Every June, we celebrate Pride Month — a time to honor the history, resilience and beautiful complexities of the LGBTQIA+ community. Over several decades, Pride Month has transformed into the event-filled, intersectional, joyful celebration we have come to know and love — including Chicago-favorite events like Pride in the Park or the annual Pride Parade. […]
A decade of transformative impact was celebrated at ASCENSION, Surge Institute‘s 10th anniversary celebration, which brought together alumni, supporters, and special guests to honor the organization’s decade-long mission of empowering leaders of color in the education sector. Held Nov. 7, 2024 at WildmanBT in Chicago, the evening was a powerful blend of inspiring storytelling, meaningful […]
One of Africa’s most dire challenges in health and human services remains the number of orphaned children. A recent study published by African Union/African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child reported an estimated 35 million children in Africa have no parental care. In South Africa alone, nearly 210,000 children lost […]
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 […]
July 2023 saw record-breaking floods on Chicago’s Westside, causing severe home and property damage in the city’s Austin neighborhood. As a longtime Austin resident and community advocate, Jacqueline Reed spearheaded relief efforts, mobilizing resources and volunteers to help 75 homes become habitable. That same month, Firefighter and Paramedic Nicholas DeLeon encountered an active shooter at […]
The fourth annual Sneaker Ball was a huge success. Hosted by the After School Matters Associate Board, hundreds of guests came out in their freshest outfits paired with their most coveted kicks in support of Chicago teens on Saturday, April 13 at the Chicago Sports Museum. Together, we raised more than $150,000 for the After School Matters […]
In 2006, former attorney, U.S. Senate Aide and Hollywood screenwriter Scott Fifer started what would become GO Campaign — a small nonprofit — to help 20 street kids he met in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Driven by the singular goal of assisting those 20 kids, most of them orphans, Fifer dedicated himself to supporting the dreams and […]
A Safe Haven Foundation (ASHF) is a Chicago-based organization with a proven record of empowering individuals experiencing homelessness, behavioral health crises, and substance use disorders to achieve sufficiency. ASHF serves clients of all ages, including children and seniors from all 77 Chicago communities. For over 20 years, ASHF has led the charge in helping individuals […]
Born out of a single overnight retreat in Chicago for a dozen men trying to rebuild their lives as they recover from homelessness and addiction, the Ignatian Spirituality Project (ISP) has grown into a movement with over 600 volunteers in 20 cities across the U.S., Canada and Ireland. Even though ISP is under the umbrella […]
Amidst the beautiful, towering skyline of Chicago lies a silent crisis — a staggering 68,000 souls, unsheltered and struggling. Radical Generosity Chicago, a 501(c)(3) organization, encourages families to not just witness this plight but to step into the narrative, to feel the brutal winter wind that these individuals endure daily. Engage, not out of obligation, […]
