Alzheimer’s, one of the most common forms of dementia, affects more than 6.9 million Americans. It’s a complex and debilitating condition, but for millions of families, Alzheimer’s disease does not arrive as a surprise. It is a genetic condition that researchers can now predict through genetic testing. A simple genetic test can reveal whether someone […]
Dion is a mother of four residing in the South Side of Chicago. Like many families with young children from the city’s south and west sides, Dion wants to set her kids up for success. And through Educare Chicago, Dion finally found a safe and welcoming environment, income-based tuition that expands educational opportunities, and deep […]
We know it isn’t real. We know that the “person” on the other end of the screen doesn’t have feelings, a body, or a past. And yet, we talk to it, confide in it, even fall for it. Artificial intelligence has entered our emotional lives quietly but decisively. Apps and AI chatbots now listen, flirt, […]
February — which it is worth noting, is the shortest month of the year — is Black History Month in America, and traditionally, when you’ll see Black-owned restaurant roundups like this one (written by a white food journalist, no less). But you’d be a fool to give short shrift to any of these terrific places, […]
Chicago winters don’t slow the city down. February is stacked with performances, exhibitions, and high-energy fundraisers, from Black History Month programming to buzzy benefits and can’t-miss shows across the city and suburbs. This is your field guide to the month. Don’t forget to tag us in your posts on Instagram @makeitbetter_foundation. All Month Short Shakespeare! […]
Destiny, 23, is a recent Northwestern University graduate embarking on a career in civil engineering. Like many young adults, she’d like to make a difference in her community. So she signed up as a mentor with Horizons for Youth, a Chicago organization that has worked for more than 30 years to support students through targeted […]
As support for in-depth environmental storytelling declines, the urgency of telling these stories continues to grow. Vital Impacts — a Make It Better Foundation 2026 Philanthropy Award winner — is a women-led nonprofit that harnesses the power of art and storytelling to support community-based conservation efforts. This year, the organization awarded $50,000 in environmental fellowships […]
The best leadership lessons rarely come from classrooms or corporate playbooks; they come from people who live them every day — leaders who elevate others and approach their work with a sense of purpose that’s both personal and practical. Three women who embody that approach — Michelle Sybil Melendez, Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships at […]
The American civil rights movement was unfolding in real time — in churches and streets, on buses and courthouse steps — when photographer Steve Schapiro began documenting it. From Selma to Mississippi, Harlem to the Deep South, his photographs captured not only historic leaders including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., James Baldwin, and Rosa Parks, […]
It’s been 14 years since George Eddy died as an infant. Reflecting on his son’s life still brings his father, Sean, to tears. “Our son George was born with a complex medical situation,” he recalls. “We were told he would be with us for maybe a matter of hours or days. Remarkably, he lived for […]
