News + Stories

City of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Crosstreats Break Ground on Worker-owned Food Production Facility in Chatham

October 22, 2026

hoodline South Shore Rezoning Push Aims To Turn 71st Street Vacant Lots Into Housing

September 14, 2026

Next City Meet the 2026 Chicago Class of Next City Vanguards

July 30, 2026

Wealth Our Way Grantee CrossTreats

December 11, 2025

Wealth Our Way Grantee Bennett Place

December 11, 2025

Wealth Our Way Grantee Five Point Holistic Health

December 11, 2025

Wealth Our Way Grantee HAZ Cooperative Studios

December 11, 2025

Wealth Our Way Grantee E.G. Woode

December 11, 2025

Wealth Our Way Grantee Chicago Quilombo

December 11, 2025

Block Club Chicago Shared-Ownership Business Projects Get $2 Million In ‘Wealth Our Way’ Grants

November 25, 2025

Yahoo!Finance Inaugural ‘Wealth Our Way’ Grants Provide More Than $2 Million for Shared-Ownership Businesses

November 19, 2025

Block Club Chicago This South Shore Initiative Aims To Get Neighbors Invested In Projects Along 71st Street

July 09, 2025

WGN-AM Interview with Ja’Net Defell

June 30, 2025

The Citizen Newspaper New Capital Grant Program Seeks to Empower Communities

June 25, 2025

Block Club Chicago New $4 Million City-Funded Grant Program Looks To Spur South, West Side Redevelopment

June 24, 2025

Chicago Sun Times Community Desk Chicago partners with city to launch grant for community-owned properties

June 24, 2025

Crain's Chicago Business Chicago working-class communities see opportunity in alternative wealth-building models

April 14, 2025

From The Desk: Is a CIV right for my neighborhood?

May 01, 2024

Strategic Plan: Community Desk Chicago launches “Phase 2.0” as independent not-for-profit with 5-year strategic plan

October 30, 2023

Panel Video Englewood Economics: How community and capital are coming together to drive resurgence (video)

September 07, 2023

Spotlight on Humboldt ParkOne of three communities chosen to participate in our Neighborhood Developers Initiative

July 19, 2023

Client Profile: Juan Calderon

July 17, 2023

Chicago Tribune As development comes to South Shore, gentrification is focus of group aiming to safeguard residents

June 18, 2023

Spotlight on Englewood One of three communities chosen to participate in our Neighborhood Developers Initiative

May 16, 2023

Client Profile: Cecile De Mello

May 01, 2023

WCIU ‘On The Block’ Features South Shore CIV

April 14, 2023

Block Club Chicago South Shore Residents Could Soon Invest In And Control Local Developments Through A New Project

April 07, 2023

Spotlight on South ShoreOne of three communities chosen to participate in our Neighborhood Developers Initiative

March 22, 2023

Client Profile: Tonya Trice

March 21, 2023

Client Profile: Urban Market Exchange A mixed-use community space with a purpose

January 12, 2023

The Atlantic Our Chicago: A Blueprint for Better Communities

December 05, 2022

WBEZ Bridging the funding gap for community-based real estate projects

July 20, 2022

Fox 32 Community Desk Chicago helping South and West Side residents unlock their economic potential

May 04, 2022

Chicago Sun-Times $2.7 million initiative to spur real estate development on South and West sides

April 24, 2022

Block Club Chicago South Shore, Englewood, Humboldt Park Groups Getting $2.7 Million, Support For Community-Led Developments

April 15, 2022

Univision Chicago Conoce el programa que proporcionará recursos a emprendedores latinos para el desarrollo de viviendas en Chicago

April 15, 2022

Press Release Community Desk Chicago launches with $2.7 million initiative to help three South and West Side groups control their own destinies

April 11, 2022

Crain’s Chicago Business Housing rehabs could unlock wealth in Chicago’s struggling neighborhoods

April 08, 2022

Ja’Net Defell: Unlocking access to capital

June 07, 2021