Feeding Change in Our Region
The Chicago Region Food System Fund is a group of funders and community partners working together to build a more resilient local food…
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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Cultivating a Bright Future in Little Village
Little Village, or La Villita, has a long history of welcoming immigrant communities, starting with the German, Czech and Polish residents who flocked…
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Boosting Impact: The Amplification Fund
The Amplification Fund is an opportunity for donors to participate directly in the Trust’s grantmaking and join a community of philanthropists with similar…
All Stories
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Forecasting the Future of Education
On October 15 and 16, Generation All—along with several other partners including Hive Chicago Fund for Connected Learning, Thrive, Convergence Academies and the Institute for…
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A Renowned Muralist’s Tribute to His Grand Crossing Roots
The Chicago region has a rich artistic legacy. One artist who is embracing the city’s past while using his talents for good is Chicago-based Joe…
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Curing Chicago’s “Nature Deficit Disorder”
For 100 years, generations of outdoor enthusiasts have looked at the Forest Preserves of Cook County as their personal oasis away from the rat race…
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For Teens in Crisis, Help Starts with a Text
When Nancy Lublin finished a recent talk at Chicago Ideas Week about Crisis Text Line, the national help line she founded, a young man walked…
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Teens with Down Syndrome Find their Voice—On Stage
The young performers in a new play, What You Will, were having a wonderful time at rehearsal one recent Friday evening at the Menomonee Club’s…
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Lake County Responds to Rising Poverty, Aging Population
How do suburban counties respond to climbing poverty rates that have begun to surpass those of the nearby cities? How can human services providers best…
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Youth Mentor Networks Stop the ‘Revolving Door of Adults’
Fifteen years ago Bill Curry came to Chicago with one goal in mind: to work with young people. Unfortunately, the school he moved here to…
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Blazing a ‘Trail of Dreams’ for Undocumented Youth
Immigration-reform activist Maria Gabriela “Gaby” Pacheco says she has never been afraid of speaking out. Even though she lacks documents, she lives as if she…
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Diversity Gap Widens in Chicago’s Financial Sector
Workforce diversity is a significant challenge for the American financial services industry—especially in the Chicago region, where representation of African-Americans and Latinos has remained stagnant…
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For Low-Wage Workers, a Vision of Dignity and Power
On December 4, Latino Union celebrates 15 years of empowering low-income immigrant and U.S.-born workers around Chicago. Latino Union helps hundreds of day laborers and…
