Net Impact Chapters Set the Gold (and Silver!) Standard

When the Windy City debuted its first annual Chicago Ideas Week, following the lead of numerous cities around the country, Net Impact Chicago was right in the thick of it. The professional chapter, in partnership with Edelman, convened a panel of experts to discuss the future of Chicago’s climate action strategy. That event helped Net Impact Chicago earn Gold status this year, a ranking that goes to a distinguished handful of high-achieving undergraduate, graduate, and professional chapters in our network annually.

Moderated by Edelman’s VP of Business and Social Responsibility, the panel offered perspectives from heavyweights like PricewaterhouseCoopers’ CSR team, Chicago Department of Environment’s Natural Resources and Water Quality Division, and McKinsey & Company on issues like monetizing climate change.

“At the start of the year, we all agreed that beyond hitting our numbers, we wanted to build on the success and reputation of the chapter and shoot for Gold," says Bunmi Akinnusotu, President of Net Impact Chicago. "By being selected as a community partner for Ideas Week, we saw how far we can go as a chapter in bringing engaging and meaningful programs to our members.”

But it’s no easy feat achieving Gold or Silver standing in our network. These chapters go above and beyond minimum chapter requirements to create opportunities for their members to develop business skills, meet folks who can help members define career paths, and build a community of support to change our approach to social and environmental issues.

Yet Net Impact Chicago is just one example of the change Net Impact chapters are driving. Another is Net Impact Yale School of Management, which brought 43 students more than 3,000 miles to attend the 2011 Net Impact Conference. Other chapter achievements include Net Impact CSU Chico Undergrad creating an on-campus bike sharing program, and Net Impact BGSU Undergrad organizing their campus’s first ever TEDxBGSU. So who are these chapters?

Drumroll please…

We're thrilled to present the Net Impact crème de la crème.