Adler University was recently awarded several grants from foundations and corporations to support our work to engage communities and advance social justice.
The Institute of Public Safety and Social Justice (IPSSJ) at Adler University received four recent grants in support of the institute’s work with the Community Restorative Justice Hubs, a program that provides alternatives to the criminal justice system for Chicago youth. Through this program, IPSSJ collaborates with seven neighborhood organizations throughout Chicago to offer trauma-informed alternatives to detention for youth and young adults. These grants help the institute to convene, support, and increase the capacity of the Hubs. With IPSSJ’s support, they provide court-involved youth with counseling, mentoring, legal services, educational, and employment support, and social-emotional learning opportunities. Thank you to the foundations supporting this work:
- Allstate Foundation: $15,000
- Healthy Communities Foundation: $25,000
- Paul M. Angell Foundation: $50,000
- Polk Bros. Foundation: $40,000
Northern Trust Charitable Trust awarded $10,000 to Adler University in support of our general operations. This funding helps our educational and outreach programs, including Adler Community Health Services, the Institute on Public Safety and Social Justice, and the Social Justice Practicum, increase access to quality mental healthcare and social supports for Chicago residents.
Robert R. McCormick Foundation awarded a $130,000 grant to the Restorative Justice Community Court, coordinated by the Institute of Public Safety and Social Justice. This grant will support process evaluation as well as the evaluation of the community court’s impact and outcomes, serving as a pilot for a larger initiative to bring relationships and restorative justice into Chicago courtrooms.
We are grateful for the support of these organizations, which allows our students, faculty, and staff to continue to serve disadvantaged populations and create a more just society, especially during this challenging time.
Many of our existing foundation funders have also come together to establish the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund. We thank them on behalf of the Chicago nonprofit community for their work to help support community health and well-being during the pandemic.