We Are Chicago
A community fund at The Chicago Community Trust built on a simple belief: when our neighbors do better, we all do better.
Examples of Work We Support
Growing Home
Growing Home is a USDA-certified organic farm located in the heart of Englewood. The organization grows over 40,000 pounds of produce annually—not just to feed the community, but to strengthen community resilience.
“Support from [the Trust] doesn’t just help us survive; it helps us grow,” says Janelle St. John, Executive Director of Growing Home. “It allows us to focus on expansion rather than contraction, and to build a more resilient food system that can withstand future crises—whether it’s SNAP cuts, another pandemic, or a snowstorm. Our community and people are resilient, and Growing Home is committed to being part of the solution.”
LYTE Collective
LYTE Collective works with young people between 16 to 30 to help them secure housing and meet basic needs such as access to food, health care, clothing, personal care supplies, and transportation.
“The support is truly a lifeline for our young people, allowing us to respond to their immediate needs flexibly and quickly, and then to remain by their side for as long as they would like us to,” says Casey Holtschneider, Executive Director of LYTE Collective.
Primo Center
The Primo Center takes a holistic, client-centered approach to housing by also addressing the mental, emotional and physical health needs of the families residing in its shelters—resulting in 90% of families in Primo Center’s shelters placed in stable, permanent housing.
“General operating support is a critical source to help us bridge gaps and meet the needs of the families we serve,” says Felicia Blakely, CEO of Primo Center.
Fund Information & Other Ways to Give
For more information on supporting We Are Chicago and other ways to give, browse our resources below regarding what you need to know when donating to We Are Chicago.
