Years ago, when Sharanda Morehead was a teacher at LEARN Romano Butler in the Chicago neighborhood of North Lawndale, she remembers how Margaret Romano would pop into her classroom about once a week. She would say things like, “How are things going?” or “What do you need?” During the next week’s check-in, Romano often arrived […]
The power of partnership is ingrained in every aspect of The Joffrey Ballet, a 2026 Make It Better Foundation Philanthropy Award Winner. As one of Chicago’s most beloved cultural institutions since 1995, the company has intentionally cultivated relationships locally, nationally, and internationally, elevating not only its own profile but also sharing visibility and success with […]
In a world where the most respected careers are doctors, lawyers, engineers, and scientists, why should kids be encouraged to pursue art? Despite drastic underfunding of the arts in U.S. schools — especially in communities with more non-white, low-income, and non-English speaking students — art education remains vital. Creative experiences help children thrive, benefiting their […]
At 2 a.m., a mother rocks her crying two-month-old, exhausted and unsure what to do next. She tries soothing, then distraction, then silence. Nothing works. By morning, guilt sets in. She wonders, like so many caregivers: Why didn’t anyone teach me how to do this? Most people will one day be responsible for another person, […]
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 […]
In Chicago’s Little Village — often called the “Mexico of the Midwest” for its vibrant Mexican-American culture — a neighborhood school was preparing to host a community event connected to The House on Mango Street, Sandra Cisneros’ iconic coming-of-age story about growing up between cultures on Chicago’s West Side. The event was meant to be […]
The biodiversity crisis is often framed as a science problem, but at its core, it is a human one — and it calls for a human-centered solution. Around the world, species that anchor entire ecosystems are disappearing at an unprecedented rate. The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services estimates that up to one […]
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 […]
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 […]
