It’s winter time and the perfect excuse to binge TV. It’s fun to spot a location and proclaim “Hey, I know where that is!” There’s “The Dark Knight,” “The Blues Brothers,” “The Chi,” and the “Chicago PD/Fire/Med” franchise—all set in or based on the Windy City. The fabric of our footprint spans urban cities from Milwaukee to the heart of Chicago. Many communities have fared prominently in pop culture, movies and television, although little credit is given to their cultural and historic significance, yielding instead to exploitative images of disinvested neighborhoods. Good bones of abandoned houses afflicted from years of unfair covenants and discrimination. These neighborhoods mean more than interesting backdrops for filming. The evidence left visible today is not all there is to the story. During this Black History Month, include learning more about the rich history of Pullman, Austin, Lawndale, Douglas Park, Englewood, etc., with your TV bingeing. Come to know the unshakable pride instilled in residents past and present.

Wintrust has a 30-year history of investing in communities through partnerships with local organizations. Let’s support those organizations working to revitalize the community. Together, we can move mountains. Happy Black History Month!

At Wintrust, we believe each person has unique talents and perspectives, and that everyone deserves to feel seen, heard, respected, and valued. Throughout the year, we relish the opportunity to celebrate diversity, promote inclusion, and advance equity throughout our workplace and across society.

This month we commemorate and celebrate Black History Month. Join us in honoring the vitality and lasting contributions of the vibrant and multi-faceted Black community, and in exploring ways we can work together to eradicate barriers and foster equal opportunities.