"Making real change requires real community engagement, and it needs to be built by connecting with the people first."
— Austin resident & organizer
The Community Voices report is the culmination of two years of work by the Foundation’s board and staff, in collaboration with a range of organizations and community members based on mutually trusting relationships, to determine priorities where the Foundation could make the greatest impact in order for all members of our community to thrive and prosper. The Foundation met with community members throughout the west Cook County region to learn more about the challenges we face and the opportunities to help each other, and conducted in-depth data research and analysis to support the four key priority areas and solutions these valued community members shared with us. Those priority areas are:
- Educational Opportunities
- Health Care
- Wealth Equality
- Safety, Belonging & Stability
We believe the Community Voices Report will be of great value not just for the Foundation and nonprofit sector, but for local government, schools and the community at large. Together we will identify holistic solutions – including philanthropic resources – which will offer greater engagement and benefit to our community’s most vulnerable residents, and will address the socio-economic and racial disparities keeping each individual from living a fulfilled life.
The Work Continues
Since the release of the report, the Foundation has hosted public forums and shared the report’s findings with local and regional governments, charitable organizations and other stakeholders. We have also met with community leaders to present the report as a framework for future efforts toward racial equity.
The Foundation is looking inward as well. We have been actively reviewing our investment strategy, hiring practices and grant processes to make them more equitable. In the near future, the Foundation will be shifting its grantmaking process to a participatory model — working to evaluate and develop new systems, and establishing an oversight committee made up of members of our board of directors as well as residents who were involved in the Community Voices focus groups.
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