Volunteer<\/h3>\n![\"chicago](\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/volunteer-header-1600x500-1024x320.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo Credit: Greater Chicago Food Depository<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nPerhaps the most predictable on the list, there\u2019s no question getting involved through volunteer programs<\/a> is an easily accessible and gratifying way to play an active role in your community. Depending on what you\u2019re passionate about,<\/a> the Chicago area is home to an array of philanthropic organizations eager to take on new volunteers who can bolster their civic missions. Some groups helping with everything from housing to employment and nutrition for the disenfranchised include:<\/p>\n\n- Chicago Food Bank<\/a><\/li>\n
- Project Fierce Chicago<\/a><\/li>\n
- The Cara Program<\/a><\/li>\n
- Chicago Foundation For Women<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
Know Your Alderman<\/h3>\n![\"chicago](\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Alderman-Hopkins-Steve-Niketopoulous-Lisa-Ryan-Christian-Ficara-and-Barabara-Hopkins-with-Smith-Park-president-David-Ramos-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo Credit: David Ramos Chicago<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nOf course calling your representative is a proactive tool, however here in Chicago connecting with your Alderman<\/a> may get you even closer to the power source of your community on a more micro level. After narrowing<\/a> who\u2019s representing your district or ward (it could even be a dentist or teacher<\/a>), investigate how they\u2019re voting on legislation, and whether or not it aligns with your needs and concerns. They\u2019ve been elected to serve you, so if the policies the city council is passing aren\u2019t reflective of what you feel the community needs; contact<\/a> those who have been hired to advocate you.<\/p>\n<\/h3>\nDonate<\/h3>\n![\"chicago](\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/donate-bg-1024x474.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo Credit: Special Olympics Chicago<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAction speaks louder than words, and typically donating money is the action that gets things to materialize. Of course since it\u2019s your pocket book, you want to find a cause you\u2019re fervent about as well as trust to put your hard earned dough to good use. Charity Navigator<\/a> could be a useful tool in ensuring your generosity is appropriately handled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Community Gardens<\/h3>\n![\"chicago](\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Jon-Petersons-peterson-garden-project-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo Credit: Jon Peterson Community Garden<\/a><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nBecoming an active member of your community wouldn\u2019t be complete without taking the environment into consideration. If you aren\u2019t equipped to install a solarium in your home, buy a Tesla<\/a> or launch a sustainable business, a more economical, earth-friendly act of participation is starting a community garden<\/a>. This is a great way to help shirk the effects of food deserts, improve air and soil quality as well as increase animal and plant biodiversity\u2014all from your conscientious corner of the world.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
It\u2019s easy to grow frustrated or feel helpless when observing current events unfold on digital mediums, yet we do in fact have a say in the way our world operates\u2014even if it\u2019s as simple as typing an email, or getting your hands in some dirt. Instead of waiting to see if an Instagram post goes viral, start a trend in helping out. Communal strides can be contagious.<\/p>\n
Featured Image Credit: Greater Chicago Food Depository<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We are arguably in one of the most intriguing and contentious political climates of modern history, making it an inviting time to get involved with public affairs. Since…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":395,"featured_media":15563,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1594,2],"tags":[2097,1714,2099,2098,1232],"class_list":["post-15555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-category-family","category-category-popular","tag-alderman","tag-community","tag-donate","tag-gardens","tag-volunteer"],"yoast_head":"\n
4 Ways To Influence Your Chicago Community | UrbanMatter<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There's never a wrong time to get involved. Believe it or not, a grassroots approach is a great way to make a difference in your Chicago community.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/chicago-community\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"4 Ways To Influence Your Chicago Community\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"There's never a wrong time to get involved. Believe it or not, a grassroots approach is a great way to make a difference in your Chicago community.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/chicago-community\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"UrbanMatter\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"http:\/\/facebook.com\/Pluggchicago\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2017-04-15T18:17:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2017-04-15T18:19:08+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/volunteer-header-1600x500-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1170\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"366\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Lindsey Shaw\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@UMatterChicago\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@UMatterChicago\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Lindsey Shaw\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/chicago-community\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/chicago-community\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Lindsey Shaw\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/#\/schema\/person\/db710b52551047052d176af2d12ded43\"},\"headline\":\"4 Ways To Influence Your Chicago Community\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-04-15T18:17:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2017-04-15T18:19:08+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/chicago-community\/\"},\"wordCount\":556,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/chicago-community\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/volunteer-header-1600x500-1.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"alderman\",\"community\",\"donate\",\"gardens\",\"volunteer\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Family\",\"Popular\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/chicago-community\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/chicago-community\/\",\"name\":\"4 Ways To Influence Your Chicago Community | UrbanMatter\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/chicago-community\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/chicago-community\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/volunteer-header-1600x500-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2017-04-15T18:17:07+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2017-04-15T18:19:08+00:00\",\"description\":\"There's never a wrong time to get involved. 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![\"chicago](\"https:\/\/urbanmatter.com\/chicago\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/volunteer-header-1600x500.jpg\")
<\/a>Perhaps the most predictable on the list, there\u2019s no question getting involved through volunteer programs<\/a> is an easily accessible and gratifying way to play an active role in your community. Depending on what you\u2019re passionate about,<\/a> the Chicago area is home to an array of philanthropic organizations eager to take on new volunteers who can bolster their civic missions. Some groups helping with everything from housing to employment and nutrition for the disenfranchised include:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Of course calling your representative is a proactive tool, however here in Chicago connecting with your Alderman<\/a> may get you even closer to the power source of your community on a more micro level. After narrowing<\/a> who\u2019s representing your district or ward (it could even be a dentist or teacher<\/a>), investigate how they\u2019re voting on legislation, and whether or not it aligns with your needs and concerns. They\u2019ve been elected to serve you, so if the policies the city council is passing aren\u2019t reflective of what you feel the community needs; contact<\/a> those who have been hired to advocate you.<\/p>\n Action speaks louder than words, and typically donating money is the action that gets things to materialize. Of course since it\u2019s your pocket book, you want to find a cause you\u2019re fervent about as well as trust to put your hard earned dough to good use. Charity Navigator<\/a> could be a useful tool in ensuring your generosity is appropriately handled.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Becoming an active member of your community wouldn\u2019t be complete without taking the environment into consideration. If you aren\u2019t equipped to install a solarium in your home, buy a Tesla<\/a> or launch a sustainable business, a more economical, earth-friendly act of participation is starting a community garden<\/a>. This is a great way to help shirk the effects of food deserts, improve air and soil quality as well as increase animal and plant biodiversity\u2014all from your conscientious corner of the world.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to grow frustrated or feel helpless when observing current events unfold on digital mediums, yet we do in fact have a say in the way our world operates\u2014even if it\u2019s as simple as typing an email, or getting your hands in some dirt. Instead of waiting to see if an Instagram post goes viral, start a trend in helping out. Communal strides can be contagious.<\/p>\n Featured Image Credit: Greater Chicago Food Depository<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We are arguably in one of the most intriguing and contentious political climates of modern history, making it an inviting time to get involved with public affairs. Since…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":395,"featured_media":15563,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1594,2],"tags":[2097,1714,2099,2098,1232],"class_list":["post-15555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-category-family","category-category-popular","tag-alderman","tag-community","tag-donate","tag-gardens","tag-volunteer"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
Know Your Alderman<\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/h3>\n
Donate<\/h3>\n
<\/a>Community Gardens<\/h3>\n
<\/a>