At the end of 2019, Meeting Tomorrow created a new South and West Side Investment Fund. This fund is one part of our larger commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Meeting Tomorrow, and part of our support of the Black Lives Matter movement. We’re committed to investing a total of $1 million in Chicago’s South and West sides by the end of 2025.
To kick off this project, a team of five Meeting Tomorrow team members who live in South and West side neighborhoods of Chicago embarked on a project to invest the first $200,000 in organizations serving communities. Our team conducted deep research, searching for grassroots organizations who have a direct impact across a variety of interconnected issues including education, health, employment, and more. Ultimately, we built connections with 10 organizations who we then supported through donations of funds and technology.
After completing this first round of investments last summer, we talked with our team and the leaders’ of several organizations about their reflections on our work so far. We created the video below in 2021 to share with our team what we’ve learned from this first phase.
We’ve been grateful to connect with and learn from community members leading these impactful organizations. And we’re just getting started with this work. Our next step is scoping additional, longer term projects and partnerships than can sustain over many years.
Chicago, like most American cities, has a long history of structural racism, resulting in the South and West sides being systemically disinvested in for decades. We believe everyone, including private sector businesses like ours, have a role to play in supporting a more just and equitable future where all Chicagoans have access to the same opportunities.Â
While we’re still building out our plans for investing the rest of this fund, we are committed to re-investing in the city that has given us so much since we began as a business in 2003. We hope you’ll stay tuned, as we’re excited to head even more deeply into this work in the coming months and years.
Learn More About the Organizations We’re Proud to Support So Far
ChiBall Y League
ChiBall Y League’s mission is to allow children to play sports and set goals in an environment free of judgment.Â
Healthy Hood
Headquartered in Chicago’s Pilsen neighborhood, Healthy Hood was established to provide affordable programming and resources that elevate the mind, body and conscience, as means to combat the current twenty-year life expectancy gap between underserved communities and high-income communities in the Chicagoland area and around the country.
Kids off the Block
Kids off the Block’s mission is to provide at-risk low income youth positive alternatives to gangs, drugs, truancy, violence and the juvenile justice system.
Latanya & the Youth of Englewood
Latanya & the Youth of Englewood works with youth ages 5-13 to provide after school activities including education, recreation, communication skill building, social opportunities, advocacy and support.
Positive Impact Chicago
Chicago Positive Impact’s goal is to provide a platform that helps youth grow as students, leaders, and athletes.
Project H.O.O.D
Project HOOD’s mission is to empower people with the guidance, information and tools necessary to become peacemakers, problem solvers, leaders, and entrepreneurs in their communities.Â
READI Chicago
READI Chicago relentlessly engages men who are most at risk of gun violence victimization, providing participants up to 18 months of transitional employment, cognitive behavioral therapy, coaching, and support to provide a new path forward.
TechCo Saavy
TechCo Saavy’s mission is to inspire, innovate and empower under resourced youth with the knowledge, prowess, tools and confidence to become trailblazing leaders within their communities
WOMANISH
The mission of WOMANISH is to create safe spaces for women from all different backgrounds to connect with others while creating a sense of community in an environment designed and imagined just for them.
Youth for a Better Future
YBF’s mission is to empower youth to become future leaders and stewards of their community through positive mentorship.
Top Photo: TechCo Saavy
