Lisandra Lao, and How She’s Inspiring the Next Generation of Young Philanthropists
For 30 years, The Chicago Community Trust’s Young Leaders Fund (YLF) has empowered young adults to actively participate in philanthropy by interacting with…
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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Laying the Groundwork for Lasting Policy Reform
When the Trust decided to integrate policy change into our strategies, we did so recognizing that to achieve our mission of a thriving…
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Trust Talks, The Podcast – Episode 24: Sustaining Chicago's Cultural Ecosystem
Chicago is one of the most influential cultural cities in the United States, known for its distinctive blend of architecture, visual arts, music,…
All Stories
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Converting Collectibles into Charitable Impact
It can be a challenge to encourage donors to think broadly about how to leverage their wealth for philanthropic purposes. Writing a check or transferring…
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Make Your Events Truly Accessible and Inclusive
Over the past several years, The Chicago Community Trust has taken steps to increase inclusion and access at our meetings and events. I have worked…
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From Homeless Families to Aldermen, an Uptown Community Dinner Where Everyone is Welcome
Inside Iyanze, chafing dishes brimmed with baked chicken, roasted vegetables, garlic bread and Nigerian jollof rice and spiced spinach. Outside the restaurant, a magnet for…
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Listening with Courage and Compassion: Lessons from On the Table
Columnist David Brooks frequently talks about the decline in social capital and social trust in our communities. In one column he asks the question, “What…
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Study Links Food Insecurity and Disability in Cook County
Access to healthy food is a serious concern for families across metropolitan Chicago—and the risks are even greater for people with disabilities, who face food…
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Fighting the Most Urgent Need in Chicago's LGBT Community
When Illinois’s Bill of Rights for the Homeless was signed into law, it outlawed discrimination against homeless individuals, guaranteeing the right to remain employed, to…
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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…
