CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is now running an organization that aims to give promising community organizations staying power in their neighborhoods.
Lightfoot left office as Chicago’s second female mayor last year. Except for teaching a course at Harvard University, she did not leave the city and has some big plans for some of Chicago’s neighborhoods.
Lightfoot said community- based organizations are doing God’s work and they do it at street level. She has founded the Chicago Vibrant Neighborhoods Collective to help give such groups the skills to survive and thrive.
“Not every neighborhood organization wants to grow bigger and bigger and we understand and are respectful of that.”
However, she said her initiative will help train and give guidance on back office functions such as human resources, data analytics, payroll, accounting, marketing and applying for grants.
“These are the things that we know are essential for organizations for to be vibrant and strong for the long haul,” she said.