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…
Spotlights on community issues, the people, and the organizations who contribute to effective philanthropy as well as a stronger Chicago region and world.
I came to The Chicago Community Trust in March after spending years as chief of staff to Illinois State Rep. Kelly Cassidy. I…
While homeownership is often viewed as a pathway to building wealth, a range of challenges can hinder its effectiveness, particularly for specific groups.…
In the Spring of 2006, my mother and I walked into a meeting with a public state university admissions counselor to discuss my…
As a Senate staffer on Capitol Hill in the early 2000s, I spent many hours meeting with people wanting to express their positions on issues…
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…
In this episode of the Trust Talks podcast, we explore the barriers nonprofits face in accessing government funds, as well as opportunities to overcome them.…
Direct cash assistance is the practice of giving money directly to people in need. This can take many forms, including transfers of cash from nonprofits…
Proximity to reliable transit makes a big difference for the well-being of people and communities — physically, socially, and economically. Good policies and leadership can…
More than a roof over heads, homeownership is a critical tool for helping families increase their financial security, build wealth, and pass it down to…
On May 15, Brandon Johnson will be inaugurated as the 57th Mayor of Chicago. As with any mayoral transition, this is an opportunity to press…
The quality of our lives is tied to the financial health of our household—from our ability to pay bills on time, to afford groceries, or…
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began nearly three years ago, $4.5 trillion in federal funds have been appropriated for virus treatment and prevention, as well as…
As part of its Equitable and Inclusive Economic Recovery strategy, the Trust partnered with Urban Institute to develop an online dashboard to provide a sightline into how the City of Chicago, Cook County, and the State of Illinois are spending unprecedented federal funding to address community investment, housing, workforce development, household investment, community safety, and infrastructure investment.