Author | Lightnews

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · 11h

We're looking forward to celebrating Tonika Lewis Johnson's recognition as a 2025 MacArthur Fellow. Field Foundation President Daniel O. Ash will moderate an event at Kennedy-King College next week to honor Tonika's work and impact. Learn more in this @blockclubchi.bsky.social story.

Block Club Chicago @blockclubchi.bsky.social · 12h

Englewood is celebrating its MacArthur "Genius" Fellow, Tonika Lewis Johnson. blockclubchi.co/4hGhZYY

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · 1d

Congrats again to the 2025 “A Road Together” (ART) grant recipients announced this week. As part of our 5-year, $15M partnership with @macfound.org, 25 Chicago-based arts and culture nonprofits will receive general operating grants totaling $2.85M over three years. More: fieldfoundation.org/art

1

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · 2d

The 2025 ART Grant Recipients are listed below. Congrats to all!

UrbanTheater Company (UTC)
Walls Turned Sideways

#ARoadTogether #arts #culture #community #powerbuilding #philanthropy #chicago

/end

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · 2d

The 2025 ART Grant Recipients are listed below. Congrats to all!

Intonation Music
Kalapriya Foundation, Center for the Indian Performing Arts
Making a Difference Dancing (M.A.D.D.) Rhythms Organization
Pegasus Theatre Chicago
Territory NFP
The Era Footwork Collective

list continues ⬇️ 6/

1

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · 2d

The 2025 ART Grant Recipients are listed below. Congrats to all!

Chicago Torture Justice Memorials Foundation
Creative Chicago Reuse Exchange
Cultural Access Collaborative
Design Museum of Chicago
Folded Map Project
FreshLens Chicago
High Concept Labs
ILA Creative Studio

list continues ⬇️ 5/

1

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · 2d

The 2025 ART Grant Recipients are listed below. Congrats to all!

About Face Theatre
Africa International House USA
Aguijón Theatre
Architreasures
Ballet Folklorico de Chicago
Changing Worlds
Chicago Blues Revival
Chicago Mobile Makers
Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center

list continues ⬇️ 4/

1 1

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · 2d

Now in its third year, the ART partnership has awarded general operating funding to 156 nonprofits – all of which have annual budgets of less than $1 million and operate largely in traditionally underserved communities. Learn more: fieldfoundation.org/art 3/

Art — Field Foundation

fieldfoundation.org

1

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · 2d

As a five-year, $15 million partnership with @macfound.org the ART initiative is rooted in the belief that small and mid-sized arts and culture organizations – including social service groups and community organizers – are vital to Chicago's identity, economy, and social fabric. 2/

1

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · 2d

We’re excited to announce the 2025 "A Road Together" (ART) grant recipients – 25 Chicago-based arts and culture nonprofits who together will receive general operating grants totaling $2.85 million over three years. 1/

1 1

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · 9d

GRANT OPPORTUNITY: Healing Illinois Returns for 2025-2026!

We're proud to partner with @ilhumanservices.bsky.social to distribute $4.3 million in funding to Illinois nonprofits fostering racial healing and community healing statewide. Learn more: www.healing.illinois.gov.

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · Sep 11

We're proud to help support our Journalism & Storytelling grant recipients in overcoming these challenges. And we're especially proud of Chicago News Weekly & Investigative Project on Race & Equity for their impactful work. Check them out! /end

ttps://www.cnwmedia.com/
www.raceandequityproject.org

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · Sep 11

The discussion covered all aspects of launching a news business start-up — from the process of securing a nonprofit 501c3 designation or fiscal sponsor, to what keeps these news leaders up at night: the constant challenge of diversifying revenue, increasing staff and maintaining sustainability. 4/

1 1

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · Sep 11

Introduced by the Field Foundation's Director of Journalism & Storytelling Maudlyne Ihejirika, and moderated by The Chronicle of Philanthropy's Senior Writer Stephanie Beasley, the panel examined the challenges and rewards of building and maintaining a nonprofit newsroom in today’s industry. 3/

1

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · Sep 11

The leaders of these Chicago-based news outlets — Chicago News Weekly's Cheryl Mainor, and Wendy Wei from Investigative Project on Race & Equity — joined Stacy Palmer from @chronphilanthropy.bsky.social and Emily Holden from @floodlightnews.org on a national stage. 2/

1

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · Sep 11

We were proud to sponsor the "Building a Nonprofit Newsroom," panel at last weekend's @womenjournos.bsky.social JAWS conference in Washington, D.C. The panel featured two grant recipients from Field's Multi-Year Cohort: Chicago News Weekly & Investigative Project & Race and Equity. 1/

A conference panel in progress at the JAWS (Journalism and Women Symposium) Conference. Maudlyne Ihejirika stands at a podium on stage with microphone, introducing the session. The panelists seated from left to right are: Stephanie Beasley, Stacy Palmer, Emily Holden, Wendy Wei, and Cheryl Mainor Norman. The setting is a modern conference room with blue-gray walls and a presentation screen visible in the background.

The "Building a Nonprofit Newsroom" panel at the JAWS Conference in full session. Five participants are seated on stage: from left to right, Stephanie Beasley in a light blue dress, Stacy Palmer in a colorful striped dress, Emily Holden in a yellow top and black pants, Wendy Wei in a floral blouse and polkadot skirt, and Cheryl Mainor Norman in a black dress holding a microphone and speaking. The presentation slide is visible on the left side of the frame, and the backdrop features illuminated white panels with blue accent lighting.

Group photo of all six participants standing together after the panel at the JAWS Conference. From left to right: Stephanie Beasley in a denim dress, Stacy Palmer in a colorful striped dress, Emily Holden in a yellow top and black pants, Wendy Wei in a floral blouse and black and white dotted skirt, Cheryl Mainor Norman in a black dress, and Maudlyne Ihejirika in a navy dress. Everyone is smiling and the photo appears to be taken in the same conference room setting.

1

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · Sep 3

We're proud to support #JAWSCAMP2025 @womenjournos.bsky.social, Sept 5-7 in Washington, DC. For all attending, don't miss this panel on "Building a Nonprofit Newsroom," featuring leaders from @floodlightnews.org, Chicago News Weekly, @chronphilanthropy.bsky.social, & @raceandequityproject.org

JAWS (Journalism & Women Symposium) @womenjournos.bsky.social · Aug 28

Join us at #JAWSCAMP2025 Sept. 5-7 in Washington, DC for a panel examining the challenges and rewards of building and maintaining a nonprofit newsroom in today’s industry. This panel is generously sponsored by the Field Foundation. Learn more about the conference: www.jaws.org/news/jaws-ca...

1 2

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · Aug 29

Yesterday, we toured the construction site of the Obama Presidential Center on the South Side. We learned about how the 19.3-acre campus will serve Chicago, its communities & residents. We look forward to returning when it opens in 2026. Thx to the @obamafoundation.bsky.social team for hosting us.

The Field Foundation team, many in yellow safety vests and white hard hats, poses in front of the Obama Presidential Center construction site. Behind them stands the concrete structure under construction, featuring a distinctive angular tower with textured facade and a construction crane. The modern building rises against a bright blue sky with white clouds, showcasing the progress of this significant cultural institution that will serve Chicago's South Side communities across the city when it opens in summer 2026.

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · Aug 27

This event, presented by WF Fund, kicked-off Inspired Generosity's Chicago Showcase at Impact House. WF Fund President Dilnaz Waraich opened and closed the event, encouraging all participants to continue the conversations and use “smiling as a form of generosity.” /end

Inspired Generosity

lnkd.in

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · Aug 27

The challenge in this moment, Maudlyne said, is to use the power of storytelling to humanize:

“Help those who do not look like you to care about those who do not look like them … to relate to, identify with, and understand that we are all one humanity. There is no distinction.” 3/

1

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · Aug 27

Maudlyne and guest speakers Tracy Baim (#PressForwardChicago), Rummana Hussain (@chicago.suntimes.com), and Nissa Rhee (@borderlessmag.bsky.social) explored the need to reshape media narratives to ensure accurate, fair, and contextual news coverage of underrepresented communities. 2/

1

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · Aug 27

Yesterday, the Field Foundation’s Director of Journalism & Storytelling, Maudlyne Ihejirika, joined an insightful Inspired Generosity panel, “FROM MARGINS TO MAINSTREAM: Advancing Narrative Change in Community Stories.” 1/

hree women speakers sit at a white panel table with microphones during a discussion. Maudlyne, on the right, wearing a black outfit, is speaking into her microphone while gesturing. Rummana, in the middle, wears a vibrant purple dress. Nissa, on the left, is wearing a dark dress and a jean jacket. The modern conference room has large windows and a presentation screen visible in the background.

Dilnaz is wearing a white and khaki linen outfit with a colorful head wrap. She stands next to a podium, speaking into a microphone. Behind her, the three panelists from the previous image sit at their table listening. A presentation slide is displayed on the screen, and Press Forward Chicago branding is visible on a banner to the left.

Tracy, in a dark blouse and pants, stands next to the podium addressing the audience. The presentation screen shows a slide titled "GUEST SPEAKERS" with four professional headshots. The panelists are seated at a white table, with Field Foundation and Press Forward Chicago branded banners visible to the left.

1

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · Aug 27

This event, presented by WF Fund, kicked-off Inspired Generosity's Chicago Showcase. WF Fund President Dilnaz Waraich opened and closed the event, encouraging all participants to continue the conversations and use “smiling as a form of generosity.” /end
inspiredgenerosity.org/showcase/chi...

Chicago

inspiredgenerosity.org

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · Aug 27

The challenge in this moment, Maudlyne said, is to use the power of storytelling to humanize:

“Help those who do not look like you to care about those who do not look like them … to relate to, identify with, and understand that we are all one humanity. There is no distinction.” 3/

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

lnkd.in

1

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · Aug 27

Maudlyne and guest speakers Tracy Baim (Press Forward Chicago), Rummana Hussain (Chicago Sun-Times), and Nissa Rhee (Borderless Magazine) explored the need to reshape media narratives to ensure accurate, fair, and contextual news coverage of underrepresented communities. 2/

1

Field Foundation @fieldfoundation.bsky.social · Aug 22

They discussed the intersection of philanthropy, journalism, and Chicago as well as the importance of storytelling in lifting up voices and communities that may not be heard otherwise. Congrats to CWIP on a stellar event. /end