Thank You
As we begin 2026, we want to share some important news and express our gratitude for your support as we built and launched Rise Chicago.
Over the past almost three years, we’ve worked to bring leaders together, elevate community voices, and strengthen civic dialogue across our city. We are proud of what we accomplished. Together, we:
• Supported Eileen O’Neill Burke’s election as Cook County State’s Attorney
• Helped educate voters on the first school board election, contributing to the success of six non-CTU candidates
• Advanced public safety conversations and amplifying effective, data-driven strategies
• Provided civic education through our newsletter and hosted multiple small and large gatherings across the city resulting in over 300K engagements, and a lot of in-person dialogue.
These wins reflect what’s possible when civic-minded Chicagoans step into the arena.
Across the city, we’ve seen people get off the sidelines. Concerned citizens, community organizers, business leaders, and elected officials, coming together to demand better for Chicago. We are a city of big shoulders, bold ideas, and resilient communities. There is a deep and growing commitment to practical leadership and inclusive, community-rooted solutions. As that civic energy builds, and as our team continues leading in their communities, we’ve reflected on how Rise Chicago can best contribute to this shared movement.
As we closed 2025, we made the difficult decision to pause Rise Chicago’s operations. Several other organizations are now focused on advancing the same goals, and we have built strong relationships with many of them. Rather than duplicating efforts or competing for the same space, we determined that our objectives could be met more effectively by supporting this broader coalition without maintaining a formal organizational structure.
This decision was also shaped by the sudden and tragic passing of our founding board member, Lisa Schneider Fabes. Her unwavering commitment to Chicago and her dedication to this work were extraordinary. Lisa was a dear friend to many, and her loss has been deeply felt across the community and especially within our Rise Chicago family.
As part of this transition, I have stepped back from my day-to-day role at Rise Chicago. Our Substack will remain available, and I encourage you to revisit past newsletters as we approach the next municipal election season. We also encourage you to follow the work of Urban Center, Common Ground Collective, One Future Illinois, The Last Ward Newsletter, and The Chicago Spectator.
Thank you for your support and your commitment to our city. The work continues, and together, we will rise.
Jennifer Guzman
Executive Director