Where Commerce Meets Community. https://linktr.ee/sechgochamber More information available at.http://www.southeastchgochamber.org
About The Southeast Chamber of Commerce
The Southeast Chicago Chamber of Commerce enriches small business by providing tools and resources that feed long-term growth through a fulfilling membership experience. Its aim is to provide cohesiveness, well-being and sustainability to businesses and community residents through informative programs and engaging events. Southeast Chicago Chamber of Commerce is all about making sure that its business owners feel supported and part of a family.
04/21/2026
Join the SECCC on May 15th for the second business quarterly meeting of the year. At this meeting, SomerCor will be presenting alongside members of the SECCC team. Please join us to learn more on project management, community data, and updates on what’s going on at the Chamber!
Cheryl Hudson- Jackson and Louis Wilkins from Breedlove Entrepreneurship Center; YMCA Metropolitan Chicago hosted the most recent SECCC Wine Down Wednesday. This four part series focuses on teaching business owners how to effectively pitch their story and products. In the first session Cheryl and Louis lead an interactive, hands on workshop that taught the art of identifying target customers.
This highly engaging and informative inaugural session set the foundation for the next three sessions. The next Wine Down Wednesday will be July 8th, so be on standby! If you did not make the first one- no worries, we’ll just see you in July. Sign up for the SECCC newsletter at the link in bio to get periodic updates from the Chamber.
03/22/2026
Connect with employers from across Chicago in industries including construction, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, transportation and more. Whether you are starting your career or looking for your next opportunity, this event is a great place to meet hiring employers and explore new possibilities. Get ready in advance by visiting your local American Job Center for resume and interview assistance. Find a center near you at levelupajc.org.
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Olive-Harvey College
Main Building
10001 S. Woodlawn Ave., Chicago, IL 60628
03/03/2026
Join us for the first Wine Down Wednesday of the year. Here’s what the first session of the year will cover: the fast‑paced session introduces entrepreneurs to the Skinny Business Plan—a simplified, one‑page planning tool designed to replace long, overwhelming business plans. Participants learn how to clearly define their business concept, identify their target customers, and articulate their value proposition, metrics and 5 year goals. By the end of the session, each participant walks away with a completed one‑page Skinny Business Plan they can immediately put into action.
This Beggars Pizza has been in the area for 17 years and has been a staple in the community through their donations and sponsorships to Leo Catholic High School (owner’s alma), Simeon Vocational High School, Kenwood Academy Baseball team, South Holland Little League and Chicago Urban League. They often host fundraisers where they donate a percentage of sales to schools and non-profits! Another bill, paid!
02/23/2026
Last Friday, we hosted our first quarterly meeting of the year, and we packed the room! Business owners and community leaders came out to network, share food, and celebrate the Southeast Spotlight recipients.
Since last year, the Chamber has partnered with the Chicago Reader () to spotlight local businesses on the far south side. We sat with business owners running daycares, barber shops, clothing resale stores, and everything in-between. Each business had the opportunity to share their story on bringing together commerce and community.
Thank you to everyone who came out, and we can’t wait to see you at our next event.
02/12/2026
There’s a stacked lineup of presenters at the next SECCC quarterly meeting. RSVP at the link in bio so we know you’re coming.
02/06/2026
The SECC is connecting business owners with the resources they need to thrive in 2026. If you’re ready to grow this year, then check out our 2026 programming. There’s always great food, conversations, and opportunities to grow your network.
This winter the SECC was fortunate enough to pay the bills of six of our members. Calumet Heights and Avalon Park is full of entrepreneurial spirt and small business owners working tirelessly to create change in the neighborhood! This month we’ll be sharing the stories of six different local businesses shaping the landscape of Chicago. Tune in and remember to always shop local!te
02/01/2026
Happy Black History Month from the Southeast Chicago Chamber of Commerce! This month, and every month, let’s continue to support the Black-owned businesses and entrepreneurs who are creating legacies in our communities.
01/30/2026
Coming soon! In mid-February, we're kicking off our 8th annual Leaders for a New Chicago Award program. In collaboration with MacArthur Foundation, we will award $50,000 each to 8 individuals who are leading transformative change in Chicago from the ground up. Awardees will receive additional $25,000 general operating grants for their affiliated nonprofits.
Stay tuned for more details about the nomination process for 2026. We look forward to celebrating a new cohort of leaders who are redefining civic leadership and reimagining our city’s future.
Image description: A clean, professional graphic featuring the Leaders for a New Chicago logo, which incorporates the iconic six-pointed Chicago star in red positioned above a blue bracket symbol. The program name "Leaders for a New Chicago" appears in gray text, with "New Chicago" on a second line. Below the logo, smaller gray text reads "A collaboration between the Field Foundation & the MacArthur Foundation." At the bottom of the image, "2026 Program" appears in large blue text. The design uses a light gray background and follows a minimalist aesthetic that emphasizes the partnership between the two foundations.