The Chicago Community Trust

Despite a historically robust civic ecosystem, where high schoolers and middle schoolers have many engagement opportunities, Chicago was lacking a program with a focus and wrap-around support for young people ages 18 to 25, outside of university.

“We wanted to have a program that we know has an international reputation where young people come together to nurture their civic imagination, a key element for how we approach and solve any of our systems problem.”

Chicago200 was born as a way to invest in the next generation of leaders by providing them opportunities to embrace their civic duty and utilize Common Purpose’s approach on how to lead, effectively tackle problems and strengthen future leadership capacity within a region and city.

“Our relationship with Common Purpose and the Chicago200 programme allows us to think about how we design opportunities for young people to build collective power, which goes towards this ultimate goal of reducing the racial and ethnic wealth gap.”

The Impact

“Chicago200 provides the opportunity for young people to learn the tangible skills necessary to participate and function in a democracy, while building a community to practice those skills in a space where they have more runway to define their own leadership.
As they continue to matriculate in life and career, they will have the skills to meet the moment that requires their best thinking, their most empathetic heart, their deepest listening and speaking skills, and the confidence of knowing that the process itself is success.”

Chicago200's impact extends through the exchange of knowledge on both sides, empowering young leaders to voice their personal narratives and those of their communities. Narratives which in turn help illuminate the path for current leaders in their decision-making. The program has a growing network of alumni, benefiting both young individuals and established leaders seeking input on various issues.

“The program has now developed a pool of young people where, if the CEO of a private corporation, or the president of Chicago’s City Colleges, wants to have focus group to help them tinker and wrestle with the problems they’re trying to solve, they could now lean in on the Chicago200 alumni network”.

The programme has solidified its reputation of bringing together young people who want to be called forward and engage in such opportunities.

“In 2037, I do believe that with this intervention, coupled with other interventions we’re working on and the awareness of young people on the power they hold, we will create more vibrancy in our civic ecosystem where we feel we can tackle any problem that comes to us.”