News

Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, 77 to be exact, each with its distinct look, feel, food and people. Despite the beauty of our neighborhoods, there is a deep history of segregation, systemic racism, and disinvestment that shapes and manifests Black and brown communities’ societal issues across the city. I’ve seen what happens when you strip a community of the resources needed to prosper. I’ve also seen the impact of empowering communities to chart their own path through place-based investment.

United Way of Metro Chicago stands in partnership with leading voices in the Latinx community, who are asking for systems change and a commitment to substantive and sustained investments in Brown and Black communities, along with expanding education and economic opportunities for all young men of color.

This April, United Way of Metro Chicago is putting a spin on the traditional bake sale -- its Young Leaders United (YLU) affinity group is hosting IGNITE, a virtual dessert party led by Boka Restaurant Group.

United Way of Metro Chicago, South-Southwest Suburban Region is holding an April Food Day donation drive from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 12. With the pandemic amplifying the challenges many people face in meeting their basic needs, such as food, shelter and health care, a simple thing such as providing a few meals can make a big difference.

Sean Garrett, President & CEO of the United Way of Metro Chicago, and Dr. Helene Gayle, President and CEO of the Chicago Community Trust, discuss how equity will be central to the city's recovery.

United Way of Metro Chicago honors the lives of the victims killed in hate crimes in Georgia earlier this week. We stand with our Asian, Asian-American and Pacific Islander neighbors to Stop Asian Hate and build a stronger, more equitable world for all people.

United Way of Metro Chicago is kicking off the next phase of its COVID-19 relief fund with a $250,000 donor pledge, hoping to add to the $35 million it raised during the first eight months of the pandemic.

A citywide effort is focused on raising money to help families facing hardship during the coronavirus pandemic. The March to Recovery, announced Monday from United Way of Metro Chicago, looks to support community organizations helping residents with food insecurity and mental health issues worsened by the pandemic.

Reports of domestic violence in Chicago have surged by 15 percent during the COVID-19 pandemic as couples and families are quarantining at home. Survivors are also facing income and job loss, making it even more difficult to afford to leave an abusive situation.

On Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the founder of Truth, Healing & Racial Transformation (TRHT) will join with United Way (UW) of Metro Chicago to call on business leaders to address racial inequality.