A Better Chicago

Join A Better Chicago on Wednesday, April 2 for a special State of Our Youth event. Explore the latest data trends and insights that shed light on what it means to be a young person living in Chicago.   Moderated by WBEZ's Reset host Sasha-Ann Simons, the wide-ranging conversation will highlight key findings on educational attainment, absenteeism rates, youth homelessness, mental health challenges, community programming, and more. Learn what interventions and investments are helping improve outcomes, and how we can all join the movement to better support our youth. Plus, experience a powerful performance from Young Chicago Authors.   RSVP today at this link: https://lnkd.in/gUvKjRW7

Today, we are excited to announce our new investments in Project OneTen, Rush Education and Career Hub (REACH), and Springboard Collaborative. Each of these nonprofits are making transformative strides in supporting underserved youth and families across the city. We look forward to welcoming them into our portfolio and continuing to amplify our impact on Chicago’s youth.

Congratulations to National Louis University, an A Better Chicago portfolio organization, on opening a School of Nursing! The opening of this state-of-the-art facility is a momentous occasion. The future of nursing education starts here!

Milestone: We’ve reached over 10,000 followers on LinkedIn! ⭐  Thank you for following us as we showcase our mission and our amazing portfolio organizations. We’re glad to have you.

As Governor JB Pritzker presents his address on the Illinois state budget, we want to emphasize the importance of investing in our youth.   Funding education and early childhood programs is key to breaking the cycle of poverty — a cycle that affects 1 in 4 young people in Chicago. Too many youth in our city are caught in a pattern of intergenerational poverty, with Black and Latinx communities facing disproportionate challenges.   At A Better Chicago, we invest both capital and management support funding to community-driven programs that equip young Chicagoans with the education, skills, and opportunities needed to thrive and overcome the barriers of poverty.   Learn more about what we do: https://lnkd.in/dXHz6Tb

“Chicago’s children deserve a [school] district that is both academically ambitious and financially sound.” Our CEO Elizabeth Swanson co-authored an op-ed in the Chicago Tribune, alongside Daniel Anello, Janice Jackson, and Sendhil Revuluri. The op-ed shines a light on why the new school board must keep the needs of Chicago’s youth at the forefront of their work. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/g2cprBCT

Our CEO Elizabeth Swanson will speak at Leading for Good 2025, a program that brings together civic leaders who fight for thriving communities. The program is hosted by Baumhart Center for Social Enterprise and Responsibility, Loyola University Chicago. Early bird registration is now open: https://lnkd.in/g_A8b6Ey

Juvenile Protective Association (JPA), an A Better Chicago portfolio organization, provides therapeutic services to youth in high poverty communities. JPA Chicago supports schools with the greatest needs, where 75% of students face homelessness or unstable living conditions. We were thrilled to see one of their programs, WeROCK (We Reach Out to Chicago's Kids), featured on ABC 7 Chicago! WeROCK links forward-thinking companies with students in need. Watch the segment here: https://lnkd.in/gUn4mdnD

We’re less than a month away from heading to Austin, TX for the SXSW EDU conference! A Better Chicago’s CEO Elizabeth Swanson will be a featured speaker in a panel discussion highlighting how our data-driven model measures critical youth outcomes, which in turn informs civic leaders to produce systemic change for youth. We were proud to see our panel recommended by the SXSW advisory board: https://lnkd.in/gq2pRxaW

We’re proud to announce Maura Daly (she, her, hers) has been named our new Chief External Affairs Officer. Maura joins A Better Chicago with over two decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, communications, and government relations. We’re thrilled to have her on the team and look forward to the contributions she’ll make to our organization. Welcome Maura!