Bob Clark Beyond: Impact

latest impact posts

Supporting UChicago Obama Foundation Scholars

The Clayco family is humbled to continue our support to The University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars program with $200,000 on behalf of The Clayco Foundation. Our donation began in 2021 and will benefit the amazing scholars participating in the program until 2024. The program brings together an interdisciplinary group of students and empowers them with the knowledge, skills, networks, and perspectives they need to tackle obstacles and challenges in their communities. Clayco always strives to provide equal opportunity to people from all walks of life. Our foundation is happy to assist this incredible joint initiative of the Obama Foundation and three schools at the University of Chicago – the Booth School of Business, the Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, and the Harris School of Public Policy. The UChicago Obama Scholars will supplement their studies with innovative co-curricular programming, engaging with partners on Chicago’s South Side, and using their experiences to advance social change.

Supporting Women in Construction and Beyond

At Clayco, our culture is focused on going beyond our walls to invest in the individuals on our team and the communities we impact. The White House announced Women’s Equality Day on August 26th, which was the perfect time to recognize the incredible women that make up our societies and deserve equity, respect, and inclusion. To commemorate this day, I had the amazing opportunity to discuss topics that focused on women and opportunities at Clayco with Clayco NOW (Network of Women) in a Moderated Panel Discussion with over 320 people. There were a lot of great takeaways from the panel, such as the importance of staying committed to goals and achieving them through effective plans. Netta Jenkins, a Global Diversity and Inclusion Consultant, was also a featured guest speaker and shared her experience and knowledge on the importance of DEI initiatives and innovation. Our panel speakers also spoke about the importance of having a voice, asking for what you want, and supporting others along the way.

$100 Million Donation to Loyola University Chicago

In the aftermath of George Floyd’s death in 2020, corporate America promised to become more inclusive. Faced with public demands for social justice reforms, companies vowed to improve racial and ethnic diversity within their workforces, among their leadership ranks, and on their boards. While there has been some movement during the last two years, progress overall has been slower than expected. Corporate America is still trying to figure out how to reach equitable diversity levels and make their companies more reflective of the nation’s changing demographics.

May’s Artist of the Month: Lauren Halsey

Lauren Halsey is one of the most exciting young artists working today. She produces standalone artworks in sculpture and mixed media, and site-specific installations, particularly in the South Central neighborhood of Los Angeles where her family has lived for several generations. She has the vision of an activist, and her work explores the relationship between architecture and community engagement in urban centers. Her sculptural environments and flat works combine imagery from contemporary life in Harlem and LA with ancient Egypt, outer space, technicolor, and funk.

Washington University School of Medicine’s Ambulatory Cancer Care Center

We’re excited that after two years of planning, construction will finally begin on Washington University School of Medicine’s new Ambulatory Care Center. It’s going to consolidate nearly all outpatient cancer treatment in one building, which will allow patients to get more comprehensive care at a single location as opposed to visiting multiple locations in the current medical complex. As anyone who has experienced a serious illness like cancer knows, it’s so important for doctors and medical providers to do as much as possible to make the treatment process streamlined and comfortable for patients. The Ambulatory Care Center will help fulfill this promise and obligation. It’s a huge step forward in making cancer care a better experience for those who are undergoing treatment as well as their families who are there to support them.

Chicago Committee on Design

It was great to be selected as a member of the Chicago Committee on Design. We recently had our inaugural meeting, and I’m glad that I was a part of it. The Chicago Committee on Design is made up of 24 local leaders and urban design professionals hand selected by Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development to work with Commissioner Maurice Cox on important development projects and urban design initiatives. Its main purpose is to offer expertise, guidance, and suggestions for DPD as well as the members of the project’s development team, and meetings are also open to the public for feedback and testimony. The Committee will advise the city and developers about innovative, attractive, and cost-effective elements with members who are leading architects, artists, academics, and real estate professionals.

Impact

The key choices we make in this life

Some of the key choices that we get to make in this life are the things we prioritize, both with our finances and with our energy and efforts.

Over the course of my life, my priorities have shifted immensely, and I now spend a large amount of my time focusing on the work that our foundation is doing, as well as being engaged in impactful community efforts. The majority of the work that we are a part of is aimed at issues directly affecting my family and the Clayco community.