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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Accessibility: Who Needs It? More and More, It’s Arts Patrons
July 2015 marks the 25th anniversary of the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Trust is raising awareness about the importance of accessibility and…
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Rebuilding Chicago’s Neighborhoods: On the Agenda at Impact Chicago
Economic indicators show the nation’s gradual recovery from the depth of the Great Recession. But metropolitan Chicago is still contending with the lingering effects of…
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We Day Packs Allstate Arena With Spirit of Social Activism
On April 30 at Allstate Arena, the newest superstars to take the stage before an adoring audience weren’t chart-topping music sensations. They were everyday young…
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Green Schoolyard Project Earns Center for Active Design Excellence Award
Building safe outdoor places for kids to play—and tackling urban stormwater management problems along the way. That’s the fresh approach that earned Space to Grow an Honorable…
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Bill and Cheryl Lowry Seize the Moment for Change
The shooting of Hadiya Pendleton on Jan. 29, 2013, hit close to home for Bill and Cheryl Lowry. The 15-year-old honor student was caught in the crossfire…
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Game Changer: Isiah Thomas
Basketball legend Isiah Thomas is no stranger to defying the odds. Growing up in Chicago’s impoverished West Side, Thomas, as well as his two sisters…
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Ray and Susan Gillette: A Second Chapter in Philanthropy
Ray and Susan Gillette haven’t slowed down one bit since they grabbed the opportunity to retire early. Instead, the former advertising executives, who each served…
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Man of Steel: Edward L. Ryerson Represented a New Breed of Businessman
One of the most influential individuals in Trust history, Ryerson lived his life as an exercise in philanthropy and civic duty. Named to the Executive…
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Einstein's Friend: The Chicago Inventor Who Helped Defeat the Nazis
An unassuming but visionary donor, Edward F. Andrews directed his philanthropic focus on medicine and science. Andrews was a passionate and prolific inventor who regularly…
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The Trust Cares for the Forgotten Veteran
In 1923 the Trust published its fourth social survey, Survey of the Care of Disabled Ex-Service Men in Chicago, Study of the Adequacy of Social…
