African American Legacy Awards Over $270,000 in 2024 Grant Cycle

African American Legacy (AAL), an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, is a philanthropic initiative led by Black civic and community leaders who share the common goal of improving the quality of life among Black residents throughout metropolitan Chicago. Since its founding in 2003, AAL has granted more than $4.5 million to over 250 nonprofit organizations. 

In spring of 2024, AAL released their annual open-call application requesting proposals from organizations supporting Black communities in the Chicago region, with projects within one of five focus areas: mental health, wealth creation, arts and sciences, community and civic engagement, or environmental justice.  

This year, AAL awarded grants totaling over $270,000 to 15 organizations. They are as follows: 

• A Step Ahead Chess: In support of the expansion of the project, Coach in Training, which trains and hires high school students to become paid chess coaches.  
• Better Boys Foundation: In support of the expansion of the project, BBF Introduction to Cyber Security, a 10-week course designed to introduce youth aged 14 to 18 to the fundamentals of cybersecurity.  
• Black Girls Dance: For general operating support for Black Girls Dance, whose mission is to champion and elevate dancers of color.  
• Circles and Ciphers: For general operating support for Circles and Ciphers, an organization designed to guide future bBlack leaders towards generational wealth and stability through establishing cooperatives and facilitating workshops for youth.  
• D-Composed: For general operating support of D-Composed, to continue its mission of amplifying the representation of Black composers and musicians throughout Chicago.  
• Focus Fairies Mentoring: In support of the expansion of the project, BEE Girls, a trauma-informed therapeutic service that provides young Black girls aged 12 to 18 with a safe and supportive environment for healing, self-care, personal growth, and empowerment.  
• Girls 4 Science: In support of Girls 4 Science’s flagship program, the Saturday STEM Academy, which supports over 500 girls of color aged 10 to 18 to pursue the knowledge and confidence to study and learn about STEM career pathways.  
• ILA Creative Studio: For general operating support of ILA Creative Studio to continue their mission to support and empower Black artists to thrive in their creative journeys by fostering multigenerational community where talent meets opportunity.  
• LUV Institute: For general operating support to The Love, Unity, & Values (LUV) Institute to continue their mission to provide programs to youth and young adults living on Chicago’s South Side.  
• Musical Arts Institute: For general operating support of Musical Arts Institute, a musical and arts educational school that educates over 2,900 students a week and facilitates three performing arts ensembles to residents of Chicago’s Far South Side.  
• Not Me We NFP: For general operating support to Not Me We, a Black- led community group whose mission is to “organize Black, poor, and working-class community members in order to build grassroots infrastructure that allows for collective and individual repatriation of resources and power in South Shore and adjacent neighborhoods.” 
• Praize Productions Inc.: For general operating support to Praize Productions Inc, an organization that was founded, serves and roots its artwork in Chicago’s South and West Side Black communities.  
• Sista Afya: For general operating support to Sista Afya Community Care, whose mission is to build sustainable mental wellness communities through providing affordable and culturally centered community mental wellness care and education. 
• The Village Legal and Community Project (TVLCP): For general operating support to The Village Legal and Community Project, an organization that incubates a free 10-week cohort program that provides valuable, transparent information and resources for individuals looking to start or scale up their businesses in order to achieve economic freedom and create generational wealth.  
• West Point Fellowship, Inc.: In support of the expansion of the existing project, West Point School of Music, a Morgan Park based music education organization that provides academic enrichment in arts education to neighborhoods across south Chicago.