September Cornerstones Event:
The Case for a City Charter

Please join us to hear Joe Ferguson, President of the Civic Federation, discuss the role a city charter could have in shaping Chicago’s future.

Friday, September 5
5:30 p.m.
Anderson Hall
Cost: $30 Dinner and Speaker; $10 Speaker Only
Register here

Chicago is one of only a few major cities in the country without a municipal charter, leaving its governing framework rooted in state law and historical practice, rather than in the ground rules and strong goals of city government that would foster public trust. As the city faces complex fiscal and structural challenges, a new governance approach could provide a path forward to think critically about how best to modernize and strengthen Chicago’s civic infrastructure.

Joe Ferguson was named president of the Civic Federation in December 2023 and joined the organization in January 2024. Previously, he served as Inspector General for the City of Chicago from 2009 to 2021. He teaches at the University of Chicago School of Public Policy, is a founding co-director and lecturer at the Loyola University of Chicago Law School’s National Security and Civil Rights program, and was a 2022 Pritzker Fellow at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics. In addition, he is a co-founder of (re)Chicago, an initiative to assess and address flaws in the city’s governance structure.

The Civic Federation is an independent, non-partisan government research organization that provides objective fiscal analysis, recommendations, and governance oversight for the benefit of civic and business leaders, the media, and the public. Founded in 1894 by civic and business leaders, the Civic Federation has been a trusted, nonpartisan voice for over 130 years. Today, under the leadership of Joe Ferguson, the Federation has expanded its work to include forward-looking guidance to government officials while continuing to publish analyses on key issues and deepening partnerships with nonprofits, civic leaders, and public officials.