CHICAGO – State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) will preside over a public hearing on Tuesday, December 6th to address historic disparities within the state’s pension investment firms and identify prospects for progress. Senator Raoul has been a long-time advocate for increased opportunities for Minority and Women-owned Businesses (M/WBE) in Illinois. 

“A healthy Illinois business community should mean fair opportunities for all,” Raoul said. “This hearing is an opportunity to inform minority and women financial service professionals, get vital public input, and review the progress public pension funds have made in their M/WBE inclusion policy.”

As Chairman of the Senate Pensions and Investments Committee, Raoul has held annual hearings focusing on the engagement of M/WBE with the state’s pension firms, the General Assembly's efforts to encourage pension funds to diversify the financial service firms they utilize and other key issues.

            WHO:                                State Senator Kwame Raoul, Senate Pensions and                                                         

                                                      Investments Committee members, M/WBE                                                                         

                                                      community and other business professionals

            WHAT:                              Public Hearing on M/WBE inclusion in Pension Investments

            WHEN:                              9 a.m. on Tuesday, December 6, 2011

            WHERE:                             Michael A. Bilandic Building

                                                      160 N. LaSalle St., 6th Floor Committee Room

                                                      Chicago, IL 60601