Author - Laurie Casey

Grant Opportunities For Small Businesses & Nonprofits

Peep these grant and funding plays for your small biz or nonprofit—real opportunities to level up, get resourced, and keep building for the people 💸🎤

 

Polk Bros. Foundation has an RFP: Emerging Strategies to Advance Shared Ownership.

This initiative is a funding opportunity to support community-owned businesses, housing, and neighborhood investments in Chicago Click here to apply.

     

Get More Info & Apply By April 15 and August 15:

https://www.shophand.com/small-business-boost-grant

     

Get Info About Neurodiverse Entrepreneur Grants:

www.innovationdupage.org/programs/neurodiverse-entrepreneur-program

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Current Mental Health Events & Programs For Young People

These mental health and wellness experiences are lovingly curated by our trusted partners—spaces designed for you to restore, rise, and step fully into your power ✨🖤

 

Tuesday, April 24, and Wednesday, April 25 (9am-3pm) is the We Are Our Own Medicine GVP Conference 2026.

The conference includes awareness, healing, prevention, leadership, and training. Attendees will hear from their leaders, community stakeholders, elected officials, faith leaders, and our youth.

Click here to register and learn more.

Interested in a collaborative sponsorship? Learn more here.

   

The Austin running crew facilitated by CARA focuses on improving the health and wellness of the Austin Community via walking/running. The group meets every Thursday at 5pm at La Follette Park (1333 N. Laramie).

Learn more at cararuns.org/arc. View the flyer here.

                   
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Current Job & Skill Training Opportunities for Young People

Tap in with these skill-building and job training opportunities from our West Side partners—real paths for young adults to get sharp, get paid, and level up 🎓💼✨

   
  • Wednesday, April 1 (12pm-4pm), BUILD is hosting a job fair! Located at their main (5100 W. Harrison St.), jobseekers are welcome to meet with their hiring managers to explore their open job opportunities and will have a chance for an on-the-spot interview. Click here to learn more about the job fair. Click here to view their list of open positions.
 
  • Reparations Media, a BIPOC training program for journalism and audio production has a program called Change Agents  It's a journalism incubator that trains emerging journalists from BIPOC and other local, marginalized communities to build better relationships through collaboration with community-based organizations to create firsthand narrative content.
 
  • The GSJ Family Life Center is the proud parent of the Austin Incubator Kitchen! Through this they are offering Free ServSafe Certification Classes, financial assistance with city licenses, and offering up their kitchen space for rental.  Click here to learn more
 
  • ChiBizHub has an accelerator program launched with support from Etsy’s Uplift Fund. The Artisan Entrepreneurs Academy includes a six-week virtual coaching cohort and a $5,000 grant for 100 creative entrepreneurs in Illinois and Indiana. Click here for more info.
 
  • JumpHire now has enrollment to fast track your career in healthcare. JumpHire is a Chicago-based philanthropic organization dedicated to eliminating employment barriers for those without college degrees. Click here to sign up and learn more.
    culinary apprenticeship flyer          
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