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.
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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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What’s Your New Year’s Giving Resolution for 2019?
2019 is off and running. If you made any New Year’s resolutions, maybe you’re keeping up with them in hopes of transforming how you eat,…
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Government Shutdown Ends, But Hunger Among Federal Workers Remains
Legislation passed on Friday, January 25 has temporarily ended the longest federal government shutdown in history. But its cost is estimated to top $6 billion—including…
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Making Justice Chicago’s New Normal
I was born the year Dr. King became a national figure, leading the bus boycott in Montgomery. I was 13 years old when he was…
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Assessing Chicago's Small Business Ecosystem
Chicago is a city founded on commerce, industry and ingenuity—from its roots as a transportation and agriculture hub, to its current landscape of high-tech, service,…
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For Chicago Wealth Advisors, Field Trips Build Philanthropic Insight
Early one winter morning, a dozen wealth advisors gathered to learn about a program helping young people at risk of committing violent crimes to change…
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City Housing Plan to Tackle Challenges Fueled by Segregation
Last week, the City of Chicago approved its next Five-Year Housing Plan, One Chicago: Housing Strategies for a Thriving City—the sixth of its kind. Over…
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Lifeblood for Nonprofits: Why Donors Should Choose General Operating Support
As the year draws to an end, many donors are deciding how to make their final charitable gifts for 2018. No matter what cause they’re…
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What a Difference a Year Makes: ADA 25 Advancing Leadership Fellows for 2019
Emily Harris is a senior director at The Chicago Community Trust and serves as executive director for ADA 25 Advancing Leadership, an initiative to build…
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It’s Time: Advancing Economic Equity in Chicago
Since coming to Chicago and The Chicago Community Trust a little over a year ago, I have been spending a lot of time listening and…
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Empowering Communities by Raising Up Latina Leaders
At a rally outside the Thompson Center in downtown Chicago, an impassioned speaker in a purple t-shirt takes the mic. “We believe in a state…
