More Than a Paycheck: What It Takes to Get Ahead
Two days before my brother’s 10th birthday, my family was on the brink of bankruptcy. My parents’ small business hadn’t hit its growth…
Stories
Spotlights on community issues, the people, and the organizations who contribute to effective philanthropy as well as a stronger Chicago region and world.
Recent Stories
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Trust Talks, The Podcast – Episode 27: Fueling Small Business Growth in Chicago
Small businesses are essential to stabilizing neighborhood economies. They create jobs, activate commercial corridors, and provide the goods and services that help communities…
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“Can I Invest in Community to Do Good?” Samuel Muñeton Jr. Shows Us How.
For Samuel Muñeton Jr., his philanthropy has come full circle. In his youth, Sam benefited directly from mentors and others in his community…
“Partnerships & Initiatives” Stories
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Chicago’s Next Chapter in Equitable Transit-Oriented Development
Five years ago this June, the City of Chicago adopted a bold vision and framework for equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD). The Chicago Plan Commission unanimously…
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A Decade of Partnership, and a Path Forward for Safer Communities: Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities Commemorates 10 Years of Collaboration
In 2025, Chicago experienced a 30 percent decline in violence compared to 2024, one of the most significant reductions in decades, a sign of progress…
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Q&A with Jae Jin Pak: A Voice for the Disability Community and Change
For Jae Jin Pak, disability identity is deeply connected to how he shows up in his work and community. As an Asian American immigrant with…
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LGBTQ Community Fund Releases 2026 Stakeholder Conversations Report
The LGBTQ Community Fund, an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, is proud to announce the release of its latest report, We Are Each Other’s…
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Young Leaders Fund Awards $105,000 in its 2026 Grantmaking Cycle
Young Leaders Fund (YLF), an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, has been paving the way for start-up nonprofits and the next generation of philanthropists…
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Pride, Progress, and Purpose: A Conversation with Jennie Brier & Ray Crossman
Each June, Pride Month offers a time to celebrate the achievements, contributions, and resilience of LGBTQ communities. An important vehicle for that work is the…
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Community Visions Brought to Life
In October 2025, we celebrated the culmination of We Rise Together: For an Equitable & Just Recovery, a five-year initiative supporting resilience and revitalization in…
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Joyce Ozeh: Passionate Disability Advocate
For Joyce Ozeh, a first-generation Nigerian-American and civil rights attorney with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, practicing law has always been a means to an…
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Asian Giving Circle Awards $305,000 in its Year 2 and 3 AACDF Grantmaking Cycle
Asian Giving Circle, an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, mobilizes the collective power of AAPI community members, allies, and supporters to strengthen AAPI communities…
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Trusted Voices: Reimagining How We Meet Critical Needs
Across the region, households are struggling to make ends meet amid rising costs, changes in federal policies and social service programs, and funding uncertainty. These…
