2025 Illinois General Assembly Recap
I came to The Chicago Community Trust in March after spending years as chief of staff to Illinois State Rep. Kelly Cassidy. I…
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 19: Confronting Homeownership Barriers
While homeownership is often viewed as a pathway to building wealth, a range of challenges can hinder its effectiveness, particularly for specific groups.…
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Transforming the College Transfer Experience
In the Spring of 2006, my mother and I walked into a meeting with a public state university admissions counselor to discuss my…
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Why the Earned Income Tax Credit Might Be the Most Important Policy Right Now to Address Economic Inequities, Provide Financial Stability
What if a policy could dramatically reduce poverty, help families make ends meet, AND bolster local economic activity? That policy already exists: the Earned Income…
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We Will Chicago: An Instrument for Equity
Can a city plan be an instrument for equity? We think it can. That is why we believe that the Lightfoot administration’s We Will Chicago…
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It’s Time to Close the Racial and Ethnic Wealth Gap Through Policies that Seed Wealth
Generations of segregation and systemic discrimination have not only had longstanding social consequences, but they’ve also had significant economic ramifications. Over time, an intricate web…
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From Matchmaking to Magic: Financial Professionals Help Make the Connection between Philanthropy and Impact
Growing up in rural Kentucky on his family’s farm, Mike Hobbs recalls that he and his eight brothers and sisters each had to put their…
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A Legacy Grows at the Chicago Botanic Garden
The city of Chicago was incorporated in 1837 as “Urbs in Horto”: a city in a garden. In 1972, with the assistance of the Trust,…
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Giving Insights: The Increasing Benefits of Giving Appreciated Assets
Making gifts of assets such as publicly traded securities, real estate, closely held business interests, or art and collectibles has long been a tax-efficient way…
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A Step Towards the Justice & Restoration Our Society Needs
The Chauvin trial has come to a close, and with its end, a small weight has been lifted. There were tears, there was celebration, and…
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Continuing a Legacy: Claude Robinson Awarded Second Donald Stewart Fellowship
Two years after his passing, the legacy of Donald Stewart lives on. In March, The Chicago Community Trust and African American Legacy awarded their second Donald Stewart Fellowship to Claude Robinson,…
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The Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund: Lessons in Collaboration Amid Crises
This week marks the one-year anniversary of the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund (CCRF). The moment is not lost on us. To date, 5,056 Chicago…
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Trust Talks, The Podcast - Episode 2: Fund for Equitable Business Growth
In this episode of the Trust Talks podcast, guests Mambu Sherman, vice president of global philanthropy at JP-Morgan Chase; Eya Louis, contract development coordinator at Elevate Energy; and Constance Simms-Kincaid,…
