Today we’d like to introduce you to Cheryl Hughes.
Cheryl, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
As I reflect back on my career, I recognize that there has always been a pattern in my experiences – everything I’ve done has been, in some way, about connecting people.
I actually moved to Chicago to have a career in something related to art and events, and I did pursue that direction for the onset of my professional life. Ironically, though, it was through my work in the arts community and organizing events for the city that I became more connected to Chicago and its people, and even more committed to bringing people together in new and different ways.
I did this through work opening Gallery 37 (now known as After School Matters) – connecting youth from across the city to innovative art programs … helping to plan countless events as part of the Mayor’s Office of Special Events … and leading Science Chicago at the Museum of Science and Industry, a year-long public awareness and engagement campaign that engaged 300,000 Chicagoans.
I was able to continue this work when I joined the team at The Chicago Community Trust – organizing the 12th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates that brought world leaders to Chicago, helping plan the Trust’s Centennial celebration and developing our most notable civic engagement program, On the Table (www.onthetable.com).
These mealtime conversations – returning for their fifth year on May 8, 2018 – bring together people who want to discuss ways we can make our communities even better. Over the past four years, tens of thousands of Chicagoans have taken part in these conversations.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I grew up in Greenville, Ohio with parents and neighbors who were all contributing to our community, and I witnessed the impact their contributions had on our community. My upbringing highlighted the incredible value of civic engagement and social capital – I was humbled by the positive outcomes that can come from residents engaging with each other and their community.
Through my work over the years, I think the biggest challenge has been realizing that not everyone was brought up recognizing that their voice and actions matter. My hope is that my work helps everyone realize that that everyday actions can make a difference.
Please tell us about The Chicago Community Trust.
The Chicago Community Trust is a community foundation dedicated to bettering our region through its people – whether that may be through strategic partnerships, philanthropic donations or grants. We connect the generosity from groups and individuals to the needs of our community and leverage it in the best possible manner to do the most good.
We partner with donors to leverage their philanthropy in ways that transform lives and communities. The Trust connects the generosity of donors with community needs by making grants to nonprofit organizations working to improve metropolitan Chicago. Since our founding in 1915, the Trust has awarded approximately $2 billion in grant funding to more than 11,000 local nonprofit organizations – including more than $236 million in 2016.
I spearhead the Trust’s civic engagement work, recognizing that we have greater impact when we come together and collaborate to bring about meaningful change.
Contact Info:
- Address: 225 N. Michigan Avenue #2200 Chicago, IL 60601
- Website: www.cct.org
- Phone: 312-616-8000
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheChicagoCommunityTrust/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/chitrust
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-chicago-community-trust/
Image Credit:
The Chicago Community Trust
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