Stories
Game-Changing Mentoring
Being a mentor can be incredibly rewarding on both ends, but as many professionals know, time is a valuable commodity. Spark, a career exploration and self-discovery program that brings middle-schoolers to local companies and organizations, has found a way to combat...
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Chicago Students Take Action to Promote Change
Between its beaches, museums, restaurants, and malls, there's no shortage of attractions that Chicago has to offer college students. But what can these students offer Chicago? The People's Lobby is a grassroots movement focused on fighting structural inequalities by...
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This nonprofit has been promoting justice for 116 years
We all know what prisons are, but do we really know what goes on inside these facilities? Are they actually successful in reducing crime and making Chicago a safer city? And most importantly, who is responsible for monitoring that? John Howard Association [JHA]...
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Back 2 School Illinois Helps Underserved Youth Get the Most Out of Class-time
It’s no secret that public schools in Chicago have struggled to meet the needs of their most vulnerable students. Ever since the 2013 closings of 47 underutilized Chicago Public Schools [CPS] elementary schools—the largest number of schools closed in one year by any...
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The Night Ministry: Bringing Support to the Streets of Chicago
Instead of waiting for people to come to them, The Night Ministry is taking to the streets of Chicago. The Night Ministry is a non-profit which provides housing and support for those confronting homelessness. Unlike many similar organizations throughout...
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Uplifting Youth and Families Confronting Homelessness
La Casa Norte is a non-profit that aims is to uplift Chicagoans who find themselves facing a period of homelessness. Serving youth and families, their mission states, “We provide access to stable housing and deliver comprehensive services that act as a catalyst to...
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Giving Girls the Tools to Succeed
Twenty-two million. That's the number of refugees worldwide living outside their home country. The U.S. has made efforts to combat this crisis, resettling over 3 million refugees since 1975, but giving refugees a safe place to call home is only the first step. Founded...
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Relativity, a Leader in Corporate Giving
Corporations of all sizes are seen as our employers of goods and services. Sometimes lost in their identity is their critical role in giving back to society. Businesses can possess vast resources, knowledge, and skills to make significant and lasting impact on our...
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Riser of the Month: Hugo Colin
MEET HUGO Featured as our Riser of January is Hugo Colin. At 16 years old, Hugh volunteers his time at various nursing homes, hospitals, and non-profits around Chicago offering tribute performances to Elvis Presley, and he pulls out all the stops. Between the costumes...
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Making Tech accessible at The Difference Engine
As technology and software become an indispensable part of our lives, the demand for skilled people to work in this sector continues to skyrocket. For those looking to start new careers in software, it can be intimidating to obtain a computer science degree. Recently,...
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Chicago Rises on Founder Stories
Recently we collaborated with the platform Founder Stories to share what we do here at Chicago Rises. It was the first time I remember doing a video interview, so I admit it was a bit awkward at first talking straight into the camera. But I was able to quickly loosen...
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Good Food, Good Company, Good Cause: Soup and Bread’s 10th Season Is Underway
Winter break ushered in temperatures in the single digits and the days of below-zero windchills have carried into the new year. The January cold may be an indication of dark winter days and cabin fever yet to come, but it also marks the return of a beloved Chicago...
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