On a Wednesday afternoon, teenagers in colorful T-shirts were jogging back and forth across a brand-new gym floor and practicing their basketball and volleyball skills. The exercises were part of the first youth programming at the Obama Presidential Center, bringing a long-held vision to life through a partnership with After School Matters, a Make It […]
The caregiver list was already out of date the day Ronna Larsen got it. A caseworker had handed her a photocopied sheet of local caregivers, and one by one, the numbers on it led nowhere: offices that had closed, agencies no longer taking clients. Larsen’s mother had just been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and Larsen, […]
After years of building a career in banking, Kherrington lost his job following health complications, turning his life upside down. Choosing to take control and see the layoff as a new beginning, he moved to Chicago with a friend. But when that arrangement fell through, Kherrington found himself without housing, savings, or a support network. […]
In the warehouse of Cradles to Crayons’ Giving Factory, bins upon bins are packed with bundles of clothing, from onesies to adult shoes. Throughout the year, Cradles to Crayons collects and distributes clothing, hygiene products, diapers, and shoes. They also collect seasonal items, such as winter coats and gloves, as well as educational and school […]
Young people are growing up in a world that too often teaches them that difference is something to fear, that communities are meant to remain separate, and that walls are better than bridges. This is especially true in Chicago, a city that consistently ranks among the most segregated in the nation. But spend an afternoon […]
In Afghanistan’s Bamiyan Valley, Seema learned to weave from her mother and grandmother before her. Today, her carpets are sold through Christopher Farr in London and Los Angeles, helping support her family while carrying forward artistic traditions rooted in the region’s history. This particular carpet, woven by Seema, features a Buddhist mandala motif that reflects […]
Many of the behaviors that show up in adult relationships — defensiveness, emotional shutdown, perfectionism, people-pleasing, fear of conflict — often begin as survival strategies long before adulthood. At a recent conversation hosted by The Family Institute at Northwestern University — a Make It Better 2026 Philanthropy Award winner — licensed marriage and family therapist […]
As an IP attorney and art law professor, Silvia Beltrametti is drawn to questions of ownership, influence, and creative interpretation. The Italian mother of three divides her time between homes, extended family, business opportunities, and philanthropic commitments across Ireland, Italy, and the U.S. with her husband, Jay Krehbiel, alongside her work at the School of […]
I remember the day I looked in the mirror and didn’t recognize the woman staring back at me. My stomach churned, my hands shook, and the circles under my eyes could no longer be covered with makeup. That was the defining moment I chose to rescue myself from my abuser, despite the privilege that convinced […]
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 […]
