Working Together to Care for Our Neighbors
The Chicago region has a long and valued tradition of community organizations working alongside government to deliver essential services and enhance residents’ lives.…
Community Wealth
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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Bob Crawford’s Journey from Business Leader to Philanthropic Changemaker
Individual giving remains the driving force behind philanthropy in the United States. Even amid market uncertainty, giving increased by 3.3 percent in 2024…
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Young Leaders Fund Awards $100,000 in Community-Based Grants
Young Leaders Fund (YLF), an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, provides young professionals with an innovative way to make a difference in Chicago…
“Community Wealth” Community Wealth
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Back of the Yards Is A Community of People Who Are Creating Their Own Destiny
The story of Back of the Yards is about so much more than the Union Stockyards. The meatpacking industry in this Southwest Side neighborhood, which…
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North Lawndale Is A Resilient Community Forging Its Own Future
Located on the city’s West Side, North Lawndale is where Dr. King campaigned to end slum housing in 1966. The housing was substandard in part…
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Building a Network of Diverse Developers
City environments are made up of buildings, transit stations, streets, parks, and other man-made structures. Also called the “built environment,” these systems shape our lives…
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Property Tax Sales Reform: What it Means & What’s Next
Public Act 103-0555, which reforms the Illinois Property Tax Sale system by closing loopholes that prevent blighted properties from redevelopment and allowing local governments to…
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Trust Talks, The Podcast - Episode 13: Planning for Equitable Neighborhood Development
In this episode of the Trust Talks podcast, we explore the role of planning in neighborhood development, current efforts to increase investment in Chicago neighborhoods,…
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On Community Impact: A Q&A with Marisa Novara
Community Foundation Week (November 12-18) is an annual, national campaign celebrating the role local philanthropy plays in empowering positive social and economic community change. In this Q&A,…
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Flexible Funding Program: Strengthening Communities and People
When I was a kid, my parents made it a priority to expose my brother and me to as much of our cultural heritage as…
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Marisa Novara
Marisa Novara is the vice president of Community Impact at The Chicago Community Trust. As the Vice President of Community Impact for The Chicago Community…
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Pre-Development Fund: Mayfair Arts Center
In 1957, Chicago tap dancer and choreographer Tommy Sutton opened the Mayfair Academy to provide dance classes and education to South Side youth, particularly Black…
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Pre-Development Fund: Pullman Hotel
In 2015, the Obama administration designated the Historic Pullman District a national monument, making it part of the National Park System; it would later become…
