Liz Thompson knows the power of a good educator. “I have always admired teachers because of the amazing people that taught and motivated me throughout my education,” said Thompson. So, this year, when children across Chicago were unexpectedly distanced from those impactful figures, Thompson wanted to make sure tomorrow’s young leaders could hold their heads […]
The need for food across Chicagoland has stunned Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) Executive Director and CEO Kate Maehr, but it has never disheartened her. “Every time I go out to a distribution, I’m just struck that every single person standing in line is a person with a life, with a family, with a story—and […]
If you are looking to Work from Hotel while staying close by, here a few local opportunities. The Park James Hotel 1400 El Camina Real, Menlo Park, (650) 304-3880 This sophisticated yet comfortable retreat features custom, modern design that pays homage to the area’s rich equestrian and Irish heritage. Work at the Park James in a […]
Giving Tuesday, the global movement that takes place the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, is based on one simple idea: encouraging people to do good. That might mean a financial donation, volunteering your time, or an act of kindness, such as making dinner for an elderly neighbor. According to the Giving Tuesday website, “Every act of generosity counts, […]
Play is essential for children. Unstructured, imaginative play is key to so many aspects of a child’s cognitive growth, including language development, the nuances of socialization and creative problem solving. The research on the neurological effects of play is clear: “Play is not frivolous: it enhances brain structure and function and promotes executive function, which […]
The multi-pronged aid offered by Metropolitan Family Services (MFS) is near and dear to Ric Estrada. Since March 2011, CEO has preceded Estrada’s name, but his roots are not unlike those of the 93,000 Chicagoans served by MFS, most of whom are working poor or lower-middle class. Estrada, a Mexican-American immigrant, grew up in a […]
Sometimes it takes someone from outside the bubble to see the big picture. When Monique Jones first interviewed for the leadership position at the Evanston Community Foundation (ECF) back in 2015, she thought it was a place-based philanthropy all about Evanston. “I’ve since found out that the foundation is part of the fabric of Evanston, […]
As part of our “Love Essentially” series, Jackie Pilossoph helps us navigate the complex world of relationships. Have a question that you would like her to answer? Contact her here, and it may be featured in an upcoming article! It’s been almost 10 years since Kathleen McCarthy got divorced, but she can still recall the raw […]
There are many ways to define “genius,” but each October, Chicago’s MacArthur Foundation chooses around two dozen to honor. Among the diverse array of this year’s MacArthur fellows are a quantum physicist demystifying the habits of subatomic particles and a sociologist illuminating the way certain kinds of policing turn out to undermine public safety. In […]
In 2015, after working in D.C. as President Barack Obama’s Education Secretary, Arne Duncan returned home to Chicago. In a house just two blocks from where he grew up in Hyde Park, Duncan wasted no time in getting back to work. This time, to confront Chicago’s most critical crisis: gun violence. “Chicago has given me […]
