Chicago Peace Fellows began in 2019 as an initiative of the Goldin Institute, launched at the encouragement of members of Chicago’s philanthropic community who saw the need to invest deeply in the city’s grassroots peacebuilders. The vision was to support local grassroots leaders, those closest to the challenges of violence and community fragmentation, by providing them with training, networks, and collaborative opportunities to strengthen safety and resilience across Chicago’s neighborhoods.

The inaugural 2019 cohort united community peacebuilders from communities across the city. Through intensive learning, shared problem-solving, and joint project development, the program cultivated a strong network of leaders equipped to design and implement community-driven solutions rooted in lived experience.

In 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented health, economic, and social challenges to Chicago, the Fellows responded with collective action. Members of the 2020 Cohort created the Mutual Aid Collaborative, a groundbreaking alumni-led initiative that pooled resources and coordinated community support. The Collaborative organized food distribution, provided wellness and violence-prevention activities, and delivered rapid-response assistance during the crisis. What began as an emergency response grew into a sustained model of cooperation that continues to empower communities and advance peacebuilding initiatives citywide.

Today, Chicago Peace Fellows stands as a thriving ecosystem of leaders working together to build a safer, more connected, and more compassionate Chicago. Through its flagship Fellowship Program, the Mutual Aid Collaborative, community partnerships, and citywide collaborations, the organization continues to uplift local leadership and drive meaningful systems change.

What began as a philanthropic vision in 2019 has evolved into a powerful movement.  One that demonstrates the transformative impact of equipping, connecting, and empowering community leaders to shape the future of their own communities.

Our primary goal is to build the capacity, collaboration, and visibility of grassroots leaders working to create safe and thriving communities.

Impact Goals:

1. Leadership Development: Equip grassroots leaders annually with advanced skills in community engagement, organizational development, and collaborative problem-solving using the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) approach.
2. Collaboration and Network Building: Strengthen cross-community relationships through shared learning and project collaboration.
3. Community Impact: Support Fellows and alumni in designing and implementing peacebuilding initiatives.
4. Systems Change: Amplify grassroots leaders’ voices in local policy, philanthropy, and civic planning.