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…
All Stories
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Life After a Spinal Cord Injury: Thea Flaum Helps Families Find Answers
Sunday, July 26, marked the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA): landmark civil rights legislation that drastically improved the lives of people…
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Think Good, It's Friday! 7.24.15
The Trust is committed to supporting efforts to build stronger communities throughout the Chicagoland region—as demonstrated by On the Table, our work to convene residents…
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5 Lessons for Closing a Nonprofit the Right Way
The Chicago Community Trust’s SMART Growth initiative was designed to help small arts organizations develop sustainability in the face of economic shifts and organizational transitions.…
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Celebrating Disability Pride with Chicago's Everyday Philanthropists
On Saturday, July 18, hundreds of Chicago-area residents filled the Loop for the 12th annual Disability Pride Parade. Chicago’s Disability Pride Parade is the longest…
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Tablet-Based Teaching Reaches New Students—Behind Bars
“Mostly a bunch of guys sitting around a big room, watching daytime TV.” That’s how Brian Hill, lead creator of one of the hottest new…
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An Ally for Chicago's LGBT Community
For the creators of The LGBT Community Fund at The Chicago Community Trust, the goal was to come together so that organizations serving the LGBT…
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Helping the Kids Who Go Hungry All Weekend: Chicago Bears’ Kyle Long
Chicago Bears Pro Bowl offensive lineman Kyle Long is known for his performance on the football field—but this spring he made headlines off the field…
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For the Public Good: CHIRP Radio Talks to Pro Bono Lawyers
In Cook County, there are upwards of 45,000 state-registered attorneys. Thankfully, many of those lawyers are doing pro bono work in the city of Chicago.…
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Think Good, It's Friday! 7.17.17
How many of you participated in the ALS “Ice Bucket Challenge” last summer? You’ll recall that our social media feeds were jam-packed with videos and…
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The Story of a Storyteller: Remembering PJ Paparelli
Chicago is mourning the loss of PJ Paparelli, who has been the artistic force behind American Theater Company for the last 7 years. PJ was a gifted…
