The Chicago Community Trust

"A vibrant campaign is underway in the heart of Chicago's Southwest Side, breathing new life into long-overlooked neighborhoods. The initiative is called 'Reclaiming Chicago'... thanks to The Resurrection Project and its many partners, like United Power for Action and Justice. The groups are working to replace empty, overgrown lots around #Chicago with houses fit for families and professionals." The Resurrection Project is a Trust grant recipient. Learn more: https://bit.ly/403p4vF

Our local news outlets inform and engage residents across our communities. Press Forward Chicago is a coalition of civic leaders, media professionals, generous individuals, and regional foundations committed to ensuring #Chicago remains a hub for excellent, innovative journalism. *Special Invitation: Shaping the Future of Local News* Join us at Northwestern University on October 22, 2024 for a curated conversation exploring the role #philanthropy and strategic partnerships can play to build capacity and leadership as local news organizations work towards long-term sustainability. By supporting this vital work, we can strengthen #localjournalism and empower the next generation of investigators and truth-tellers. This event is intended for individuals and organizations interested in contributing to the future of local journalism. Space is limited. To attend, RSVP is required. Please email: [email protected] Speakers: ? Andrew Fan, Executive Director at the Invisible Institute ? Melanie Jongsma, Publisher and Founder of The Lansing Journal ? Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune Contributing Columnist & ABC-7 Political Analyst; President of the Investigative Project on Race and Equity ? Natalie Y. Moore, Senior Lecturer and Director of Audio Programming, Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University

One can say that Diana Torres Hawken has come full circle. Her connection to The Chicago Community Trust began 16 years ago when she moved to #Chicago, and her first job was working as a program assistant for the Trust. When she and her family were ready to make an impact on the larger community, Diana knew she wanted to honor her Colombian roots and turned to Nuestro Futuro (NF), an affinity fund of the Trust that supports Chicago-area organizations and programs aimed at improving the quality of life for the Latine community. #Philanthropy This #HispanicHeritageMonth, learn more about our Affinity Funds: https://lnkd.in/gQRjem9A

Are you a young professional in #Chicago interested in giving back? The Young Leaders Fund (YLF), an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, invites you to attend the kick-off of its 2024-2025 grant cycle on October 17th @ 5:30 p.m. Meet returning members of the Young Leaders Fund and the leadership team to learn about YLF’s work, 30 years of impact, and how you can get involved this coming year. #Philanthropy RSVP: https://bit.ly/3Yi7N0F

Nuestro Futuro,?in partnership with The Chicago Community Trust and University of Illinois at Chicago Great Cities Institute, invites you to a special presentation on a newly released report, "Assessing Philanthropic Support for Latines in the Chicago Area," examining trends in philanthropic funding to Latine organizations in Cook County. Please visit the link below to register and for more information. #Chicago #Philanthropy

The People's Music School, a Trust grant recipient, offers free music education to over 700 students. Its Back of the Yards program has grown to serve 100 students from 35 Southwest Side schools since 2016—providing them with a space to develop skills and culturally relevant education. #Chicago Learn more: https://bit.ly/4eA2QGa

Outside the city, the suburbs have also experienced a rise in homelessness. The most recent Point in Time survey shows that on a given night, close to 1,200 people in suburban Cook County are unhoused, with more than 400 in the south suburbs. Since 1990, South Suburban PADS (SSPADS) has been working to address the needs of unhoused families and individuals to put them on a path toward economic stability. The organization provides emergency shelter, affordable housing, and support services. Additionally, SSPADS is working to address the rapid increase of homelessness in the Southland and the overrepresentation of people of color in the system. #Chicago Learn more about our grant recipients: https://lnkd.in/g5zuSGH2

The Asian Giving Circle (AGC), an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, supports Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI)-led nonprofits in the #Chicago region through collective community giving. For over 20 years, AGC has pooled resources from its members to provide grant funding in support of the diverse and evolving needs of the region’s #AAPI community.? #Philanthropy This year, AGC made 10 unrestricted, general operating grants to 10 organizations. Learn more about them: https://lnkd.in/gEy9d43s

Our local news outlets inform and engage residents across our communities. Press Forward Chicago is a coalition of civic leaders, media professionals, generous individuals, and regional foundations committed to ensuring #Chicago remains a hub for excellent, innovative journalism. *Special Invitation: Shaping the Future of Local News* Join us at Northwestern University on October 22, 2024 for a curated conversation exploring the role #philanthropy and strategic partnerships can play to build capacity and leadership as local news organizations work towards long-term sustainability. By supporting this vital work, we can strengthen #localjournalism and empower the next generation of investigators and truth-tellers. This event is designed for individuals and organizations interested in making a meaningful impact on the future of local journalism through various forms of support. Space is limited. To attend, RSVP is required. Please email: [email protected] Speakers: ? Andrew Fan, Executive Director at the Invisible Institute ? Melanie Jongsma, Publisher and Founder of The Lansing Journal ? Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune Contributing Columnist & ABC-7 Political Analyst; President of the Investigative Project on Race and Equity ? Natalie Y. Moore, Senior Lecturer and Director of Audio Programming, Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University

Congratulations to Trust President & CEO Andrea Sáenz for her recognition as a 2024 Spirit Award Honoree at Instituto del Progreso Latino's annual gala! At the Trust, Andrea works to bring to life a vision to realize a stronger and more prosperous #Chicago region where access to opportunities transcends race, ethnicity or zip code. The Trust’s work is both professionally fulfilling and deeply personal for her. As an immigrant from Ecuador who grew up in Los Angeles and came to Chicago as an adult, she is energized by the region’s strength, creativity, connection, and cultural vibrancy. However, she has also experienced the obstacles many Chicagoans face as they strive to build financial stability and prosperity. Andrea has dedicated her career to reimagining civic institutions to engage and serve people impacted by inequitable access to opportunities, aligning with the Trust’s legacy of addressing the Chicago region’s greatest and most critical needs.