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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Chicago200: Cultivating Tomorrow's Leaders, Today
Boundaries are everywhere: between sectors, geographies, generations, backgrounds and beliefs. Chicago is replete with boundaries that are old, and create fear and uncertainty, even among…
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How Including Leaders with Disabilities Creates Lasting Change
When the Chicago Jobs Council had an open board position to fill in 2017, executive director Carrie Thomas issued a call for qualified candidates who…
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Mapping Money and Equity in Chicago Dance
In 2002, a groundbreaking study analyzed data on the Chicago region’s 258 dance-related organizations and companies. Since that time, the local dance community has grown…
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Civic Engagement, Healing and Justice in the Cultural Arena
The past and current anti-immigrant rhetoric is a constant reminder to integrate civic engagement in the Asian American community’s work of advancing justice and equality…
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Illinois’ Suburban Immigrants Find a Safe Anchor for Success
A drive down Main Street in Round Lake, Illinois, will explode stereotypes of the white-bread Midwest. Taqueria Gonzalez. Salon de Belleza. Yelis Bakery. A chiropractor…
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Bonus Season: Time to Consider a Donor Advised Fund
Spring is a time for rebirth, renewal—and bonuses! Bonus season is upon us, which means your clients are thinking about the impact of this year’s…
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Innovating at the Intersection of Health and Housing
More than 18,000 students attending Chicago Public Schools are homeless or at risk of homelessness. 67% of people experiencing homelessness are also living with a…
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U of IL Board Adds Disability Voice with Support from Advancing Leadership
Kareem Dale has built an impressive record of leadership in the private and public sectors. A director and senior counsel at Discover Financial Services, he…
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Jessica Bryar Legacy Fund
Jessica Bryar was a passionate advocate for children and families. As Chief in the Civil Division of the Cook County Public Defender’s office, Jessica represented…
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Investing in Chicago’s Opportunity Zone Communities
Opportunity Zones have been in the news and packing standing-room-only public hearings since the IRS and Treasury Department released the first set of proposed regulations…
