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…
Grants
Featured
Our Grantmaking Strategy
For more than 100 years, The Chicago Community Trust has convened, supported, funded, and accelerated the work of community members and changemakers committed to strengthening the Chicago region. From building up our civic infrastructure to spearheading our response to the Great Recession, the Trust has brought our community together to face pressing challenges and seize our greatest opportunities. Today, that means confronting the racial and ethnic wealth gap.
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Grant Recipient
Reparations Media NFP
There is a persistent need in Chicago to enhance the stability and reach of hyperlocal, ethnic, and community-centered news platforms. Change Agents Journalism Lab is committed to addressing this gap by providing robust training and resources to emerging journalists passionate about reporting on critical issues for Chicago’s communities. Our journalism lab will immerse and mentor emerging journalists in the models not frequently taught in institutions: solutions, community and solidarity journalism. In doing so, we hope to provide a pathway for diverse young people into Chicago’s journalism community and create a more diverse media ecosystem. Emerging reporters walk away from our program — and into newsrooms across the country — with the skills to produce high-quality and inclusive reporting about marginalized communities. Alumni produce Black- and Latino-centered broadcasts, coordinate citizen-led journalism projects and now work for The Trace, PBS- and NPR-affiliates across the country, including WBEZ/Vocalo; Illinois Answers Project; City Bureau; Crain’s Chicago Business; Agence France-Presse (AFP); WBAY-TV; and Cicero Independiente. Approaching our fifth year of Change Agents, we are building upon our refined curriculum to expand the capacity and impact of the most innovative part of our journalism lab, our community engagement events that democratize access to information by bringing the Change Agents work to the public. These events are collaborations between our series creators and the community organizations they work with, they expand our reach beyond podcast listeners and extend invitations to community members to listen to the complete Change Agents audio series. For instance, after our presentation with Chicago’s People Matter and Change Agents journalist Wendy Wei at the Illinois Arts Council’s One State Conference downloads for Wei’s episode How to Tackle AntiBlackness increased by more than 1,200 downloads. This year, we are hiring a new team member to focus fully on audience and community engagement. This role will primarily provide support for the co-hosted listening events and increase the capacity to engage news consumers through the use of our newsletter and social media. We identify and collaborate with community organizations who are focused on improving their communities, providing community solutions, and are in need of more materials for raising awareness for their mission and impact in disinvested communities who suffer from persistent patterns of inequity in areas central to daily living such as housing, health, employment, education, economic investment, transportation, and public safety. A successful collaboration for the journalism lab with the journalist and community leader results in a poignant episode in our Change Agents audio series that the community organization can use to build their constituency, raise awareness, and refine their messaging about the community organization’s impact. We are seeking funds match committed funds to this position to drive sustained growth in Chicago’s disinvested communities. This grant will enable us to significantly expand our journalism training program and produce an impactful audio series that elevates the voices of Chicago residents. By democratizing news content and enhancing digital engagement, we aim to foster a more inclusive and trusted local media ecosystem.
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Grant Recipient
THE BASE (BOSTON ASTROS BASEBALL CLUB INCORPORATED)
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Grant Recipient
TGiMovement
TGi Movement is thrilled to have the opportunity to apply again for a grant with The Chicago Community Trust. This application seeks to secure funding to further the efforts of our flagship Omega Chi Omega youth program, which was successfully initiated in 2021 through the support of this very grant. Over the past year, the program has witnessed remarkable growth, impacting numerous lives and strengthening our community ties. In this next phase, TGi Movement aims to emphasize sustainability, ensuring the longevity and continued success of Omega Chi Omega. Our focus is solidifying the foundation built over the last year, optimizing our resources, and enhancing our programs to serve our youth better. This grant will be instrumental in helping us achieve these goals, allowing us to make a lasting difference in the lives of the young individuals we are committed to supporting.
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Grant Recipient
CHI-RISE
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Grant Recipient
Chicago Youth Boxing Club (CYBC)
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Grant Recipient
Respair Production & Media
Continued development, implementation, infrastrucuture building, programming, and impact strategy of Respair Production & Media, an ecosystem hub that supports the media needed to reshape Chicago and beyond toward liberation.
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Grant Recipient
The Garden of Love
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Grant Recipient
Legacy Disciple