Trusted Voices: Reimagining How We Meet Critical Needs
Across the region, households are struggling to make ends meet amid rising costs, changes in federal policies and social service programs, and funding…
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
-
-
Giving Insights: Caring for Chicago Over Generations
Narcissa Niblack Thorne is best known as the creator of the beloved Thorne Miniature Rooms—68 of which are housed at the Art Institute…
-
Chicago’s Housing Future Is in Its Past: Look to the “Missing Middle"
Like the rest of the country, Chicago is facing an affordable housing crisis. Some neighborhoods boast houses that are too pricey for many…
All Stories
-
An Elvis Lunchbox Sparks “Life-Changing” Club for Fans with Disabilities
Jeanne Curtin has worked for many years as a cashier at Jewel-Osco. Throughout the years, she became friends with many of her coworkers who lived…
-
Planting the Seeds of Chicago’s Backyard Garden
The city of Chicago was incorporated in 1837 as “Urbs in Horto”: a “city in a garden.” In 1972, with the assistance of the Trust,…
-
Across Industries, Low-Wage Workers Unite for Justice
On December 9, the National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen hosted a milestone event in the fight against poverty. The celebration officially launched the…
-
Raising the Floor Through Collaboration
Low-wage workers in warehouses, restaurants, car washes, day labor, temp agencies and domestic settings struggle with common problems of violation of wage/hour laws, difficult and…
-
An Earthquake Inspires Expat to Launch Her Dream Museum
Though Haiti’s Jean Baptiste Point du Sable is widely recognized as the first permanent resident of what would become Chicago, many Chicagoans know very little…
-
Lighting the Way Out of Poverty for Young Moms
Helping a poor young mother get a start on a better life can actually lift two generations of a family out of poverty. Because if…
-
A Mid-Century Champion for Equality, Green Space, New Media
James Brown IV became the Trust’s second executive director in 1949. By developing warmer relationships with donors and by listening more closely to their needs…
-
How a Glenview Retiree Defeated Unjust Housing Laws
Nancy Mullarkey describes herself as a “happy, active retiree” who spends much of her time working with her church, Glenview Community Church. She also volunteers…
-
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…
-
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…
