Chicago Sinfonietta's 2nd Annual Chairperson's Award for Diversity and Inclusion Goes to Quarles & Brady, LLP and Silk Road Rising

The Chicago Sinfonietta recognizes two Chicago-based companies, one for-profit and one non-profit, with its second annual Chairperson's Award for Diversity and Inclusion, honoring their tireless devotion to fostering an environment where innovation through inclusion is of the highest priority. The 2013 recipients are Quarles & Brady, LLP (for-profit) and Silk Road Rising (non-profit). The Awards are presented at the Sinfonietta's annual Arts & Diversity Reception, taking place at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Avenue, Monday, January 21 at 5:30 pm just before the Sinfonietta's Annual Tribute to DR. Martin Luther King, Jr. concert, also held at Symphony Center.

The selection process for the Diversity and Inclusion Award involved anonymous experts in both the for-profit and non-profit fields who nominate up to five companies/organizations in their areas of expertise. These nominations are then sent to the Sinfonietta Executive Committee and Executive Director to provide feedback. The Sinfonietta Board Chair, Ginny Clarke, makes the final selection.

"The Chicago Sinfonietta is delighted to recognize the stellar work that Quarles & Brady and Silk Road Rising have accomplished in promoting diversity and inclusion in their respective fields," said Clarke. "Both organizations exemplify why embracing diversity and inclusion enhances business performance and enriches communities."

Silk Road Rising (formerly known as Silk Road Theatre Project) creates live theatre and online videos that tell stories through primarily Asian American and Middle Eastern American lenses. Recognizing that America's relationships with countries of the Silk Road have become increasingly characterized by conflict and complexity, Silk Road Rising feels it is imperative to communicate the histories, perspectives and beliefs of Silk Road peoples to American audiences. The plays that Silk Road Rising selects are written exclusively by and about Silk Road peoples. The company also provides mentoring and professional development opportunities to artists of Silk Road backgrounds; they partner with grass roots and community-based organizations; and they aim to expand the theatre community's discourse on race and ethnicity. They demonstrate that theatre with Asian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean content can generate mainstream interest and success.

Quarles & Brady, LLP provides broad-based, national-level legal services through a strong network of regional practices and local offices. In their distinguished 120-year history, they have grown from a small, well-respected local Milwaukee law firm to a place among the Am Law 200, building a national practice and earning a comparable reputation throughout the United States. Their lawyers practice from offices in Chicago, Illinois; Madison and Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Naples and Tampa, Florida; Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona; Shanghai, China; and Washington, D.C. Quarles & Brady strives to find The Common ground in the diversity of experiences, expertise, and perspectives of its workers, giving the company an unparalleled ability to provide innovative results and address client needs with uncommon vision. Their attorneys engage in creative thinking and problem solving and, as a result, they have built a culture that values diverse perspectives and sophisticated client service. Their commitment to a diverse and inclusive workplace that is rich in talent and ideas is not just about meeting recruiting goals or fulfilling a requirement on a client's RFP - it's integral to how they see themselves and the clients they serve, and their future in a multicultural world.

For more information on the Chicago Sinfonietta and its programs, visit www.chicagosinfonietta.org.

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