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.
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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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From Our Archives: 10 Images that Capture Chicago's Arts Scene
Take a quick stroll through Chicago to discover a colorful past of vibrant artistic and cultural heritage. This list of ten outstanding cultural achievements uncovers…
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Mentor Kelly Fair Encourages Girls to 'S.H.I.N.E.'
Kelly Fair is the dynamic founder of Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program, a Chicago-based organization that helps young girls develop effective communication skills. Her journey to…
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Five Years On, Small Arts Nonprofits Are Sustaining Their “SMART Growth”
In 2005, The Chicago Community Trust debuted a new approach to funding small arts and culture organizations. What these groups needed most, research showed, was…
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What Does Volunteering Mean? CHIRP Radio Asks Around
It has been said that those who can, do, but those who can do more, volunteer. That act of doing more, making more good in…
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How One College Student Has Brought Joy to 40,000 Sick Children
Lonely, forgotten, sad and isolated. These four words only begin to describe how kids can feel when they are hospitalized. Jen Rubino of Park Ridge…
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Think Good, It's Friday! 6.19.15
This week, Giving USA released their 2015 philanthropy study. It cited $358.38 billion in charitable contributions in 2014, rising by 7.1 percent in current dollars…
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Coaching an Underdog Public School to Science Olympiad Triumph
Dzevida Duheric and her family fled Bosnia and came to America in 1997, when she was just 15 years old. Although the group left a…
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Math Initiative Builds Excellence in Teaching and Learning
“I’m thinking about it differently. I’m able to share with my students a new joy, or even love, of math that I didn’t have when…
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"Youth-Led Tech" Summer Program Delivers Digital Skills
This summer, Chicago teens are connecting with an opportunity to learn cutting-edge tech skills—the skills that matter most to them. Smart Chicago has created “Youth-Led Tech |…
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Centennial Reunion Sparkles with a Century of Community Champions
On June 9, the Great Hall of Union Station swirled with donors, nonprofit partners, and former and current staff—all united by their commitment to the…
