Building Collective Power

Addressing the wealth gap at the community level by connecting people, amplifying resident voice, and sparking action.

Overview

All of our communities will be stronger when local residents are able to tell their own stories and have their voices included in the decision-making that affects their lives. Helping residents harness their collective power helps them work together to drive action that creates positive change for all.

The Opportunity 

To achieve our vision of a more equitable Chicago region, residents of disinvested communities need to be connected—both within and across neighborhoods—so that they can work together and support each other’s wellbeing. They need to be able to share information, have authorship of the stories that are told about their communities, and ultimately take collective and coordinated action that catalyzes sustained growth in their neighborhoods.

Our Approach

The Trust is working to create the conditions for residents to connect with one another and collaborate to advance what’s important to them. By adopting a change-from-within strategy in strong partnership with resident leaders, we believe we can help communities create lasting, transformative change.

How It Works

Connect People
Amplify Community Voice
Spark Action

We support community organizing, networks, and coalitions leading grassroots change in their neighborhoods.

We strengthen local media and storytelling platforms to amplify authentic community narratives that reflect the lived experiences of community residents. We also support opportunities and forums for community engagement.

We support community-inspired, resident-driven campaigns and activities that advance a community agenda. We also support the implementation of grassroots actions developed by community-led networks and coalitions.

  • We support community organizing, networks, and coalitions leading grassroots change in their neighborhoods.

  • We strengthen local media and storytelling platforms to amplify authentic community narratives that reflect the lived experiences of community residents. We also support opportunities and forums for community engagement.

  • We support community-inspired, resident-driven campaigns and activities that advance a community agenda. We also support the implementation of grassroots actions developed by community-led networks and coalitions.

  • Building Collective Power

Explore Recent Funding

Changemakers Network

Media Makers Network

How You Can Take Action

Interested in learning more or partnering with us?

Please contact Maritza Bandera, Program Manager for Community Impact, at mbandera@cct.org, or Adele Nandan, Interim Director of Resource Development, at anandan@cct.org.

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Our Team

  • Iona Calhoun-Battiste

    Senior Director of Community Impact

  • Marcus Samuel

    Impact Coordinator

  • Lauren M. Woods

    Program Manager

    Lauren M. Woods is a program manager for the Building Collective Power strategy at The Chicago Community Trust. In this role, she is responsible for…