Chicago Beyond

04/21/2026

Yesterday marked the groundbreaking of the Chicago South Side Birth Center, led by our second Leader in Residence, Jeanine Valrie Logan.

This moment has been years in the making, and it comes as Chicago Beyond marks 10 years of backing leaders closest to the issues.

Jeanine’s leadership is not only shaping what’s possible in Chicago, it’s influencing how we think about investing in maternal health across the country.

This is more than a groundbreaking. It’s a model. Congratulations to Jeanine and the entire team at the Chicago South Side Birth Center!

Learn more at the link in our bio.

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12/19/2025

From health to justice, Chicago Beyond invests in people closest to the issues and driving change all across the country.

This year, we backed leaders with lived experience, partnered across systems, and continued to push philanthropy to follow the lead of those closest to the work.

As we look ahead, we wish our partners and community health, joy, and momentum in the year to come!

12/19/2025

This year we remained deeply committed to leading collaborative, human-centered approaches to increasing safety in correctional settings.

At Chicago Beyond’s second National Justice Convening, we brought together nearly 200 correctional leaders from 27 states, who collectively represent systems impacting 15% of America’s incarcerated population and 20% of its correctional staff. From Vermont to Hawai‘i, we heard how leaders are advancing Holistic Safety across jail and prison systems nationwide.

With the release of our Holistic Safety Impact Report, we shared clear evidence of change: stronger staff wellness supports, more healing-centered visitation, expanded recreation, reduced reliance on restrictive housing, and fewer “us vs. them” divides inside facilities.

To assess the impact of our work with correctional systems, Chicago Beyond partnered with Openfields to conduct independent research, analyze available data, and synthesize findings related to the Holistic Safety Framework.

Learn more at https://chicagobeyond.org/initiatives/justice/

12/18/2025

In partnership with the Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities, the Chicago Peace Fellows is now accepting applications from Chicago Fund grantees for the 2026 Chicago Peace Fellows Fellowship.

Now entering its eighth year, the Chicago Peace Fellows is a collective of over 140 grassroots leaders who support peace building in communities on the West and South sides of the city. Chicago Peace Fellows represent organizations that work closest to the issues impacting Chicago’s communities and are taking action.

Learn more and apply here:

Apply to Join the 2026 Chicago Peace FellowsAre you ready to learn and work together as a community of practice with a network of peace activists across

12/18/2025

At the 2023 Clinton Global Initiative, Chicago Beyond pledged to invest in maternal health. Making good on that commitment, this year we announced our Fellowship for Black Maternal Health, which deployed $2M to four maternal health leaders across the country. The fellowship is designed to accelerate the impact of individual experts driving transformative change and who have firsthand experience within the field.

Learn more about the fellowship here:
https://chicagobeyond.org/initiatives/health/fellowship-for-black-maternal-health/

12/17/2025

At Chicago Beyond, we seek to partner differently, centering the leadership of those closest to the issues.

This year, we concluded our partnership with the NBA Foundation and Chicago Bulls to deploy $1M to nonprofits in Chicago, resulting in 34% average staff growth and 48% growth in people served after our joint investments.

In an effort to encourage the philanthropic space, sharing our publications like the Mirror Tool, designed to reduce unconscious bias, and “Why Am I Always Being Researched?”- a publication focused on shifting power dynamics in research and beyond.

This year our Founder & CEO, Liz Dozier was appointed to the National Center for Family Philanthropy Board of Directors.

With our unique investment approach, national initiatives, and shared learning with the field, we’re helping move philanthropy toward more just and lasting change.

Learn more at https://chicagobeyond.org/initiatives/philanthropy/

12/11/2025

The City of Chicago is hosting a toy drive to bring holiday joy to system-impacted families. Our team was grateful to contribute a few gifts and share in the spirit of the season!

Thank you to the Mayor’s Office of Reentry and Chicago Office of Community Safety for organizing this meaningful effort!

12/10/2025

Last night at Chicago Beyond, Dr. Maurice Swinney, Dr. Decoteau Irby, and Ann Ishimaru pushed us to reflect on how systems can shift when we lead with humanity, courage, and connection. We left energized by a community working to advance justice in education and across sectors to create spaces where people feel seen and supported. Thank you to all who attended!

Learn more about “Doing the Work of Equity Leadership for Justice and Systems Change” today with the link here https://www.tcpress.com/doing-the-work-of-equity-leadership-for-justice-and-systems-change-9780807787489

12/03/2025

At this year’s , our Connection Wall became a living testament to the power of humanizing one another across the justice system.

More than a place for notes, it captured shared courage, moments of recognition, and honest reflections on what it takes to leave bias behind so we can see each other more fully.

In a space dedicated to reimagining safety through connection, the wall reminded us that real change begins when we set down assumptions, listen with intention, and carry those insights forward into the work ahead.