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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A Wicker Park Housing Co-Op Fights Gentrification
Wicker Park is known for its nightlife, food scene, boutique clothing stores, beer gardens—and limited available affordable housing. Zillow.com currently lists a 2-bedroom apartment in…
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The Pediatricians at the Forefront of Health Equity in Chicago
At a December symposium on equitable transit-oriented development, presenters explored how a collaborative of nonprofit, public and private organizations came together to apply for—and win—funding…
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The Missing Link for Education, Health and Criminal Justice
Across Chicago’s social sector, a range of innovative nonprofits, scholars and leaders pool their expertise to tackle the city’s most urgent and complex challenges—like health,…
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For Lake County, a Reckoning with the Suburbanization of Poverty
“Concentrated poverty, which we think of as an urban problem, is taking root in suburban municipalities across the nation.” On January 23, Dr. Scott W.…
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After the Crisis, Defining the New Critical Needs
In the grip of the Great Recession, Chicago fought back a rising tide of human need: mass layoffs and skyrocketing unemployment, rising homelessness, growing hunger.…
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How Transit-Oriented Development is Building More Equitable Neighborhoods
Chicago has lost more than 100,000 African-American residents in the past ten years. Logan Square alone has lost more than 20,000 Latino residents in the…
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City Investment to Help Homeless Chicagoans Secure Stable Housing
Late last year, The Chicago Community Trust awarded more than $500,000 in grants through its Housing+ program in an effort to strengthen the connections between…
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Investing in the Women of Color Leading Chicago’s Justice Movements
“Racial inequity harms the lives and prosperity of everyone, not just people of color. Curbing inequities is more than the right thing to do—it’s an…
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How the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act Changes Charitable Giving
On December 22, 2017, President Donald Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law. The legislation makes significant changes to corporate and personal…
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Building Your Personal Board
In my last article, I shared my secrets for expert networking, including the importance of developing a “personal board.” I heard from a lot of…
