2025 Illinois General Assembly Recap
I came to The Chicago Community Trust in March after spending years as chief of staff to Illinois State Rep. Kelly Cassidy. I…
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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Trust Talks, The Podcast – Episode 19: Confronting Homeownership Barriers
While homeownership is often viewed as a pathway to building wealth, a range of challenges can hinder its effectiveness, particularly for specific groups.…
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Transforming the College Transfer Experience
In the Spring of 2006, my mother and I walked into a meeting with a public state university admissions counselor to discuss my…
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Defying Media Messages About Girls of Color, a Mentor Helps Build Self-Worth
By her own admission, La’Keisha Gray-Sewell was a bit of a handful growing up. “I was the kid who was always fighting, who was always…
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Everyone Experiencing Culture Together: A Vision for Chicago's Arts Scene
If you don’t have a straightforward job, the ubiquitous “What do you do?” question can be a doozy. Being in the cultural accessibility field, it’s…
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Returning Home to Chicago, College Students Set an Example of Service
As a sophomore at Northern Illinois University, Randiss Hopkins looked around his first NIU Cares Day—an annual service event during which 1,000 students participate in…
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Seeking Refuge from War in Syria, Families Find a Home in Chicago
The violent civil war in Syria has driven more than 11 million people from their homes. While many have sought refuge in any European country…
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Runner Finds a New Path as a Mentor for Cancer Survivors
Running has been an integral part of Janett Ortiz’s life for years, and has seen her through some of the toughest times of every part…
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The Power of a Good Conversation: On the Table 2015
What is the value of a good conversation? Should it help people make connections, find common ground, or even just allow people to share stories?…
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Think Good, It's Friday! 9.18.15
September is National Family Meals Month. Whether you’re discussing the toughest issues facing your community or what happened that day on the playground, bringing family,…
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Film Festival Provides a Platform for Exposing Social Challenges and Celebrating Changemakers
Finding a public platform to shed light on people’s personal stories and struggles was what led Todd Belcore and Emile Cambry, Jr. to found the…
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The Albany Park Storefront Where Kids Find Inspiration – and a Warm Meal
In a cramped storefront in Albany Park, 35 schoolchildren get a little bit of magic nearly every day. They eat hot food after school. They…
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Fifteen Years Later, a Dentist Supports the After-School Program That Supported Her
When Yaa Owusu participated in the Metro Achievement Center for girls program as a teenager, no one could have guessed how it would impact her…
