20 Top Charity Galas Shaping Philanthropy Across the U.S.
Charity may begin at home, but it doesn’t have to stay there. Galas for good causes nationwide can give you an even better reason to pack your bags than wanderlust.
More Jobs Than Ever Require a College Degree — So Why Is Enrollment Down?
Seventy-two percent of all jobs over the next decade will require a college credential, and nearly half of those will require a four-year degree. For 85 percent of “good jobs” that provide higher salaries, benefits, and protection from economic downturns, that credential is even more important. Yet, overall college enrollment is down from its 2010 […]
Patti Smith, Joined by Jeff Tweedy, Sings 'People Have the Power' and Urges Sold-Out Crowd to 'Use Your Voice'
Patti Smith has worn many titles through the years — rocker, godmother of punk, poet, artist, writer, wife, mother, sister, advocate, friend, mentor, muse. For a brief chapter at the beginning of her story, she was also a Chicagoan. Returning to the city where she was baptized in 1947, Smith joined Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy […]
As Book Bans Surge and Reading Rates Fall, This Museum Champions the Power of Writing
From book bans and attacks on journalists and free speech to federal funding cuts and the loss of literary spaces, the ecosystem that sustains reading and writing is under growing pressure. Libraries, newsrooms, classrooms, and independent bookstores are all feeling the strain. Taken together, these forces point to something larger. “[T]he biggest crisis of our […]
Vic Mensa on Art, Advocacy, and Investing in the Chicago Community That Shaped Him
Chicago-born rapper, writer, actor, and activist Vic Mensa first gained national attention through his music, emerging alongside Chance the Rapper and a generation of boundary-pushing Chicago artists. Since then, his career has continued to expand across mediums, from music and film to essays, interviews, and public dialogue tackling timely cultural and political issues. From his […]
Wonder Women: Celebrating My Favorite Superheroes
In truth, all women are superheroes — life givers, multitaskers extraordinaire, nurturers, problem solvers; generally, they are emotionally stronger than men too. In honor of Women’s History Month, please share who inspires you! Of course my magnificent mothers top my list. Senator Gramsie — Virginia Blankenbaker, aka Mom The Dean — Patricia Albjerg Graham, aka […]
Opinion: Phil Andrew, Candidate for Congress, on How Crisis Shaped His Approach to Public Service
When people talk about gun violence, they often start with statistics. Since 2020, firearms have emerged as the leading cause of death among children in the United States, where youth are 10 times more likely to die by a gun than their peers in Canada. Each year, nearly 43,000 Americans die from gun-related injuries, and […]
7 Steps to Create Change That Actually Lasts
We love to believe that change happens because we decree it so. The New Year’s vow, a flash of resolve we committed to just weeks ago, a promise to ourselves — this time will be different. But real change and lasting motivation don’t show up on demand. It’s not because we lack discipline. It’s because […]
Beyond Ukraine’s Front Lines: Portraits From the Civilian Relief Effort
As the war in Ukraine enters another year, its consequences extend far beyond the front lines. Millions remain displaced, navigating daily uncertainty as civilian infrastructure and volunteer networks strain under sustained pressure. During recent reporting in Ukraine, I focused on Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) near the front lines east of the Dnipro River and in […]
The Virtuous Circle of Philanthropy & Powerful Impact
Amplifying the authentic connections and good intentions of people gathered around any table — at home, work, or in your community — through helpful actions and virtuous circles of freely available content can lead to meaningful, measurable change. What starts small can joyfully snowball! Our partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association is proof. It started with […]
