A fellow cancer survivor suggested Lynn Leiro apply to a creative arts program focused on providing support and community to those touched by cancer. She thought it might offer Leiro something different. It did. Leiro, 40, is a double cancer survivor whose diagnoses — triple negative breast cancer and acute lymphoblastic leukemia — left her […]
From the World Cup stage to Olympic competition to neighborhood fields, courts, and boathouses, sports create belonging, build confidence, open doors, strengthen communities, and teach us what it means to show up for one another. I saw this with my own kids. Our Make It Better partners and Philanthropy Award winners have long proven this. […]
Whenever Soe Meh leaves her apartment in Chicago, she is struck by her freedom and confidence. From birth to marriage and motherhood, Soe Meh lived in a refugee camp along the border of Thailand and Myanmar (formerly Burma). While safer than the violence in Burma that her parents had fled, she says of her time […]
Not too long ago, London Booker was driving through Rochester when something made him stop. In an abandoned lot, a group of kids was running lacrosse drills, fully equipped, calling out plays, and moving with confidence. He hit the brakes, put the car in reverse, and asked what they were doing. Their answer surprised him. […]
Chicago has long been one of America’s great golf cities. The roots run deep. Chicago Golf Club introduced the nation’s first 18-hole course in 1892, and more than a century later, the region remains one of the country’s most vibrant golf markets. Hundreds of public courses stretch across the metropolitan area, ranging from championship-caliber tournament […]
From neighborhood festivals and blockbuster exhibits to outdoor concerts, farmers markets, and landmark cultural events, June in Chicago has a little something for everyone. This month also brings opportunities for celebration and reflection with Pride Month, Juneteenth, and the highly anticipated opening of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park. Whether you’re soaking up some […]
In the early hours of October 9, 2017, the Tubbs Fire swept through Sonoma County and destroyed the Anova school, a place that had been a lifeline for its community. For Anova’s students — children on the autism spectrum and with other neurodevelopmental differences — the loss meant the sudden absence of routine, stability, and […]
What if your local library could solve your next weekend problem and expand your sense of community at the same time? What if you could borrow a telescope for a stargazing night, a pickleball set for a spontaneous match, or even a vacuum cleaner when yours gives out mid-mess, all without spending a dime? What […]
Over the last few months, it feels as if our country has repeatedly experienced the kind of public, unpredictable brutality that collapses time. From bombings to school shootings to federal agents killing civilians, current events are forcing many families to absorb the psychological weight of violence that feels both distant and alarmingly close. For parents and guardians, this comes with […]
Across the United States, researchers are examining the impact of a quiet but consequential shift in adolescence: young people have fewer opportunities to contribute meaningfully to their communities through volunteering — particularly structured youth service. Packed schedules and constant adult oversight can crowd out experiences where youth take on real responsibility and see the tangible social […]
