Trust Talks

Small businesses are essential to stabilizing neighborhood economies. They create jobs, activate commercial corridors, and provide the goods and services that help communities thrive. Yet across the Chicago area — particularly in historically underinvested South and West Side neighborhoods — many entrepreneurs continue to face structural barriers that make it difficult to access the capital, technical assistance, and business networks needed to start, sustain and grow their businesses.   To help address those challenges, The Chicago Community Trust and four philanthropic partners launched the Fund for Equitable Business Growth in 2019. Guided by research from Next Street, the funder collaborative invests in organizations that strengthen Chicago's small businesses by improving access to capital, business services, and coordinated resources. Since its launch, the Fund has supported 46 business service organizations, helped nearly 6,000 small businesses access coaching and training, and connected entrepreneurs to more than $22 million in grants and loans. Today, new research from Next Street reveals that significant gaps remain, with small businesses seeking far more capital than traditional lenders provide, and many businesses that are ready to grow are unable to access the financing to do so.   In this episode of Trust Talks, Earl Grandberry, director of the Fund for Equitable Business Growth, hosts a conversation with Sara Dinges, head of ecosystem solutions at Next Street, Niharika Hanglem, program director at The Richard L. Duchossois Foundation (RLD), and Linda McGill Boasmond, owner & president of Cedar Concepts Corporation. Together, they discuss what the latest research reveals about Chicago's small business ecosystem, philanthropy's role in strengthening that ecosystem, and why investing in trusted business support organizations is essential to helping entrepreneurs build stronger businesses and more resilient neighborhood. They also explore the Fund's next phase of work, including strategies to address capital access, operational challenges, growth-stage support gaps, and the policy and systems changes needed to unlock opportunity. This episode was produced by Juneteenth Productions and recorded at WBEZ.

From 2021 to 2025, We Rise Together: For an Equitable & Just Recovery (We Rise Together), a funder collaborative led by The Chicago Community Trust, invested $47 million in brick-and-mortar development, small business support, and workforce programs in underinvested communities, which are predominantly on Chicago’s South and West sides. These investments improved economic activity and expanded opportunity--and raised an essential question for philanthropy, communities and developers: What does meaningful impact look like at the neighborhood level? In this episode of Trust Talks, we explore new research from the University of Illinois Chicago’s Great Cities Institute examining both the economic activity and community experience shaped by We Rise Together investments. The evaluation offers a deeper understanding of how neighborhood investments influence local conditions, community perceptions, and residents’ life experiences. From changes in nearby business activity to shifts in how people describe safety, opportunity and pride in their neighborhoods, the conversation brings the data to life. It also highlights what the research reveals about the importance of flexible capital, community voice, and place-based investment strategies in supporting the long-term economic vitality of long-disinvested neighborhoods and the city as a whole. Hosted by Maryah Phillips, program manager for the Neighborhood Capital Fund at the Trust, this episode features Katherine Faydash of the Great Cities Institute, who shares key findings from the research on the impact of community investment and neighborhood development. The conversation also includes Brenda Palms, president & CEO of North Lawndale Employment Network, and Jesse Iñiguez, founder of Back of the Yards Coffee, who reflect on how these investments are improving quality of life in their communities and what it takes to support thriving neighborhoods over time.  The episode also looks ahead to the continued potential of this work through the Neighborhood Capital Fund, another collaborative initiative led the Trust, which builds on lessons learned from We Rise Together to deepen investment in community-driven development. This episode was produced by Juneteenth Productions and recorded at The Auburn Gresham Healthy Lifestyle Hub.

In Illinois, nearly 80 percent of community college students say they plan to transfer and earn a bachelor’s degree, yet only about 35 percent actually transfer, and just 20 percent complete a four-year degree. Students from underinvested neighborhoods and low-income backgrounds are even less likely to reach the finish line. While research shows that strong transfer pathways are essential to degree completion and economic mobility, many students still encounter lost credits, added costs, and uneven support along the way.In this episode of Trust Talks, we examine why improving the community college-to-four-year transfer process is a critical but often overlooked issue, what the research shows about challenges transfer students face, and how wraparound supports such as advising, financial assistance, and basic needs assistance can help keep students enrolled through graduation. The conversation also explores why transfer success matters beyond higher education: a bachelor’s degree is a key driver of long-term earnings and workforce stability, making transfer a powerful lever for expanding access to opportunity and strengthening the regional economy.The conversation is hosted by Sonianne Lozada, the Trust’s program manager for income and small business, and features Juan Salgado, chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago, Mike Abrahamson, director of policy & research from the Partnership for College Completion, and Meg Bates director of Illinois Workforce and Education Research Collaborative (IWERC).This episode was produced by Juneteenth Productions and recorded at The Auburn Gresham Healthy Lifestyle Hub.

Chicago is one of the most influential cultural cities in the United States, known for its distinctive blend of architecture, visual arts, music, theater, and deeply rooted neighborhood culture. Widely recognized as the birthplace of modern architecture, it is also home to one of the nation’s strongest museum ecosystems and a vibrant grassroots arts scene that celebrates the city’s diverse ethnic communities. Chicago’s global cultural impact spans music — from Blues to House— renowned theater and murals, street art, and festivals. The city’s cultural ecosystem fuels its identity, community, and economic vitality. This ecosystem plays a critical role in economic development by creating jobs, attracting investment, and supporting local businesses. Arts and culture strengthen communities by ensuring diverse voices and stories are visible and valued, helping neighborhoods thrive both economically and socially. In this episode of Trust Talks, we explore how arts and culture drive and stimulate economic opportunities for a community and elevate the voices and stories of underrepresented communities, while asking what it takes to sustain a thriving, equitable cultural sector. Philanthropy, both institutional and individual, is critical for a thriving arts economy, and we will explore this as one of the essential elements of a thriving city.  Hosted by Iona Calhoun-Battiste, the Trust’s senior director of collective power, the conversation features director of Englewood Arts Collective and creative strategist Janell Nelson; David Feiner, co-founder of the Albany Park Theater Project; and Nora Daley, board chair of the Illinois Arts Council. Together, they discuss why investing in both legacy institutions and community-based organizations is essential to Chicago’s future. This episode was produced by Juneteenth Productions and recorded at The Auburn Gresham Healthy Lifestyle Hub.

When most people picture hunger in America, they think of food pantries. Yet for every meal a pantry provides, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP – quietly supplies nine more. Formerly known as food stamps, SNAP is the nation’s most effective anti-hunger initiative, helping more than 42 million Americans put food on the table each month. In Illinois alone, about 1.9 million people rely on SNAP, receiving an average monthly benefit of $192 per household. While designed to supplement rather than fully cover a family’s food needs, SNAP remains a crucial lifeline for millions of low-income households — many of which include working adults, children, older adults, veterans, and people with disabilities. Beyond the direct benefit of helping families buy groceries, SNAP provides the financial breathing room to afford other essentials like rent, utilities, diapers, and medicine. SNAP is also an important contributor to Illinois’s economy. Across the state, more than 8,000 retailers redeem more than $2 billion in SNAP benefits. These benefits don’t just support SNAP participants, they are an important revenue source among our local grocers and their employees, many of whom live and spend money in the same community in which they work. It is estimated that every SNAP dollar generates about $1.50 in economic activity. Greater public understanding of SNAP ensures better policy decisions that sustain both family well-being and our region’s economic health.In this episode of Trust Talks, we will explore the history of SNAP, discuss the economic impact of public benefits, and humanize the experience of our neighbors who depend on SNAP and other government support to meet their basic needs. The conversation is hosted by Aimee Ramirez, the Trust’s director of policy change, and will feature John Bouman, director of Legal Action Chicago; Daniel Block, chair, Dept. of Geography, Sociology, and Africana Studies at Chicago State University; and Danielle Perry, vice president of policy and advocacy at the Greater Chicago Food Depository.This episode was produced by Juneteenth Productions and recorded at The Auburn Gresham Healthy Lifestyle Hub.

As Chicago neighborhoods continue to expand with newly built businesses and homes, new opportunities emerge for residents to shape their communities. Yet, traditional development often leaves residents with little to no say on – or stake in - what gets built in their neighborhoods. Shared ownership flips the traditional development script by allowing residents to help improve their communities while also benefiting from new investment. Community members can take a stake in housing, business, and land, ensuring long-term community control, preserving affordability, and building community wealth. In this episode of Trust Talks, host Mariah Van Ermen, the Trust’s program manager for neighborhood impact and shared ownership, is joined by Linda Lutton, co-founder and project manager for expansion at Pilsen Housing Cooperative; Kimberly Britt, co-owner of Jumpstart Housing & Worker Cooperative and co-owner of ChiFresh Kitchen; and David Feinberg, director of coaching and knowledge transfer at Chicago Community Loan Fund. Together, they explore how shared ownership can be a powerful tool for advancing community-led development. Shared ownership approaches are community-specific and can be tools to build generational wealth, combat displacement, and enable community self-determination.  They also share resources and funding strategies to help others explore shared ownership in their own communities.This episode was produced by Juneteenth Productions and recorded at WBEZ Chicago.

Over the past decade, homelessness in the Chicago area has been on the rise, and the latest numbers are especially troubling. According to the City of Chicago’s 2025 Point-in-Time Count, the number of longtime Chicago residents without stable housing jumped by 38 percent in just one year. In Suburban Cook County, homelessness rose by 15 percent, with chronic homelessness — people stuck in long-term housing instability — up by 16 percent. These aren’t just statistics. They represent families with children, young people, survivors of domestic violence, recent immigrants, and even folks who are working but still cannot afford a place to live. And while these numbers do include people living on the streets or in shelters, they do not account for those who “double up” with friends or family. In the face of rising need and uncertain funding, the question is not just how we respond to homelessness, but how we rethink what it means to end it. At The Chicago Community Trust, we are committed to supporting long-term, systemic solutions. We support organizations that meet people where they are – with trauma-informed care, youth and immigrant services, and family shelters – while also advocating for the policy changes that can prevent homelessness before it starts. In this episode of Trust Talks, host Joanne Otte, the Trust’s Critical Needs program manager, is joined by Casey Holtschneider, executive director of Lyte Collective; Jennifer Hill, executive director of the Alliance to End Homelessness for Suburban Cook County; LaShunda Brown, chief officer of quality and impact at Primo Center; and Niya Kelly, director of state legislative policy, equity and transformation at the Chicago Coalition to End Homelessness. Together, they discuss the current state of homelessness in the Chicago area, highlighting best practices currently underway, how organizations are adapting, and how to address the systemic barriers that lead to homelessness. This episode was produced by Juneteenth Productions and recorded at LYTE Collective

Although nonprofit organizations play a vital role in recognizing and addressing the needs of the community, research shows the percentage of nonprofits involved in advocacy or lobbying has dropped considerably over the past two decades. However, nonprofits working together on an issue are more likely to engage in policy advocacy. Over the past few years, The Chicago Community Trust has successfully supported nonprofit organizations in working together to advance systems and policy changes that facilitate economic mobility. However, policy change is a long road. Passing new laws is a step in the process, but implementing these policies and holding decision-makers accountable for the true intent is essential and ongoing work. In this episode of Trust Talks, host Ianna Kachoris, associate vice president of people, power and policy at The Chicago Community Trust, is joined by Erion Malasi, policy director at the Economic Security Project; Tracy Occomy Crowder, deputy director of organizing and policy at Community Organizing and Family Issues; Ellen Nissenbaum, senior advisor at the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities; and Ameya Pawar, president & CEO of the Michael Reese Health Trust. Using Illinois’ Child Tax Credit as a case study, they explore the power of coalition-based advocacy, the critical steps that follow the passage of a bill, and the essential role philanthropy plays in supporting nonprofit advocacy and community organizing. This episode was produced by Juneteenth Productions and recorded at WBEZ Chicago.

While homeownership is often viewed as a pathway to building wealth, a range of challenges can hinder its effectiveness, particularly for specific groups. These include financial burdens such as rising property taxes and ongoing maintenance costs, neighborhood-based appraisal disparities, and the need to meet family responsibilities. While increasing homeownership is critical to the region’s economic health, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to increasing homeownership in disinvested communities. In this episode of Trust Talks, host Matt Shomo, program manager for Homeownership & Home Equity at The Chicago Community Trust, is joined by Noreen Sugrue, research fellow at the Latino Policy Forum; Meegan Dugan Adell, director of New America Chicago; and Paul Hawkinson, co-founder of Transform Capital. Together, they examine some of the unique challenges homeowners in underinvested communities in the Chicago area face in converting homeownership into wealth.This episode was produced by Juneteenth Productions and recorded at Little Black Pearl.

The truth about immigration in the United States is that unless you are Native American, we all came from somewhere else. Yet, in 2025, the country finds itself roiled in trying to determine who we are as a country when it comes to welcoming immigrants to our shores and across our borders. The subject is rife with misunderstanding and alternative facts, and yet today, both documented and undocumented immigrants work and pay taxes that benefit all of us. Above all, both documented and undocumented immigrants are our neighbors.In this episode of Trust Talks, we share insights into the immigrant experience, examine immigrants’ contributions to our communities and region, and discuss how misperceptions fuel stereotypes and false narratives about immigration.This episode is hosted by Ayom Siengo, The Chicago Community Trust's senior director of Critical Needs. It features Eréndira Rendón, The Resurrection Project’s vice president of Immigrant Justice; Fasika Alem, United African Organization’s programs director; Robert Quinn of Quinn Family Fund and Illinois Immigration Funder Collaborative Steering Committee; and Heather Steans, board chair of Steans Family Foundation.It was produced by Juneteenth Productions and recorded at Little Black Pearl.