Coming Together for National Day of Racial Healing
When people talk about closing the racial and ethnic wealth gap, conversations tend to focus on reforming discriminatory policies and systems, as well…
Collective Power
Addressing the wealth gap at the community level by connecting people, amplifying resident voice, and sparking action.
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
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.
-
Collective Power
Related Stories
-
-
Chicago’s Hyperlocal Media is a National Model for Resident-Informed News
Chicago has been experiencing a media resurgence. Thirty outlets have launched in the last 20 years—many smaller newsrooms focusing on hyperlocal news. Some…
-
Our Journey to Acknowledge the Ancestral Homeland of Our New Office
As part of our move to our new office at 33 South State Street, The Chicago Community Trust worked with Starla Thompson, an…
-
Rethinking What It Means to Be Civically Engaged
Every single one of us participates in public life—whether you’re reporting a pothole on the city’s 311 app, attending Ward night, or volunteering…
-
Elevating Diverse Media Voices to Strengthen Communities
Community media groups are vital to the people and places they serve. Whether it’s a treasured legacy newspaper or a weekly podcast, such…
-
Strengthening Community Organizing Infrastructure is Central to COVID-19 Recovery Efforts
A little over two years ago, the pandemic forced us to collectively adapt to an unprecedented set of circumstances. Community organizers quickly pivoted…
How You Can Take Action
Interested in learning more or partnering with us?
Please contact Lauren Woods, Program Manager for Community Impact, at lwoods@cct.org, or Adele Nandan, Director of Donor Engagement, at anandan@cct.org.
