Access to nutritious food is one of the most basic and important human rights, and yet, more than 700 million people faced hunger in 2023. A staggering 35% of the global population, equivalent to 2.8 billion people, experience “hidden hunger,” the lack of adequate nutrition. Global conflicts and trade disruptions have brought to light the […]
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 2023, the executive director of a youth-serving nonprofit in Chicago got a call she had been dreading. The 12-month grant that had kept her after-school program running was ending. The program was working, graduation rates among participants were up, and families on the waitlist were growing. But the funder had moved on to other […]
New apartment keys. A new career with higher pay. And a growing commitment to giving back. Since returning home after incarceration, Adisa has been building his new life one milestone at a time—putting the confidence, connections and skills he gained through Defy Ventures’ CEO of Your New Life program into action. Adisa joined the program […]
Barry Butler has been photographing Chicago for decades — but more specifically, he’s been capturing its tulips. A native of Ireland, Butler has always loved shooting natural scenery. But while building his photography practice, he also began photographing Chicago’s industrial landscape, a striking contrast to Ireland’s terrain. “I was psychologically saying to myself, ‘Well, I […]
The tension in the room was palpable. Board members dug in on opposing positions. A staff leader threatened to resign. The group’s leader called for a timeout before a vote to buy time. The scene was the 2022 board meeting of the India Philanthropy Alliance. The board members were debating a collective fundraising effort called […]
Dr. Mojgan Makki, Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with Psychiatry Studio in Chicago, was treating an adolescent patient with ADHD. The patient experienced serious side effects from the oral medication, requiring Dr. Makki to pursue the next clinically appropriate plan: a transdermal patch for ADHD treatment. “Time was of the essence,” says Dr. Makki. […]
Each year, thousands of talented Chicagoans are overlooked for high-growth careers — not because they lack ability, but because traditional hiring systems still equate potential with pedigree. In a city built on innovation and hard work, it’s important to shift the definition of success to reflect people’s demonstrated abilities and future capacity, moving beyond background […]
Alzheimer’s, one of the most common forms of dementia, affects more than 6.9 million Americans. It’s a complex and debilitating condition, but for millions of families, Alzheimer’s disease does not arrive as a surprise. It is a genetic condition that researchers can now predict through genetic testing. A simple genetic test can reveal whether someone […]
We know it isn’t real. We know that the “person” on the other end of the screen doesn’t have feelings, a body, or a past. And yet, we talk to it, confide in it, even fall for it. Artificial intelligence has entered our emotional lives quietly but decisively. Apps and AI chatbots now listen, flirt, […]
