The 2024 Better Guide to Giving

As we enter the holiday season, the true spirit of joy is found in giving, especially to those who need it most. And there’s science behind this. Research has consistently shown that acts of generosity — whether it’s giving gifts, financial support, or donations — increase our happiness even more than spending on ourselves. At […]

You Said It: I’m an Economist — Here’s Why DEI in Business, Education and Community Leads to Economic Prosperity

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 […]

Celebrating Juneteenth 2024: The History, Why It’s Important, and How to Get Involved This Year

The Fourth of July is a nationally recognized and celebrated holiday, commemorating American independence and freedom from Great Britain. However, this “freedom” was not designed with all in mind. Our nation has spent a considerable time building a society that was meant to uplift some while purposefully excluding many — as proved through systemic, institutional […]

How An Ambitious New Initiative From the University of Chicago Crime Lab Is Empowering Leaders to Close America’s Safety Gap

Over the past few years, American cities have experienced an alarming increase in murders, reaching levels unseen in the past five decades. This rise in gun violence has disproportionately affected communities of color, exacerbating existing public safety disparities. In some neighborhoods, the progress made in reducing gun violence since the 1990s has been completely erased. […]

12 Ways to Celebrate Black History Month in Chicago

Every February, we honor Black History Month — a tradition with origins in Chicago that celebrates the history, ingenuity and ongoing fight for justice and equity for Black people in America and across the globe. Do your party this month and all year long by supporting Black-led organizations, art programs, restaurants and more. Here are […]