The Southwest Chamber of Commerce, a new 501(c)(6) business association, hosted its first social event for businesses on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Brighton Park Community Bank in Chicago's Brighton Park neighborhood.
Dozens of business owners, managers, entrepreneurs and representatives of community groups gathered for a first-of-its kind networking event on Chicago’s Southwest Side.
An expansive spread of Mexican delicacies from Taqueria La Chona and Café El Mason feeds attendees at the business mixer.Attending were guests and Southwest Chamber of Commerce members and officers, including President Pro Tem Carlos Chavarria and Vice President Pro Tem Justin Kerr.
Team Business
“We are all on the same team: Team Business,” Kerr said in remarks to attendees. He highlighted the role that a chamber and local businesses can take to support their collective prosperity and the prosperity of the communities they serve.
“As a community bank we look for opportunities like this to shop local and support our small local business,” said Ruth Martinez, branch manager of Brighton Park Community Bank: part of the first cadre of chamber of commerce members.
Local Restaurateurs
The bank hosted the Southwest Business Mixer in its lobby and sponsored an expansive spread of drinks and food from local restaurateurs, including traditional Mexican and contemporary dinner items from new Brighton Park restaurant Taqueria La Chona, and sweet and savory empanadas from nearby Café Mezon.
Southwest chamber Vice President Pro Tem Justin Kerr thanks attendees and hosts for the business mixer.The positive reception at the event ensures the likelihood of future networking events through the chamber, Kerr said.
Best Practices Bylaws
“We’re also building expertise by working with other local chambers and the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce to finalize bylaws based on best practices,” Kerr said, including an upcoming bylaws workshop.
Southwest chamber Vice President Pro Tem Justin Kerr thanks attendees and hosts for the business mixer.This will lead toward member election of full-term board members and officers in December, Kerr said.
November Event
The Southwest Chamber of Commerce will continue to meet and network, and a members event in November highlighting local businesses.
Look to the chamber’s website at https://southwestchamber.biz for more information on the group and upcoming activities, and sign up to become a member on the Join page of its website.
The McKinley Park News is a founding member of the Southwest Chamber of Commerce
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