Rotary and ONE, an international advocacy organization, joined other event partners in downtown Chicago on 24 September to demonstrate a commitment to ending extreme poverty and inequality and to promoting action on climate change on the eve of the United Nations launch of its Sustainable Development Goals.

The  constitute a road map for finding solutions to the world’s most pressing problems, and dovetail with Rotary members’ work to create positive change in their communities and around the world. As dusk fell over Chicago, participants in the Under One Sky event held up blue lights, transforming the plaza where they were gathered into a field of fireflies to #LightTheWay to a more just world.

“This is a great opportunity for people to network and join an event where we are all focused on creating a better world,” said Cheryl McIntyre, president of the Rotary Club of Chicago.

Julie Bordo, a district representative for ONE.org, noted that Rotary and ONE are more effective when they work together.

“We have very similar goals, and when we put our collective efforts together, it allows us to reach more people in addressing these incredibly important issues,” she said.

Under One Sky Chicago was one of more than 40 such events planned in the United States and more than 150 around the world. Other cities that hosted them include Sydney, New Delhi, Johannesburg, São Paulo, and New York.