"This Work Is Personal": A Q&A with Luis Roman on Identity, Advocacy and Community
Luis Roman didn’t plan to become a changemaker. But what began as a post-college internship focused on LGBTQ+ immigrant integration quickly evolved into…
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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Pre-Development Fund: Helping Communities Realize Their Visions for Thriving Neighborhoods
When I first arrived at The Chicago Community Trust, I was really focused on understanding the place-based factors driving the region’s wealth gap.…
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Dreaming Beyond the Boundaries: Jennifer Hodges Awarded Sixth Donald Stewart Fellowship
Jennifer Hodges is the co-founder and vice president of KIPP Chicago’s Whole Child Initiative, a program that supports students, teachers and families through…
“Grantmaking” Stories
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Committed to Solving Homelessness
Responding to Chicagoans’ urgent needs has always been a vital part of the Trust’s mission — and right now, one of the most pressing needs…
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Community Voices + Policy Change Are Powering Neighborhood Investment
For over 20 years, Florence Spann and her husband have spent their time and resources maintaining not just their own property (a two-story corner home…
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The Changemakers Network: Four Years of Coalition and Trust-Building
In 2020, The Chicago Community Trust launched the Changemakers Network to bolster grassroots organizations and groups organizing around issues that mattered most in their communities.…
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Building a Network of Diverse Developers
City environments are made up of buildings, transit stations, streets, parks, and other man-made structures. Also called the “built environment,” these systems shape our lives…
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Advancing Equitable Wealth Policy: Building on Three Years of Coalition Work and Policy Wins
Recognizing the important role systems and policy change play in closing the racial and ethnic wealth gap, The Chicago Community Trust launched the Coalitions for…
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Leveraging Education, Quality Work Opportunities, and Financial Health to Increase Income for Workers of Color
Higher education is often viewed as a stepping stone for economic mobility and building long-term wealth. However, research shows that the high costs of student…
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Creating Systems-Level Change to Improve How People Receive Social Services
Since our inception, The Chicago Community Trust has supported the health and human services sector. From our very first grant to United Charities of Chicago…
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Stories of Impact 2022: Direct Cash Assistance
Direct cash assistance is the practice of giving money directly to people in need. This can take many forms, including transfers of cash from nonprofits…
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Advancing Homeownership as a Tool for Wealth Building
More than a roof over heads, homeownership is a critical tool for helping families increase their financial security, build wealth, and pass it down to…
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211 Metro Chicago: Improving How We Serve Residents in Need
Navigating the social service system in the Chicago region can be a burdensome process. In times of crisis when demand for these services skyrockets, such…
