Nearly every Saturday, 11-year-old Brody wakes up early, not to scroll on his phone and watch YouTube videos, but rather to volunteer alongside his parents and siblings. Brody is one of many children in Chicagoland who steps up to address pressing challenges in our communities, such as poverty, food insecurity, and homelessness. According to Illinois […]
Across the United States, how long you live is determined by where you live. A person’s health is shaped by their environment, their ability to access nature, and the systems that support communities. In Lake County, IL, north of Chicago, often recognized for an abundance of nature, including Lake Michigan, forest preserves, parks, and grassroots-created […]
As a zillennial who appreciates good branding, I love going to health foods stores to see the unnecessary, overly-priced snacks for a splurge. During a recent excursion through the nibbles-and-concoctions aisle, the plethora of pretty packaging featuring the words “golden milk” struck me. This is a prime example of the exoticization and cultural appropriation of […]
I married a world-class father. In fact, Nick Noyes’ children from his first marriage — Henry, then 14, and Elizabeth, then 12 — played a huge role in our courtship. We laughed more and loved harder when Henry and/or Elizabeth were with us. So I knew he would be a good dad to our kids […]
In 2020, President Donald Trump signed an executive order revoking all federal government diversity, education, and inclusion (DEI) training. While several lawsuits followed that order, and President Joe Biden has since reversed the ban on DEI training, federal government agencies, businesses, and nonprofits that contract with the federal government already felt the impact from the […]
Giving back goes glam on June 8 at The Park Santa Monica, where Go Campaign will hold its signature food and wine event, Vintage Hollywood. Hosted by actor and comedian Joel McHale, this party with a purpose brings together celebrities and philanthropists for an evening of bites by Michelin-trained chefs, wines from prestigious vintners, and […]
Four years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, news cycles continue to serve up potentially traumatic events that remind us resilience is fundamental to successfully navigating crises. At the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, we recently unpacked research conducted during the pandemic to gain a better understanding of how people were feeling. What we […]
The 22nd Annual Red Cross Heroes Breakfast took place May 14 at the Hilton Chicago, drawing more than 800 attendees to honor local heroes and support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross. The event raised an impressive $1.639 million, bolstered by significant contributions from corporate sponsors and generous individuals. This achievement was further […]
Michael J. Nyenhuis, president and CEO of UNICEF USA since March 2020, sat down with Make It Better founder Susan B. Noyes to share his insight and excitement about the launch of “Heart Strings: Creating Connection To The World’s Children.” The interactive, multimedia experience, a collaboration between UNICEF USA and award-winning multimedia studio Moment Factory, […]
Fentanyl has been called the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered. It is, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. The staggering numbers show that in 2021 alone, 107,375 Americans died of drug overdose and poisoning, with 67% of those deaths involving synthetic opioids […]
