find your cause

15 million babies are born premature every year and many families are not always prepared. In this episode we hear from Dan Friend, Co-founder and CEO of Rae Strong Foundation and their effort to provide awareness, emotional support, and funding for families faced with caring for preemies. Dan also discusses his own family story, and caring for his daughter Rae! Want to get engaged? Website: https...

1 in 54 kids in the US are born with Autism, and many families struggle to find resources that meet the needs of their kids. In this episode we hear from Dr. Carly Lapin, Director of Clinical Outreach at The Place For Children with Autism, and how they help provide a full-time ABA program in a pre-school like setting. With 10 locations throughout Chicago, they also guide families to potential Gran...

Due to Covid, 1 in 5 homes in Chicago don’t have access to broadband internet. On some blocks, it can be 1 in 2 houses disconnected. In this episode we hear from Daniel Anello, CEO of Kids First Chicago, who was able to champion the $50M initiative ‘Chicago Connect’ which brought broadband to 35,000 students in need, and work with parents and school districts to shape education policy to better su...

14% of professionals in the engineering industry are women. 5% are women of color...In this episode we hear from Jackie Lomax, Founder/Executive Director of Girls4Science. They are a non profit focusing on developing skills, self-esteem, and building relationships for young girls in the Chicago community. She discusses how important it is for community involvement in the development of more future...

Ever wonder what HH Richardson, Louis Sullivan, and Frank Lloyd Wright all have in common? Besides being recognized as the “trinity of American architecture” they also share Preservation Chicago. In this episode we hear from Ward Miller, Executive Director and Co-founder of Preservation Chicago. Founded in 2001, this organization has remained committed to preserving, promoting, and protecting hist...

Working to create a World where all youth have an equal opportunity for recreation, fitness, and friendship, in this episode, we hear from Laura Fillenwarth, Executive Director and Amy Bosko, Program Coordinator at Keen Chicago. Serving over 150 Athletes and with 600 volunteers, they discuss how important it is to provide a space for young athletes with disabilities to connect with each other and...

With over a BILLION people globally who do not have access to light, many have to rely on dangerous and costly kerosine lanterns to survive. In this episode we hear from Christie Dunne, Director of Operations at Watts of Love, as she discusses how her organization, through global partnerships, are able to shine a light of hope and opportunity for recipients that typically get the least help. Want...

With a growing trend in Urban Farming, Chicago’s south side has an organization helping youth grow their skills. Hear how Sebastian White, Founder of The Evolved Network, discusses how he is helping youth build skills from gardening, farming, kitchen, to services. Want to get involved? Email: sebastianevolved@gmail.com Website: theevolvednetwork.com Phone: (214) 448-4382 Facebook: https://www.face...

In Season 2, Episode 9 we hear from Angelina Nordstrom (they/them), Emmy Gibbie (she/her), and Roni Lee (she/her) of LGBTQ Workers Center (Chicago Chapter) discuss their experiences of workplace discrimination and how they are supporting others experiencing it while fighting to end it. The National LGBTQ Workers Center is a Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Queer organization where workers can go...

In Season 2, Episode 8 we hear Ashley Jones, Jennifer Jones, and Matt Beresh, Co-Founders and Directors of There Really Is A Santa Claus discuss how they have been serving Chicago communities by making Christmas a reality for families who need it. Over the past six years, There Really Is A Santa Claus has purchased $250,000 worth of gifts for 250 families and 1,250 individuals, through its network...

In Season 2, Episode 7 we hear Ibrahim Maali, Founder of Solidarity Studios share how he and team are giving people resources to tell their story, galvanize their communities around the issues that affect them most, and to help achieve justice. Solidarity Studios works with youth and communities of Occupied Bethlehem, the Southside of Chicago, and Cape Town, South Africa together under one set of...

In Season 2, Episode 6 we hear how Natia Simone - Founder of Village Minds, created the organization to do food runs for seniors in her neighborhood near Stony Island, that were impacted by looting in early 2020. When many stores were emptied, she mentions how many mothers and the elderly didn’t have many local options to buy basic necessities and Natia decided “someone should do something…and fig...

In Season 2, Episode 5 we hear how LaTanya Johnson - Executive Director of Youth of Englewood is impacting the Englewood community by providing youth programs that range from recreational, educational, mentorship, or entrepreneurship. Youth of Englewood also provides skills training, community events, family support, and even field trips all for free! LaTanya discusses being born and raised near 5...

In Season 2, Episode 4 we hear how William Steward, Minister and Deputy Executive Director of Resident Daily Life at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, is working to provide a positive impact to every juvenile that crosses their doorstep in Chicago. These changes are not only affecting the lives of local youth, but also their families and communities. William discusses his unique...

In Season 2, Episode 3 we hear how Mary Johnson, Chief Development & Strategy Officer at Lincoln Park Community Services (LPCS) and team are fighting homelessness. LPCS brings communities together to empower individuals facing homelessness and poverty to secure stable housing and make sustainable life changes. LCPS works with the larger community to ensure their members receive the support, re...

We kicked off Greater than Zero Percent project with an impromptu -interview with Joseph Mapp at Precious Blood Ministry Of Reconciliation months ago. Since then we've really defined our mission to highlight outstanding individuals and organizations, it was only natural that we'd come back and do an updated interview with the man who started it all!   Joseph and the work he and his colleagues do a...

In the first new episode of Season 2, Joseph meets with Janelle St. John, Executive Director of Growing Home Inc, an organization that has been redefining urban farming and bringing opportunity to thousands for decades in Chicago. Visit them at: Website: http://growinghomeinc.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/growinghomeinc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growinghome/ Contact them at: P...

In Season 1, Episode 10 we hear from Mark Mitchell, Director of Re-Entry Services at Teamwork Englewood on how he is changing the model and helping formerly encarcerated people find jobs.    Teamwork Englewood's mission is to be a community facilitator and convening organization that works to catalyze economic development, quality education and healthy living for the Greater Englewood community. T...

In Season 1, Episode 9 we hear from LaDarius Beal, Administrative Assistant at True Believers Community Connections on how he is working with youth and new moms!   The mission of True Believers is to foster community relations & reduce delinquency and violence by offering supportive services to emerging young leaders.   Get connected: Website: truebelieverscommunityconnections.org  Facebook: f...

In Season 1, Episode 8 we hear from Tonika Johnson, Creator, Social Justice Artist, and Photographer on how she uses her Folded Map Project to investigate what urban segregation looks like and how it impacts Chicago residents.   Folded Map Project visually connects residents who live at corresponding addresses on the North and South Sides of Chicago. What started as a photographic study quickly ev...

In Season 1, Episode 7 we hear from Rodney Johnson, President of One Health Englewood share his story and plans to advance the public health relations of Greater Englewood through advocacy, health literacy, and community development.   Get connected: Email: contact@onehealthenglewood.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnglewoodOneH/

In Season 1, Episode 6 we hear from Danielle Wallace, Founder & Executive Director of Kingdom Avenue Inc. share her story and how she is connecting community resources to serve youth. Kingdom Avenue Inc.'s mission is to transform communities one generation at a time through education, inspiration, and unification. Unity is the anchor for all Kingdom Avenue programming. Whether it be through co...

In Season 1, Episode 5 we hear from Michelle Rashad, Executive Director of Imagine Englewood if... (IEi) discuss the programs they run for youth and their greater community. IEi's mission is to strengthen and empower the Greater Englewood community through teaching local youth and their families healthy living, environmental awareness, and positive communication skills. IEi provides youth a safe a...

In Season 1, Episode 4 we hear from Deon Lucas, President of E.G. Woode and how his organization provides a sustainable platform where entrepreneurs leverage the capital and assets to rebuild commercial corridors within their neighborhood. E.G. Woode was established to help relieve the disparities of capital access that minority owned businesses experience. Their platform is an incubator for minor...

In Season 1, Episode 3 we hear from Felicia Slaton-Young, Executive Director at Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce who will discuss the work they are doing with businesses in the the Greater Englewood area of Chicago.   The mission of the Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce is to transform Greater Englewood into a popular commercial and retail destination by advising, developing and showcasin...