R CITY is thrilled to announce new support from the Chicago Community Trust! This year, the Trust's commitment to Addressing Critical Needs led them to release a funding opportunity entitled Addressing Critical Needs: Promoting Wellbeing. In their words:

"The Chicago Community Trust is seeking organizations that use family-centered program design or inter-generational approaches to caregiving and whose core missions are to provide services in one or more of the following domains: Addressing trauma for children and youth (Ages 0-24), advancing inclusion of people with disabilities by increasing opportunities for employment and education, or improving the lives of aging adults with supportive services that promote wellbeing or financial stability. Priority will be given to organizations led by people of color, place-based organizations rooted in Black and Latinx communities and ones that advance community-led solutions."

As a selected recipient of this grant, R CITY will receive $50,000 of general operating support annually for three years. This support is integral to the success of our kindergarten to career pathway, providing flexible funding to support children's programs, youth apprenticeships, young adult employment and scholarships, and wraparound family support. In these three years of funding, R CITY staff will work with the Trust to both deepen our services and broaden our scope, serving more youth with services specifically designed to address adverse childhood experiences. Through the oversight of Dr. Y'Shanda Rivera, R CITY's Director of Strategy, Research and Partnerships, these expansions will be done in strategic and measurable ways, providing data that tells a story of how best to serve our community's beloved youth.

We are so thankful to the Trust for coming alongside us--just as you all have done--to work for the good of our youth and families.

With anticipation for the future,

Elizabeth Galik

Executive Director