For 25 years local and regional MED Week celebrations have been held throughout the country, culminating with the National MED Week conference and White House ceremony honoring the achievements and many contributions of minority entrepreneurs, individuals, and organizations that support minority business development.  These conferences are the largest federally sponsored activities held on behalf of MBEs.

The Chicago Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Council was established in 1982.  The Chicago MED Council consists of Minority Business Owners, Corporations and Government Agencies that are committed to supporting and maximizing opportunities for minority businesses.  The Chicago MED Week celebration consists of three days of outcome oriented workshops targeted at minority owned business and the Annual MED Week Awards Gala.

Organizations that have active memberships include, but are not limited to, the following: Chicago Minority Business Development Council; Chicago Minority Business Opportunity Committee; City of Chicago, Department of Procurement Services; Complete Entertainment, Inc., Cook County Office of Contract Compliance; Cosmopolitan Chamber of Commerce; Creative Printing Services, Inc., Exelon Corporation; Fulfillment Xcellence, Inc.; General Services Administration; Group O, Inc.; HACIA; HTC Global Services, Inc.; Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity; Illinois Statewide MBEC; International Truck & Engine Corporation; Johnson Controls, Inc.; Kraft Foods, Inc.; Latin American Chamber of Commerce; Mahdlo & Associates, Inc.; Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority; Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago; Nicor Gas; Northern Trust; Royal Crane Service; Safety Solutions, Inc.; ShoreBank; Smurfit-Stone Container Corporation; U.S. Department of Commerce, Export Assistance Center; U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency; U.S. Small Business Administration; United Airlines; United Building Maintenance; W.W. Grainger, Inc.; and World Printing & Specialty Services;