find your cause

In Chicago, 25,000 women are trafficked annually, equaling 2 women every hour, every day.

In this episode, we hear Dr. Izabel Olson, Founder of Salt and Light Coalition discuss how her organization is mobilizing individuals and organizations to empower survivors of trafficking to live meaningful and purposeful lives.

How to help can you help?

Yoga class teachers – Visit website, and volunteer to teach a class

Small Business Owners - give the survives an opportunity in available role/jobs

Donate Clothing/Business Attire

Donate Today And Be The Change - https://saltandlightcoalition.com/donate 

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/saltandlightcoalition

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/saltandlightcoalition/

Helping to provide a community retreat through arts for children in a refugee camp in Bethlehem, Palestine, in this episode we hear from founder Abdelfattah Abusrour of Alrowwad Cultural and Arts Society. Abdelfattah discusses how during the Covid19 pandemic their organization delivered over 11,500 meals to families in need, and provide much needed resources for Theater Programs, Education, and Women’s projects.

Website: https://www.alrowwad.org/en/  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alrowwadorg/ 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/alrowwadorg/

Helping to provide Chicago’s underserved communities with access to children’s books. In this episode we hear from Darrin Utynek CEO of Bernie’s Book Bank, as he discusses how you can get involved with helping Chicago families.

1 book for every 300 children in low-income neighborhoods

61% of homes do not have childrens books

2/3 students who cannot read proficiently by the end of the 4th grade will end up in jail or on welfare

19,393,894 BOOKS DISTRIBUTED SINCE 2009!!!

Donate Books - https://www.berniesbookbank.org/donate-books/  

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/berniesbookbank/ 

Instagram - www.instagram.com/berniesbookbank

For kids in sports, there is a growing list of expensive equipment, team fees, or lack of access that prevent them from even participating. In this episode we hear from Jason Schmitz (President and Co-Founder) and Jasmine Hodari (Co-Founder and Executive Director) of All Kids Play, an organization that works to insure any kid can enjoy the “fun of sport without worrying about financial roadblocks” and how they have impacted more that 382 kids so far.

Want to get engaged?

Website: https://allkidsplay.org/  

Phone: (847) 749-5021

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allkidsplayusa 

Instagram: @allkidsplayusa

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/all-kids-play/

In 2017, there were 16,588 homeless youth between the ages of 14-24, and now with Covid-19 those numbers could be even higher. In this episode we hear from Fred Niche, Executive Director at Stand Up for Kids and how their volunteers and staff empower homeless and at-risk youth toward lifelong personal growth, and to create in these youth a sincere belief in themselves through open, straightforward counseling, mentoring, and life-skills training.

Want to get engaged?

Website: http://www.standupforkids.org/chicago  

Phone: (847) 650-6090

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StandUpforKidsChicago 

Instagram: @standupforkidschi

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/standup-for-kids-chicago/about

Not all girls have the same opportunity to play sports, but one organization has been working to change that. In this episode we hear from Beth Tumiel, Programs Director for Girls in the Game discuss how sports can help enable every athlete to find her voice, discover her strength, and lead with confidence now more than ever! Girls in the Game has over 50,000 girls participating in their sports programs!

Want to get engaged?

Website: https://girlsinthegame.org/ 

Phone: (312) 633-4263

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/getgirlsinthegame/ 

Instagram: @girlsinthegame

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/girls-in-the-game/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_T0ZjFv-HQ0jEflCA-3XKg

15 million babies are born premature every year and many families are not always prepared. In this episode we hear from Dan Friend, Co-founder and CEO of Rae Strong Foundation and their effort to provide awareness, emotional support, and funding for families faced with caring for preemies. Dan also discusses his own family story, and caring for his daughter Rae!

Want to get engaged?

Website: https://raestrong.org/ 

Phone: (773) 726-2328

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: www.facebook.com/RaeStrongFoundation 

Instagram: @raestrongfoundation

1 in 54 kids in the US are born with Autism, and many families struggle to find resources that meet the needs of their kids. In this episode we hear from Dr. Carly Lapin, Director of Clinical Outreach at The Place For Children with Autism, and how they help provide a full-time ABA program in a pre-school like setting. With 10 locations throughout Chicago, they also guide families to potential Grant/Financial assistance opportunities.

Additional Grant Resources

Chicago Autism Network - https://www.chicagoautismnetwork.org/ 

United Healthcare Children's Foundation - https://www.uhccf.org/

Want to get engaged?

Website: https://theplaceforchildrenwithautism.com/

Phone: (224) 436-0788

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePlaceforChildrenwithAutism/

Instagram: @theplaceforchildren

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFJgMhJjnKbfk0Ewlgwol5A?sub_confirmation=1

Due to Covid, 1 in 5 homes in Chicago don’t have access to broadband internet.

On some blocks, it can be 1 in 2 houses disconnected.

In this episode we hear from Daniel Anello, CEO of Kids First Chicago, who was able to champion the $50M initiative ‘Chicago Connect’ which brought broadband to 35,000 students in need, and work with parents and school districts to shape education policy to better support families.

Want to get engaged?

Website: https://kidsfirstchicago.org/

Phone: (312) 853-1212

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kidsfirstchi/

Instagram: @kidsfirstchi

14% of professionals in the engineering industry are women. 5% are women of color...In this episode we hear from Jackie Lomax, Founder/Executive Director of Girls4Science. They are a non profit focusing on developing skills, self-esteem, and building relationships for young girls in the Chicago community. She discusses how important it is for community involvement in the development of more future STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) leaders.

Want to get engaged?

Website: https://girls4science.org/

Phone: (773) 401-6685

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Girls4ScienceChicago

Instagram: @girls4science