Better Makers: Comedian Wanda Sykes and Olympic Figure Skater Adam Rippon Join Chicago House Speaker Series

A fearless power duo, Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon and comedic actress and writer Wanda Sykes joined forces for the Chicago House Speaker Series Sept. 14 at the Hilton Chicago. Hosted by Chicago House and Social Service Agency, the signature event is known for its noteworthy headliners, including former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State […]

Better Makers: Chicago's Austin Community Comes Together to Kick Off School Year

BUILD, Inc. (Broader Urban Involvement & Leadership Development) is one of Chicago’s leading gang intervention, violence prevention, and youth development organizations on a mission to engage youth of high-risk environments by helping instill confidence and promote engagement and leadership within their communities. BUILD currently serves more than 3,500 youth each year in Austin, East Garfield […]

Better Makers: SHALVA Luncheon Raises $195,000 for Victims of Domestic Violence

On June 20, SHALVA, a Chicago organization that “supports Jewish women experiencing and healing from domestic abuse, through counseling, supportive services, and community education,” hosted their annual luncheon at The Standard Club. The event raised more than $195,000 to support victims of domestic violence and featured speaker Cara Brookins, a survivor of domestic abuse.   […]

Better Makers: Robert Redford and Sibylle Szaggars Redford Honored at Smith Nature Symposium & Benefit

On Friday, June 1, Academy Award-winning actor, director, and environmentalist Robert Redford and his wife, Sibylle Szaggars Redford, a multimedia environmental artist, were honored at Ryerson Woods’ 35th Annual Smith Nature Symposium & Benefit at the Brushwood Center. With record-breaking attendance, the event brought in more than $250,000 for the Brushwood Center. For years the Redfords have […]

Better Makers: The Future of STEM is Female

During the 2015 White House Science Fair, former President Barack Obama opened by stressing the potency of inquiry and wonder: … young scientists and engineers teach us something beyond the specific topics that they’re exploring. They teach us how to question assumptions; to wonder why something is the way it is, and how we can […]