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…
Critical Needs
Spotlights on community issues, the people, and the organizations who contribute to effective philanthropy as well as a stronger Chicago region and world.
Recent
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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…
“Critical Needs” Critical Needs
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Helping Immigrants and Refugees Feel Safe, Supported, and Welcomed: Illinois Immigration Funders Collaborative Awards $450,000 in Grants
Over the past year and a half, Illinois has seen an influx in immigration. An estimated 3,000 refugees from Afghanistan and 8,800 refugees from Ukraine…
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Centering Community Experts and Voices are Essential to Violence Prevention Strategies
I want to honor everyday Chicagoans making changes where they call home. The ones who roll up their sleeves in the face of adversity when…
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Welcoming Chicago’s Newest Neighbors
Recently I was in New York City on a family vacation. During this trip, my 10-year-old daughter’s must-see list included the Statue of Liberty. Many…
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Supporting Community-Led Strategies for Vaccine Outreach
Addressing our communities’ most immediate needs has always been—and always will be—foundational to the Trust’s work. In 2021, one of our most urgent priorities was…
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Searle Funds: A Conversation with Peggy Davis and Angel Gibson
To administer the Searle Collaborative Funds, the Trust works closely with Kinship Foundation—a private operating foundation that advances the institutional philanthropy of the Searle family.…
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Joanne Otte
Joanne Otte is a program manager for the Critical Needs strategy at The Chicago Community Trust. In this role, she leads grantmaking and changemaking strategies…
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Ianna Kachoris
Ianna Kachoris is the associate vice president of Community Impact at The Chicago Community Trust. In this role, Ianna leads the People, Power and Policy…
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Bending the Curve of Recovery to Achieve a Stronger, Equitable Chicago Region
Two years ago, the world was facing an unprecedented unknown: a deadly global pandemic that was shutting down life as we knew it. But one…
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Anna Lee
Anna Lee is senior director of community impact at The Chicago Community Trust. In this role, Anna leads the Trust’s Addressing Critical Needs strategy, which…
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An Intergenerational Approach to Community Wellbeing
The Chicago Community Trust wants to see Chicago families thrive. While we continue working to close the region’s racial and ethnic wealth gap, we know…
