Working Together to Care for Our Neighbors
The Chicago region has a long and valued tradition of community organizations working alongside government to deliver essential services and enhance residents’ lives.…
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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Bob Crawford’s Journey from Business Leader to Philanthropic Changemaker
Individual giving remains the driving force behind philanthropy in the United States. Even amid market uncertainty, giving increased by 3.3 percent in 2024…
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Young Leaders Fund Awards $100,000 in Community-Based Grants
Young Leaders Fund (YLF), an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, provides young professionals with an innovative way to make a difference in Chicago…
All Stories
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The Man Who Made the Chia Pet Gives Back
Joseph Pedott is the advertising legend behind the Chia Pet and the Clapper—two of the most iconic products in American pop culture. But he navigated a rough road…
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The Evolution of ADA 25 Advancing Leadership
Disability is a natural part of the human experience. Using the broad definition of disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), one in five…
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Impact Investments Provide $12M of "Patient Capital" in Chicago Neighborhoods
A year after its launch, the local impact investing initiative Benefit Chicago has announced its first round of loans. Six Chicago-area nonprofits and social enterprises…
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A Coloring Book Helps Kids Support Sexual Assault Survivors
For students at the Village Leadership Academy, understanding consent and sexual violence is a weighty but important topic. Talking with teachers and experts inspired the…
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Five Ways Family Dinners Build Stronger Kids (and Adults)
With ever-busier schedules and demands for our time and attention, the family dinner can feel like an outdated idea that’s better off left to families…
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The Erika Lyn Huie Downs Fund
Erika Lyn Huie Downs was one of those people who always went out of her way for others. Inspired by a passion for service, Erika…
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“Generate New Power Out of Thin Air”: Eric Liu on Organizing, Rehumanizing Politics and Starting a Movement
On Thursday, April 27, Eric Liu, founder and CEO of Citizen University and executive director of the Aspen Institute’s Citizenship and American Identity Program sat…
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Driving Neighborhood Growth by Surveying Local Spending Power
Launched in 2016, Chicago TREND works to strengthen neighborhoods by accelerating retail development in communities whose retail markets have often been overlooked, but where appropriate…
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Making 'Civic Connections' for Leaders with Disabilities
Approximately one in five Americans has a disability of some kind. Like employers, civic organizations are quickly recognizing that disability is an element of diversity…
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For People with Spinal Injuries, Dance Sparks Creativity and Community
In a small studio on the third floor of the Old Town School of Folk Music’s Szold Hall, fourteen people sat in a circle. One…
