities of life in a South Side neighborhood and the community-wide effects of gun violence.

He most recently wrapped production on The Hate U Give, directed by George Tillman Jr. and based on Angela Thomas' novel of the same name.

The film centers on the toll of institutional racism and the now tragically familiar theme of the killing of a young black man by police.

His other major projects include David Ayer's high-profile comic book movie, Warner Bros' Suicide Squad, the 2017 sequel John Wick: Chapter 2 with Keanu Reeves, and A Happening of Monumental Proportions with Allison Janney. This past summer, he appeared in Megan Leavey.

It was announced that Common will executive produce and star in Black Samurai, a TV adaption of Marc Olden’s 1974 book series. He is also set to star in Quick Draw, a new revenge action-thriller. Common recently executive-produced the Netflix drama Burning Sands and performed the closing credits original song “The Cross” featuring Lianne Le Havas. The film premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival.

Common, Robert Glasper, and Karriem Riggins joined together to form supergroup August Greene. The trio made their live debut in January 2018 and released their first joint album on March 9 through Amazon Music.

Next up, Common stars in action-thriller, Three Seconds, in theaters Aug. 17. He also lends his voice to the upcoming animated feature Smallfoot, in theaters Sept. 28.

THE COMMON GROUND FOUNDATION

More than 10 years ago, Common committed his time and resources to help inner-city youth in his hometown of Chicago.

• The foundation reaches high school students through programs that focus on character development, social impact, healthy living, technology, financial literacy, creative arts, and global leadership.

• On average, Common Ground Foundation students have improved or maintained a 3.16 GPA. • Students have a 100% graduation rate and 97% of seniors are attending a four-year college.

• The foundation’s students have completed more than 2,600 hours of community service.

• And 15 cultural field trips during the year ensure that students have the chance to experience life outside their surrounding environments.

commongroundfoundation.org

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SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA Contact Gail Arrigo, Chicago United Director of Operations, garrigo@chicago-united.org or call 312-977-3060.

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF ADVANCING DIVERSITY, INCLUSION AND EQUITY

UPCOMING EVENTS SEPTEMBER 5, 2018 CHICAGO UNITES CONCERT with the Chicago Sinfonietta, Pritzker Pavilion

NOVEMBER 2, 2018 50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA Chicago Hilton

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT WWW.CHICAGO-UNITED.ORG

SHARE YOUR FAVORITE INSIGHTS & MOMENTS! GET CONNECTED USING #CULEADS

@ChgoUnited @Common @CommonGroundFND @MesirowFin @PwC_LLP