2020 Events
Indianapolis after the Covid-19 Pandemic
This forum was part of Project Hometown, a new initiative from the Chicago Fed that aims to foster discussion around the challenges and opportunities confronting hometowns in the Seventh District.
This virtual event explored the efforts underway as Indianapolis reopens its economy and strives to become more resilient for the future. A discussion among government, business, finance, and philanthropic leaders featured insights into the how Indianapolis can rebuild and grow a resilient economy for all its residents.
December 18, 2020
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Thirty-Fourth Annual Economic Outlook Symposium
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago hosts an annual Economic Outlook Symposium at year-end. High-caliber speakers discuss the major sectors of the economy and make their forecasts on economic activity. In addition to a keynote speaker, chief economists and senior executives from the banking, auto, steel and machinery industries provide their perspectives.
December 4, 2020
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Visions for Milwaukee’s Future: A Community Forum
This forum was part of Project Hometown, a new initiative from the Chicago Fed that aims to foster discussion around the challenges and opportunities confronting hometowns in the Seventh District.
This virtual event brought together government, community, economic development, and business leaders to discuss visions for Milwaukee’s future. Charles Evans, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, provided opening remarks. Jeremiah Boyle, assistant vice president and managing director of community and economic development at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, moderated a panel exploring how Milwaukee can recover from the challenges posed by a pandemic, record unemployment, and social unrest.
December 1, 2020
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Midwest Agriculture and Shifting Consumer Preferences
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago held a virtual event on Midwest agriculture and the changes it may face from shifts in consumer demand. The featured speaker was Jayson Lusk, Department Head and Distinguished Professor in Purdue University’s Department of Agricultural Economics.
December 1, 2020
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The Seventh Annual Summit on Regional Competitiveness—A New Decade: Disruption, Driving Innovation, and Embracing Economic Change
The Alliance for Regional Development, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, hosted the Seventh Annual Summit on Regional Competitiveness—A New Decade: Disruption, Driving Innovation, and Embracing Economic Change—virtually on November 16–20, 2020. This weeklong event featured more than 35 high-profile international, regional, and local thought leaders participating on panels and delivering keynote speeches.
November 16–20, 2020
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Can Wisconsin Rapids Reinvent Itself Once Again?
This forum was part of Project Hometown, a new initiative from the Chicago Fed that aims to foster discussion around the challenges and opportunities confronting hometowns in the Seventh District.
The paper industry in central Wisconsin was born from declining sawmill communities and through technology, investment, risk-taking and innovation, grew to become the foundation of central Wisconsin’s economy. This panel took a historical look at what built central Wisconsin’s paper mills, their economic, social and philanthropic contributions to the community, and discussed what lessons may apply from other industries that have made transformational change from conditions of necessity.
November 18, 2020
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Detroit Community Forum: Building a Strong and More Equitable Future
This virtual event brought together government, community, health, and business leaders to discuss visions for how Detroit recovers from the Covid-19 crisis. Charles Evans, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, moderated a discussion exploring how Detroit can meet the public health challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic, rebuild the economy, and ensure all residents share in a strong future for the city.
November 12, 2020
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Diversity in Financial Markets
The Chicago Fed and FIA teamed up with a group of expert panelists to explore past and present experiences, as well as the outlook for diversity in financial markets. The panelists explored why diversity is important, how to achieve it, and what metrics could be used to determine progress. During this interactive webinar, panelists also shared their experiences and answer audience questions on impactful changes and how to move your organization and the broader industry forward.
October 29, 2020
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The Future of Innovation in an Inclusive Chicago
Chicago is a global hub for innovation in finance, technology, and other sectors. Yet continued innovation is not guaranteed, and the demographic makeup of the city has often not been reflected in its most innovative industries. Business leaders and academic experts addressed how different sectors of the city can support continued innovation, as well as what steps can be taken to include all residents in the benefits of innovation, including growth and prosperity.
October 19, 2020
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Health Care and Jobs During the Pandemic: A Closer Look at Chicago’s Neighborhoods
This forum was part of Project Hometown, a new initiative from the Chicago Fed that aims to foster discussion around the challenges and opportunities confronting hometowns in the Seventh District.
In Chicago, as in all major cities, the health impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has been felt disproportionally by some groups and neighborhoods. Similarly, the decline in economic activity necessary to reduce the spread of the virus has had a disparate impact on employment around the city. Our goal for this forum was to bring together diverse perspectives on how neighborhoods can recover from the pandemic, overcome long-standing inequities, and rebuild for resilience.
September 25, 2020
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Career Pathways in Economics for Students from Diverse Backgrounds
The goal of the event was to provide college students, in particular black college students, with an opportunity to learn more about careers in economics and related fields. The program included workshops on programming and data analysis, a career fair, and a networking reception.
September 18, 2020
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Rebuilding for Resilience: How Will Iowa Thrive After the Pandemic?
This forum was part of Project Hometown, a new initiative from the Chicago Fed that aims to foster discussion around the challenges and opportunities confronting hometowns in the Seventh District.
What will the recovery from the pandemic look like for Iowa, and what role will different sectors play? The state faces many challenges, especially given its urban and rural economies and the importance of its farms and businesses to the nation’s supply chain. Government, industrial, and nonprofit leaders will consider the challenges Iowa has faced during the pandemic, as well as the roles that government, philanthropy, education, and the business sector can play to ensure a recovery in which all Iowans can thrive.
August 18, 2020
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The Role of Urban Planning, Architecture, and Transportation in Chicago’s Future
This forum is part of Project Hometown, a new initiative from the Chicago Fed that aims to foster discussion around the challenges and opportunities confronting hometowns in the Seventh District.
Chicago, like most major cities, has seen uneven economic development over the last two decades. Growth in and near downtown has been pronounced, while neighborhoods on the South Side and West Side have seen disinvestment and population loss. Experts will examine the roles of urban planning, architecture, and transportation in Chicago’s growth, how the physical features of the city may adapt to the pandemic, and how the city’s infrastructure and built environment can support inclusive economic growth.
August 17, 2020
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Workforce Challenges During Chicago’s Recovery
This forum was part of Project Hometown, a new initiative from the Chicago Fed that aims to foster discussion around the challenges and opportunities confronting hometowns in the Seventh District.
How can government, philanthropy, education, and the private sector work together to make workplaces safe under pandemic conditions and get displaced workers back to work? What strategies can be built into such efforts to improve the long-run job prospects for racially diverse and economically disadvantaged workers? Chicago leaders from business, labor, education, and workforce development organizations discussed these questions.
August 10, 2020
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Public Education in Chicago During the Pandemic – Challenges for Fall 2020
This forum was part of Project Hometown, a new initiative from the Chicago Fed that aims to foster discussion around the challenges and opportunities confronting hometowns in the Seventh District.
The pandemic forced a sudden transition to remote learning. Although teachers, parents, administrators, and non-profits worked hard to adapt, the risk of massive and inequitable losses of learning still remains. And even before the pandemic, CPS (like many other districts) did not lack for challenges in educating all its students. Education leaders and stakeholders will debate the challenges and opportunities confronting CPS, and how parents, schools, governments, and communities might address them.
Our goal with this panel, consistent with Project Hometown, was to bring together civic leaders, expert researchers and Chicago Fed staff to address these issues from diverse perspectives and examine how places can recover from the pandemic, overcome longstanding inequities and grow stronger.
August 3, 2020
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Minority Middle Neighborhoods in a Time of Crisis
This forum was part of Project Hometown, a new initiative from the Chicago Fed that aims to foster discussion around the challenges and opportunities confronting hometowns in the Seventh District.
Chicago has a rich history of minority "middle" neighborhoods. These are neighborhoods that for decades had a large base of middle- and working-class residents, high rates of home-ownership, and active commercial corridors. But as places in the city have become more unequal, these predominantly minority neighborhoods have become increasingly vulnerable to economic shocks. Covid-19, the economic slowdown, and civil unrest have magnified the challenges.
Our goal with this forum, consistent with Project Hometown, was to bring together civic leaders, expert researchers and Chicago Fed staff to address these issues from diverse perspectives and examine how places can recover from the pandemic, overcome longstanding inequities and grow stronger.
July 29, 2020
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Visions for Chicago's Future: A Community Forum
The virtual event brought together government, community, health, and business leaders to discuss visions for how Chicago recovers from the COVID-19 crisis.
The discussion moderated by Charles Evans, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, looked at how Chicago can meet the public health challenge of COVID-19, rebuild the economy, and ensure all residents share in a strong future for the city.
July 1, 2020
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Workshop on Monetary and Financial History
The Chicago Fed hosted the 2020 Workshop on Monetary and Financial History on May 14-15, 2020. The workshop was an opportunity for researchers at academic, policy, and professional institutions to meet and discuss topics drawn from historical experience that not only help us understand the past but which frequently offer lessons and insights for today.
May 14-15, 2020
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Automotive Insights Conference
The Detroit Association of Business Economists, Detroit Regional Chamber and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago with cooperation from Wards Intelligence, LMC Automotive, and the Detroit Chamber presented the fourth annual Automotive Insights Conference. In past years, auto makers and suppliers were focused on the short-run demand for vehicles domestically and globally which were highly correlated to normal economic and business cycle pressures. However, as characteristics of personal mobility continue to evolve, traditional automakers, suppliers, and auto workers are focusing more on the long-run effects these changes will have on the automotive industry. This conference offered both the short-run sales and production outlooks and addressed some of the long-run changes to the industry through a series of presentations and panel discussions.
January 16, 2020
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