Paving the Path to Homeownership for Housing Choice Voucher Holders
Since the mid-20th century, homeownership has been one of the most important vehicles for building wealth in the United States. According to research from the…
Grants
Featured
Our Grantmaking Strategy
For more than 100 years, The Chicago Community Trust has convened, supported, funded, and accelerated the work of community members and changemakers committed to strengthening the Chicago region. From building up our civic infrastructure to spearheading our response to the Great Recession, the Trust has brought our community together to face pressing challenges and seize our greatest opportunities. Today, that means confronting the racial and ethnic wealth gap.
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Grant Recipient
DEEPLY ROOTED PRODUCTIONS
During the pandemic, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater (DRDT) created “The Black Edition Chicago,” a new artistic work that celebrates the history, people, landmarks, and art of Chicago’s Black neighborhoods. It offers hope, pride, and healing to areas that have been particularly hard hit by the pandemic and empowers residents of those communities to share their truth. It teaches a new generation of Chicagoans stories that have been omitted from textbooks, the media, etc., and corrects false narratives to promote understanding. The Project responds to changes in the way communities experience the performing arts post-COVID, exploring new ways of creating and sharing performances in a virtual environment and through strategic partnerships.
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Grant Recipient
Illinois Stewardship Alliance
The Alliance will raise the visibility of the local food sector and help create a policy environment that is more favorable to local food businesses by organizing farmers and eaters, working in coalition on issues, educating policymakers and media.
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Grant Recipient
Illinois Environmental Council Education Fund
The Illinois Environmental Council Education Fund (IECEF) will engage coalition partners to create a stronger and more resilient local food economy in Chicagoland and throughout Illinois.
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Grant Recipient
Gage Park Latinx Council
The Gage Park Latinx Council (GPLXC) was founded in 2018 by life long community residents of Gage Park with first hand experiences of the issues affecting our community. In a few short years we have been able to establish the largest presence in the neighborhood and have quickly become an organization with region wide impact. GPLXC is a Queer, DACA, Latinx led grassroots organization, committed to creating a strong sense of community and identity, in Gage Park, through art, popular education, and direct actions grounded in social justice and mutual aid. We operate a community cultural center that serves as a hub for our organizing and are looking for funding to help build our capacity by securing full time staff.
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Grant Recipient
Legal Action Chicago LLC
Legal Action Chicago ("Legal Action") seeks a $75,000 general operating grant for its program of policy and systemic advocacy on behalf of people in poverty in Cook County, with priority on racial justice and the racial wealth gap. Legal Action is a subsidiary of Legal Aid Chicago ("Legal Aid"), provider of free legal help to tens of thousands of people every year. Legal Action's agenda arises from the real-world problems presented by Legal Aid's clientele and from other community partners. The program uses litigation, organizing, legislative and administrative advocacy and other tactics to change systems and policies to solve those problems. A major racial wealth gap focus in the coming year is reform of the debt collection system.
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Grant Recipient
United States Curling Association
The Darwin Curtis Grant's legacy is to support the awareness and growth of the sport of curling. Having been honored to be a chosen partner by the Chicago Community Trust to help ensure that Mr. Curtis' wishes are met, the United States Curling Association is applying in 2021 to continue that partnership. The United States Curling Association would use the grant money as general operation funds for staff and staff support, grassroots programming, SafeSport programming, technical support, and programming for our signature community outreach programs, IceBreakers and Curling in the Gym. We are requesting that all $50,000 be used for general operations funding with the option to grant money to curling clubs.
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Grant Recipient
Green Table Talks
Roots & Vine Produce and Cafe in partnership with Green Table Talks "Connects Farmers to People and Reconnects People to Real Food." Our mission is to target and eliminate food deserts in blighted neighborhoods, create jobs and building relationships farmers. We host workshops & food demos to (re)introduce customers to healthier food options, recipes and solutions to reduce food related illnesses such as diabetes and obesity. We have executed a purchase contract for a convenience store in Englewood on 6600 S. Sangamon. We have deposited $20,000 in escrow. We have a loan commitment letter from Illinois Food Fund (IFF) to complete the purchase, renovations and equipment in the amount of $189,000.
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Grant Recipient
INNER-CITY COMPUTER STARS FOUNDATION
The Inner-City Computer Stars Foundation (i.c.stars) is requesting $75,000 from Bridges to Brighter Futures to fund our Chicago programming with a focus on supporting the following areas: 1) Our hybrid technology job skills training, which results in living wage jobs in technology 2) Career advancement through ongoing support for graduates and 3) Educational partnerships discovery to enhance our curriculum, skills assessments and credentialing. Talented youth from inner-city neighborhoods want good jobs that lead to high growth careers, and empowerment. Companies want and need diversity and high performers in their workforce. High-paying careers require sophisticated software, programming, and advanced technology skills. i.c.stars is the bridge that links talented, diverse underserved applicants to skills training, a corporate network, and high growth jobs.