Stories

Spotlights on community issues, the people, and the organizations who contribute to effective philanthropy as well as a stronger Chicago region and world.

All Stories

At West Side Housing Complex, Inventing a Place to Call Home

Apr 5 2016

Four years ago, the Oakley Square apartments were no place to live. The rundown complex at the corner of Jackson Boulevard and Western Avenue was…
Thousand Mile Journey Toward a United Chicago Continues

Apr 4 2016

The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—his struggle for justice and equity for all—resonates vividly against the backdrop of Chicago’s contemporary challenges. Dr. King’s…
Chicago Faith and Justice Leaders Confront America's "Original Sin"

Apr 3 2016

“We don’t have racialized communities by accident. We are structured out of relationship to each other.” With these words, Rev. Jim Wallis called on Chicagoans…
Nonprofits Team Up to Transform Lives in LGBTQ Chicago

Apr 1 2016

When two world-class nonprofit organizations work together, they create new solutions with the power to transform communities. That’s the guiding principle behind three Transformational Grants,…
To Build a More Unified Community, 'Trust the Tables'

Mar 30 2016

From the beginning, On the Table participants have told us that a key to solving Chicago’s challenges is community engagement and collaboration. Putting the conversation…
A Neighborhood Bakery Helping Homeless Youth Reach their Dreams

Mar 28 2016

Blue Sky Bakery & Cafe, a charming coffee shop in the North Center neighborhood, has a serious mission tucked in among the tempting scones and…
8 Lessons for Alternatives to Incarceration through the Arts

Mar 25 2016

From 2010 to 2015, the Arts Infusion Initiative helped build skills for a safer future for Chicago’s at-risk and criminally involved young people. Launched by The Chicago…
Continuing Her Family Tradition, True to Her Own Voice

Mar 24 2016

Nora “Nancy” Ryerson Ranney grew up with The Chicago Community Trust. Born in 1916, a year after the Trust was founded, she was the daughter…
A 'Social Toolkit' to Stop Violence and Bridge Generations

Mar 23 2016

Re-connecting with two friends at an On the Table event in 2015 helped community activist Laura Morgan pursue a new strategy in her campaign to…
The Music Mentor Teaching Steel Drums on the South Side

Mar 21 2016

Julian Champion remembers that when he was around age 7, he had one burning desire—to play a musical instrument. The young boy would accompany his…