Neighborhood Development Champions Support a Strong Pipeline of Community-Led Projects
For the Chicago region to thrive, all communities must prosper. Disinvestment in the South and West Sides has limited wealth-building and harmed neighborhood…
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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Joshua Moreno: On Philanthropy & Showing Up for Others
Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the cultures, contributions, and resilience of the Latine communities in Chicago and across the country.…
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Rooted in Care: Community Partners Are Charting Paths to Housing Stability
Housing instability can significantly impact a person’s health and economic outcomes, including physical, mental and behavioral well-being. Stable housing provides a foundation not…
All Stories
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Volunteer Runners Help Homeless Chicagoans Take Their Next Steps
It’s just before dawn on a rainy morning on Chicago’s Near West Side where a group of men and women experiencing homelessness have gathered outside…
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For a Brighton Park Soccer Team, Determination Battles Inequality in New Documentary
In green team t-shirts and sweatshirts, the girls of Thomas Kelly High School’s soccer team filed into their school auditorium. But this time, they walked…
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Moms Join Forces to Build “Honeycomb” of Volunteers
On a road trip to visit their children at camp, Catherine Tannen and Kristina Lowenstein began brainstorming the idea that would become the Honeycomb Project.…
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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,…
