Trust Talks

Author: The Chicago Community Trust

Trust Talks is the podcast by The Chicago Community Trust. Each episode of Trust Talks highlights a different strand of the Trusts strategic priority to close the Chicago region's racial and ethnic wealth gap, including growing household wealth, catalyzing neighborhood investment, and building collective power, or its foundational commitments to addressing critical needs and connecting philanthropy to impact.
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Language: en

Genres: Business, Government, Non-Profit

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Episode #20: Advocating for Policy Reform
Episode 20
Monday, 21 July, 2025

Although nonprofit organizations play a vital role in recognizing and addressing the needs of the community, research shows the percentage of nonprofits involved in advocacy or lobbying has dropped considerably over the past two decades. However, nonprofits working together on an issue are more likely to engage in policy advocacy. Over the past few years, The Chicago Community Trust has successfully supported nonprofit organizations in working together to advance systems and policy changes that facilitate economic mobility. However, policy change is a long road. Passing new laws is a step in the process, but implementing these policies and holding decision-makers accountable for the true intent is essential and ongoing work. In this episode of Trust Talks, host Ianna Kachoris, associate vice president of people, power and policy at The Chicago Community Trust, is joined by Erion Malasi, policy director at the Economic Security Project; Tracy Occomy Crowder, deputy director of organizing and policy at Community Organizing and Family Issues; Ellen Nissenbaum, senior advisor at the Center on Budget & Policy Priorities; and Ameya Pawar, president & CEO of the Michael Reese Health Trust. Using Illinois’ Child Tax Credit as a case study, they explore the power of coalition-based advocacy, the critical steps that follow the passage of a bill, and the essential role philanthropy plays in supporting nonprofit advocacy and community organizing. This episode was produced by Juneteenth Productions and recorded at WBEZ Chicago.