African American Legacy Awards $615,000 in its 2025 Grantmaking Cycle
African American Legacy (AAL), an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, unites donors committed to supporting the Black community in the Chicago region.…
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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Strengthening Chicago’s Shared Ownership Ecosystem
For generations, Chicago’s neighborhoods have been shaped by the people who call them home. Historically, many communities like Bronzeville, Hyde Park, Little Village,…
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Trust Talks, The Podcast – Episode 22: Reimagining Development Through Shared Ownership
As Chicago neighborhoods continue to expand with newly built businesses and homes, new opportunities emerge for residents to shape their communities. Yet, traditional…
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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…
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Setting the Stage for a New View of Mental Health
As a young mom with a passion for teaching young people, Meg Ritter understands the power of stories. Her philosophy is, “Stories can bring people…
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The Spirit of Generosity at the Taste of Chicago
Last weekend, more than 1.4 million people experienced the Taste of Chicago, the City’s premier outdoor food festival showcasing the diversity of Chicago’s dining community. The…
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Job Training Programs: The Formula for Measuring Value
An organization providing job training prepares a client job seeker, phones an employer and sets up a job interview. The job seeker walks into the…
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A Chat Between Friends Leads to $340,000 Supporting Mental Health Services
During the toughest of times, many people feel the need to talk to someone about what they are going through. Youth and Family Counseling (YFC)…
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Think Good, It's Friday! 7.10.15
This week, the Today Show explored the “secrets of happiness,” prompted by a recent study that found much of our joy comes from simply being nice.…
