20 Top Charity Galas Shaping Philanthropy Across the U.S.
Charity may begin at home, but it doesn’t have to stay there. Galas for good causes nationwide can give you an even better reason to pack your bags than wanderlust.
Patti Smith, Joined by Jeff Tweedy, Sings 'People Have the Power' and Urges Sold-Out Crowd to 'Use Your Voice'
Patti Smith has worn many titles through the years — rocker, godmother of punk, poet, artist, writer, wife, mother, sister, advocate, friend, mentor, muse. For a brief chapter at the beginning of her story, she was also a Chicagoan. Returning to the city where she was baptized in 1947, Smith joined Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy […]
As Book Bans Surge and Reading Rates Fall, This Museum Champions the Power of Writing
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 […]
Howard Shore Reflects on 25 Years of 'Lord of the Rings' and His Musical Journey from SNL to Scorsese
Few composers have shaped the sound of modern cinema as profoundly as Howard Shore. Across more than 90 genre-spanning film scores — from The Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, and The Aviator, to lighter favorites like Big and Mrs. Doubtfire — the Canadian composer has built a career defined by musical storytelling. But it is […]
Wonder Women: Celebrating My Favorite Superheroes
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 […]
7 Steps to Create Change That Actually Lasts
We love to believe that change happens because we decree it so. The New Year’s vow, a flash of resolve we committed to just weeks ago, a promise to ourselves — this time will be different. But real change and lasting motivation don’t show up on demand. It’s not because we lack discipline. It’s because […]
Beyond Ukraine’s Front Lines: Portraits From the Civilian Relief Effort
As the war in Ukraine enters another year, its consequences extend far beyond the front lines. Millions remain displaced, navigating daily uncertainty as civilian infrastructure and volunteer networks strain under sustained pressure. During recent reporting in Ukraine, I focused on Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) near the front lines east of the Dnipro River and in […]
The Virtuous Circle of Philanthropy & Powerful Impact
Amplifying the authentic connections and good intentions of people gathered around any table — at home, work, or in your community — through helpful actions and virtuous circles of freely available content can lead to meaningful, measurable change. What starts small can joyfully snowball! Our partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association is proof. It started with […]
When Insurance Denies Mental Health Coverage, This Nonprofit Helps Patients and Doctors Appeal
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. […]
The Future Works: Why Skills-Based Hiring Must Define Our Next Era of Workforce Investment
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 […]
