The Field Foundation of Illinois

The bounty is plentiful at the South Chicago Farm! The crops we set earlier in the summer are now producing gorgeous results. Our Summer Squash, for example, is here for you in abundance and available at our Farm Stand! “This Summer Squash is popping, come and get it before it’s gone!” Malcolm Evans, Farm Director #reapingtgeharvest #bipocgrowers #urbanfarming #summersquash

At our recent funder’s summit, we loved hearing from newsrooms funded by Press Forward Chicago - including the South Side Weekly and the Invisible Institute. Both are housed in the same co-working space and collaborate on stories, but their histories and approaches to informing Chicago residents differ. The South Side Weekly began as a student newspaper at the University of Chicago, and holds true to those roots. It still sees itself as a training ground for emerging journalists as it publishes a free print edition focused on “active, participatory, community based journalism,” Executive Director Malik Jackson said. The Invisible Institute, meanwhile, began as a network of people fighting for the rights of public housing residents in the 1990s. Today, the Institute combines data-based investigations with residents lived experiences to create impactful investigations on hate crimes, human trafficking, police violence and more. Their work led to two Pulitzer Prizes last year. Thank you to all the Chicago journalists who shared their insights with Press Forward funders, including Windy City Media Network, LLC, Cicero Independiente, Growing Community Media NFP (parent company of Austin Weekly News) and Chicago News Weekly. And to our Chicago funders for helping us organize the events: The Chicago Community Trust, MacArthur Foundation and The Joyce Foundation. Learn more about Press Forward Chicagos’ grantees: https://bit.ly/3TpTOmu

?? Huge congratulations to Borderless Magazine and Block Club Chicago on their well-deserved wins at the 2024 LION: Local Independent Online News Publishers Sustainability Awards! ?? - Borderless Magazine, Winner: Journalism Impact Award (Small Tier) - Block Club Chicago, Winner: Business of the Year Award (Medium/Large Revenue Tier) We're incredibly proud of #BorderlessMagazine for their impactful work on the #HealingIllinois project, which focused on segregation and the migrant crisis in Chicago. Their dedication to amplifying immigrant voices and centering those most impacted by the issues they cover continues to inspire. #BlockClubChicago has been a champion of local journalism, co-publishing with one of the Healing Illinois participating newsrooms to spread vital stories. It's also the byline home of our 2023 Community Media Uplifting Awards winner, #JamieNesbittGolden. We're proud to see another Chicago outlet making waves and exemplifying a commitment to good journalism. Check out the complete list of winners here: https://lnkd.in/guQtUnCR #CommunityJournalismMatters #NarrativeChangeCommunity #ChicagoProud

Our President and CEO has important personal news to share with our community! After almost 16 incredible years of leadership and dedication to advancing equity for the Latino community, Sylvia Puente will be transitioning from her role as President and CEO of the Latino Policy Forum in 2025. When her successor is identified, she will step down and become a senior advisor, ensuring a smooth transition. “I transition from this role at a good time. We have built and grown an amazing team that has impacted the lives of so many in our community, and together, built real pathways to a more equitable future for Latinos in Illinois.“ Read her announcement here: https://bit.ly/SylviaPuente

??? In this clip from the latest episode of Gathering Ground, Daniel O. Ash emphasizes the importance of community-driven funding and the role The Field Foundation of Illinois plays in supporting local organizations. ?? ?? Tune in to hear more about how we can put power back into the hands of the community and foster genuine partnerships. Don't miss it! ?? bit.ly/gatheringground #GatheringGround #Podcast #ArtsAndCulture #SocialJustice #Philanthropy #Leadership #CommunityEngagement #CreativeExpression #ArtForChange #Humanities #GrantMaking #CivicLife #CulturalLeadership #TransformativeArt #SocialImpact #DanielAsh

september coming in strong — 5 #journalism conferences, 3 cities, 3 weeks!!!?? availing of lots of opportunities for learning from peer #funders & fellow #journalists about how #philanthropy can help save #localnews, in #chicago and across the nation! 1st up: #pressforward national convening here in #thechi! would have loved to have attended the whole Sept. 3-5 conference, but only made it the last day. still glad to have caught up with some of the vast network of pooled and aligned grantmakers driving this national initiative to strengthen #communities through credible & accessible local #news! took in "lessons learned: a look at the research," presented by Press Forward president Dale Anglin & MacArthur Foundation local news director Silvia R., dissecting the pillars of this national effort launched w/$500M & growing. attending were dozens of local press forward chapters nationwide now birthed — in only a year!!! learn more here: https://lnkd.in/g-FSQ2Kk appreciated the "program officer insights" breakout session, exchanging perspective with peers from across the country, as well as the look-ahead conversations on #media and #philanthropy support and readiness for #election2024 scenarios. great to share a meal with macarthur's new program officer for local news, Lillian Velasquez, as well as my buddy, fellow former chicago #journalist Robert K. Elder, now president/ceo of Outrider Foundation!?????? The Field Foundation of Illinois #foundations #reporter #reporters #reporting #stories #storyteller #storytelling #writer #writers #writing #diversenarratives #print #digital #broadcast #newsdeserts #journalismmatters