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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Disaster Relief for Mexico & Puerto Rico: Chicago Unites to Respond
September has been marked by devastating natural disasters that, for many in Chicago, hit close to home. Hurricane Maria destroyed much of Puerto Rico’s infrastructure,…
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Stand Out from the Year-End Giving Crowd with #ILGive
End-of-year appeals are a fundraising standby—and recently, Giving Tuesday has emerged as the unofficial kickoff of everyone’s giving season. This means many nonprofits competing for…
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Swap Circle Helps Teachers Stock Up for the School Year
More than one-third of Chicago teachers report spending over $1,000 of their own money on classroom supplies during the school year. On Tuesday, May 16,…
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$40M Neighborhood Investment Aims to Close Chicago's Wealth Gap
Last Thursday, I was pleased to join JPMorgan Chase as it announced its $40 million commitment to economic opportunity on Chicago’s South and West sides.…
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GO Grants Turn One: A Year of Funding, Listening and Learning
Embracing a focus on leading change, inspiring philanthropy and engaging residents has changed how the Trust does business. In order to better serve our nonprofit…
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In Memoriam: Kale Williams
Kale Williams, whose tireless pursuit of fair housing improved the lives of countless Chicagoans, lived a life of purpose and passion. As executive director of…
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In Memoriam: Richard Kiphart
After Richard “Dick” Kiphart died on September 10, 2016, the loss was felt from Ghana to Chicago, in gilded performance halls and gritty tech incubators—and…
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Chicago Theater Makes Strides Toward Accessibility—by Putting Service First
TimeLine Theatre Company has always had the desire to make our work accessible to patrons with disabilities—which has required some creative thinking in our beloved…
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By Protecting Immigrants, TRUST Act Keeps Illinois Safer & Stronger
The release of the executive order on Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements in January has prompted hundreds of thousands of Illinois residents to withdraw…
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Helping Houston: How to Make Your Donation Count
With inland flooding devastating the Houston area in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, many of our Chicago neighbors are looking for ways to provide charitable…
