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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The State Budget Crisis: Causes and Implications
If it’s spring, Illinois must be in yet another budget crisis, and so we are. But this year with a difference: with a new Republican…
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Q and A: Behind the Wheel with Alex Levesque
Alex Levesque goes above and beyond as the founder of Automotive Mentoring Group, a nonprofit that mentors young men and women who have fallen into…
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New E-Books Provide Nonpartisan Facts about IL Public Pension Crisis
Illinois’ ongoing public pension crisis continues to make headlines, with the state Supreme Court ruling in May that landmark legislation overhauling retirement benefits is unconstitutional. As…
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Not Going Hollywood: How Chicago Homeless Advocates are Preserving SRO Housing
A recent story on NPR’s Weekend Edition highlighted how Hollywood, Florida has elected to address the issue of homelessness. The city orchestrated a deal to…
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From Immigrant Workers to Entrepreneurs, Thanks to Ana Guajardo
As executive director and co-founder of Centro de Trabajadores Unidos: Immigrant Workers Project, a nonprofit that fights for immigrant workers’ rights on Chicago’s Southeast Side, Ana…
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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…
