Dream Town Supports Small: Paying It Forward

This month, as many of us gather with loved ones to give thanks and express our gratitude, DT Supports Small is focusing on ways we can share our blessings throughout the greater Chicago community. Here are some local nonprofit organizations that could use your support—whether that’s a few hours of volunteering or an end-of-year charitable contribution.

Synapse Arts
synapsearts.com | 1442 W Jarvis Ave, Chicago
Nurturing individual identities and challenging social norms through their collaborative creative work, this small but visionary dance-theater company is unique among Chicago’s many arts groups—providing the most free and low-cost programming for all ages, income levels and identities. With your support, they can continue to provide more classes, performances and mentoring programs.

North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic
nslegalaid.org | 3500 Western Ave, Highland Park
Focusing on the critical issues of domestic violence, immigration and housing, this non-profit organization provides accessible, quality pro-bono legal services to those who would otherwise lack access to justice and the opportunity to live productive and secure lives.

Farmworker & Landscaper Advocacy Project
flapillinois.org | 33 N LaSalle St, Chicago
With its multi-faceted approach of advocacy, education, litigation and community outreach, this nonprofit organization seeks to improve working conditions and opportunities for low-income workers and their households—especially in the farming, landscaping, meatpacking and snow removal industries.

My Block. My Hood. My City.
formyblock.org | 47 W Polk St, Chicago
Providing Chicago’s underprivileged youth with an awareness of opportunities beyond their neighborhood, this one-of-a-kind organization takes students on immersive, experiential explorations focused on diverse fields like STEM, Arts & Culture, Health, and Culinary Arts.

Greater Chicago Food Depository
chicagosfoodbank.org | 4100 W Ann Lurie Place, Chicago
Working with more than 700 smaller food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters across Chicagoland, the Food Depository is a united community effort to bring food, dignity and hope to neighbors in need. Make a donation to provide food where it’s most needed or sign-up to volunteer at the Depository’s Archer Heights warehouse.

Housing Opportunities for Women (HOW)
how-inc.org | 1607 W Howard St, Chicago
Since 1983, HOW has worked to ensure that people experiencing homelessness are housed as quickly as possible—and provided with tools for success and self-sufficiency. Through this Housing First Model, HOW has empowered thousands of individuals and families to break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.

Little Brothers – Friends of the Elderly Chicago Chapter
littlebrotherschicago.org | 355 N Ashland Ave, Chicago
Recognizing that nurturing the mind and spirit are as important as feeding the body, the dedicated Chicago staff and local volunteers of this global organization offer social interaction and important services to alleviate loneliness and isolation among our most vulnerable elders here in Chicago.

November is Also Native American Heritage Month!
Tracing its history to 1915 when the annual Congress of the American Indian Association formally approved a plan to proclaim American Indian Day, we now take the month of November to honor the rich ancestry, traditions and contributions of Native Americans. In that light, here are a few organizations including a local museum that could also benefit greatly from your generous support.

Mitchell Museum of the American Indian
mitchellmuseum.org | 3001 Central St, Evanston
Founded in 1977, this is one of only a handful of museums in the country that focuses on the art, history and culture of Native American and First Nation peoples. The Mitchell Museum seeks to promote greater public understanding of cultural diversity through important first-voice perspectives.

Native American Rights Fund
narf.org | 1506 Broadway, Boulder, CO
For over 50 years, this Native-led organization has provided legal assistance to Indian tribes, organizations and individuals who might otherwise have gone without adequate representation—achieving significant results in critical areas such as treaty rights, tribal sovereignty and resource protection.

First Nations Development Institute
firstnations.org | 2432 Main St, Longmont, CO
Founded in 1980 to support Native youth, Native lands and the overall health of Tribal institutions and communities, First Nations is the most highly-rated American Indian nonprofit in the country, earning a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.

Warrior Women Project
warriorwomen.org | 134 N Main St, Mansfield, OH
Producers of the Peabody-nominated film Warrior Women that explores the story and legacy of Madonna Thunder Hawk and her daughter, this pioneering group is a collaborative of matriarchs, community organizers, historians and multimedia storytellers who are bringing to light the radical impact of Indigenous women.

Native Wellness Institute
nativewellness.com | 2830 SE Cleveland Dr, Gresham, OR
This nonprofit was founded in 2000 to promote the well-being of Native people through programs and trainings that embrace the teachings and traditions of indigenous communities. Having access to ancestral teachings to help physical, spiritual, emotional and mental well-being is a powerful tool for healing generations of trauma.

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