Unity Fund: A Look at Impact in 2025
The Chicago Community Trust’s Unity Fund is a testament to the power of collective giving. Since its founding in 2008 at the height…
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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Financial Health in Cook County: Why it Matters and How Policy Impacts Financial Well-Being
In 2025, The Chicago Community Trust, with support from JPMorganChase, commissioned the Financial Health Network to update the findings of its Financial Health…
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Responding to Chicago’s Urgent Needs in 2025
As the region’s community foundation, The Chicago Community Trust exists to respond to the needs of our region and the people who call…
All Stories
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Fighting Homelessness for a New LGBTQ Generation
Hundreds of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer young people in Chicago have no place to stay tonight. Longtime activist Richard Turner is helping to…
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Remixing the Art of Protest
“How can we conduct ourselves in this space in a way that is counter to all of what is oppressive outside of this space?” [pullquote]At…
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My High School: Diverse, Enriching, Unpredictable
I was definitely not planning on attending Roosevelt when I was an eighth grader at Palmer Elementary. As a kid on the north side of…
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My High School: Creative, Inclusive, Challenging
I grew up in Stone Mountain, Georgia and went to Stone Mountain Middle School. Once I started sixth grade, I immediately joined the band and…
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Evidence-Based Parenting Classes Reach Families Who Can Benefit Most
“My mom is different, and now we do more things together.” Across Chicago, parents of high-risk youth are building their parenting skills—and words like these…
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A Former Gang Member Finds New Power in Politics
Berto Aguayo is days away from graduating Dominican University summa cum laude. Aguayo sounds confident, certain. Happiness and hope resound in his voice; possibility and…
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When Neighbors "Act Up," Communities Are Transformed
Each year following On the Table, the Trust hears from community members who are eager to share insights and ideas to better their community—all stemming…
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Finding Rhythm, Finding Peace
You would never know it now. But once upon a time, New York-born Puerto Rican musician and congo instructor Carlos Cornier was a rockero, hanging…
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Instability, Energy and Progress: The Future of Chicago Schools
“Chicago is at a tipping point—and the world spotlight is directed squarely us.” The tagline of the Future of Chicago conference on June 15, hosted…
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Giving Young Black Men a Roadmap to Engaged Fatherhood
“As a parent, there’s no map or manual that teaches you the things that you actually need to know and do.” [pullquote]At @DovetailProject, African-American teens…
