Building with a Community-first Mentality
How Listening Fosters Impactful Partnerships in Chicago
Read time: 3 minutes
While we are builders at heart, our purpose goes beyond this.
Rooted in the belief the world is what we make it, building for the greater good is why we’re here. Central to our purpose is empowering our people and communities to create a more equitable future for generations to come.
“Intentional listening is foundational to how we serve our community,” explains Sheryl Van Anne, Vice President and General Manager of Mortenson’s Chicago office.“To genuinely understand and address the needs of our community, we must stay engaged with our neighbors at all levels, validate the voices that speak up, and continue to meet people where they are.”
We believe everyone plays a role in shaping our communities. The important question all must confront is, “What is your role in propelling the community forward?” Then, what’s important is choosing partners who not only embrace this community-first mentality but keep it consistently at the forefront, guiding towards the impact you’re looking to make.
In this way, our teams leverage Mortenson’s legacy of giving back by creating a better future together alongside our customers, partners, community leaders, businesses, and volunteers.
This community-first mentality is the key to unlocking meaningful, long-lasting impact in Chicago and beyond. See this multi-faceted approach in action:
Listening to Community Needs
Launched during Mental Health Awareness Month, "Words of Love" is an initiative focused on revitalizing vacant lots in Chicago’s 4th Ward with uplifting, motivational signage. Designed to promote community safety and attract future investment, the effort is a collaboration between the Chicago Mayor’s Office of Community Safety, Alderman Lamont J. Robinson, and Mortenson.
The launch event brought together volunteers—including Mortenson team members—to install signs and introduce local youth to potential careers in the trades. More than a beautification effort, Words of Love is about bringing hope, pride, and visibility to communities that deserve both attention and investment.
To learn more about this community-driven, public-private partnership, click here.
For the Community, by the Community
In Spanish, “Esperanza” means hope. To increase access to quality healthcare for Chicago's underserved communities, Esperanza Health Center partnered with Mortenson to build a new clinic to continue providing bilingual, high-quality primary care and behavioral health and wellness services to the community, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
To learn how this project propelled Esperanza’s mission, click here.
Making an Impact Well Beyond Construction Completion
The University of Chicago Keller Center has received accolades for sustainable design and construction, as well as community engagement. To preserve the building’s past and support the surrounding community, Mortenson worked alongside local Artist Theaster Gates and the University and project team to start a new mill on the south side of Chicago to process damaged ash wood trees from the city’s parks and transform the timber into eye-catching material for building’s interior.
Not only did this mill connect the project to the community during construction via woodworking training and employment, but the facility has also maintained operations after the building's completion.
To view the outcomes of this community revitalization effort, click here.
Over 90,000 dead trees were repurposed within the new mill for the construction of the Keller Center.
Our communities benefit when we are a conduit for their progress.
Grassroots, longstanding community empowerment and philanthropic impact takes many forms – from installing uplifting messages within our neighborhoods, to consideration of eco-friendly building materials, to promoting supplier diversity.
Working together with local organizations, public leaders and project stakeholders, our goal is to make community connections easier and opportunities more abundant.