Make It Better Foundation

07/07/2025

More than 80,000 students around the world are sharing their thoughts, questions, and hopes — thanks to a powerful collaboration between prize-winning journalist Paul Salopek and Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Project Zero.

What began as Paul’s 24,000-mile walk tracing humanity’s migration out of Africa has evolved into The Open Canopy — a free, virtual exchange program. Students follow his journey, explore their own communities, and share stories through Footsteps. This program invites students to slow down, look closer, and connect meaningfully across cultures — expanding their worlds in ways that last.

We’d love to hear your You Said It — share your story, tag Make It Better Foundation, and join the conversation. Visit our website to learn more about The Open Canopy.

🔗 https://better.net/life/education/the-open-canopy-how-one-journalists-journey-is-connecting-students-around-the-world/

Out of Eden Walk

Inspired by prize-winning journalist Paul Salopek’s 24,000-mile walk across the globe, The Open Canopy invites students worldwide to slow down, share their stories, and connect across cultures in a one-of-a-kind virtual classroom.

07/04/2025

Members of the military and their families make tremendous sacrifices for our country. Yet many return home to face challenges like homelessness, unemployment, medical expenses, mental health conditions, and financial hardship.

As of 2022, there were about 16.2 million U.S. veterans. Of those, approximately 235,000 aged 35–54 and nearly 580,000 aged 65+ lived below the poverty line.

Thankfully, many organizations are stepping up—offering medical care, housing, mental health support, and community resources for veterans and their families.

This Fourth of July, we honor their service by acknowledging the work that remains. Swipe to learn more, support a featured organization, and explore more on our website.
🔗 https://better.net/life/helping-heroes-top-military-nonprofits-to-support-veterans-and-their-families/

National Military Family Association, Paralyzed Veterans of America, The American Legion National Headquarters, Operation Homefront, Road Home Program at Rush

07/03/2025

Every 9 seconds, someone in the U.S. sustains a brain injury. Most go undiagnosed. For millions, the ripple effects are devastating—leading to misdiagnosis, incarceration, domestic violence, homelessness, and even su***de. Yet brain injury remains one of the most overlooked public health crises of our time.

Filmmaker Lauren Lindberg is on a mission to change that. In her You Said It, she shares the deeply personal story behind Fall of the Phoenix—a documentary that blends magical realism with real-world advocacy to expose the hidden toll of traumatic brain injury and reimagine what healing can look like.

Learn more and watch the trailer at Better.net. Have a story to share? Submit a You Said It for a nonprofit you champion and earn that organization $1,000 and an opportunity to attend our Philanthropy Awards in the fall.

🔗 https://better.net/life/health/new-documentary-exposes-alarming-link-between-undiagnosed-brain-injuries-and-domestic-violence-homelessness-su***de-and-prison/

Fall of the Phoenix is a powerful new documentary exploring how traumatic brain injury (TBI) goes undiagnosed in millions — and how it connects to incarceration, domestic violence, homelessness, and mental health.

06/30/2025

Did you know The Art Institute of Chicago is home to one of the world’s most celebrated Impressionist collections—second only to France? This July, it continues to push boundaries with exhibitions that span continents, generations, and genres. 🎨

On view now:
🖼 Frida Kahlo’s Month in Paris: A Friendship with Mary Reynolds (Mar 29–Jul 13)
🌆 Gustave Caillebotte: Painting His World (Jun 29–Oct 5)
🌿 En el principio / In the beginning featuring Juliana Góngora Rojas, Matías Quintero Sepúlveda, Juven Piranga Valencia, and Yinela Piranga Valencia (Mar 29–Jul 28)

Whether you're strolling the galleries in person or exploring from afar, these shows bring fresh perspective, global stories, and creative vigor to July’s lineup. Dive in and learn more at Better.net and don't forget to tag us in your adventures this month!

🔗 https://better.net/arts-events/31-best-things-to-do-in-chicago-and-the-suburbs-in-july-2025/

06/28/2025

There’s something powerful about showing up in your community. Whether it’s chatting with a local farmer, supporting a small business, or just taking in the energy of a neighborhood market—these moments connect us to each other in real, meaningful ways.

If you’re in the Chicago area, check out some of the incredible farmers markets happening this weekend including Andersonville Farmers Market, Green City Market, Village of Oak Park, Illinois Farmers Market, Village of Skokie Farmers Market and many more.

Not in Chicago? Look up a market or event near you and take a stroll. Meet your neighbors. Support your local makers. These small, intentional moments help us feel rooted and inspired. Save this post to use for your weekends and tag us in your adventures this weekend. 🫶🏽

https://better.net/food-drink/2022-guide-to-the-best-farmers-markets-in-chicago-and-the-north-shore/

06/27/2025

How Your Nonprofit Can Qualify for a 2025 Philanthropy Award — and $250K in Support

The Make It Better Foundation and Better Magazine exist to make it easier for our audience to find, support, and learn from outstanding nonprofits that help make those hopes a reality. The Philanthropy Awards are a cornerstone of this mission. Each year, we identify, elevate, and amplify the most effective organizations across multiple categories.

The 2025 awards cycle is officially underway, offering winners more than $250,000 in support — including $100,000 in unrestricted cash and professionally produced video content. To qualify, nonprofits must submit a You Said It article or be an existing foundation partner by August 1.

Know an organization making a difference? Submit a You Said It and earn it $1,000 and a chance to be honored this fall! Share this with a nonprofit you champion. 🫶🏽

Learn more: 🔗 https://better.net/philanthropy/how-your-nonprofit-can-qualify-for-a-2025-philanthropy-award-and-250k-in-support/

Keshet Disabilities & Inclusion, Chicago Fire, The Night Ministry, After School Matters, American Red Cross of Illinois, No Shame On U

06/25/2025

For Sandro Miller, art is more than expression — it’s protest, it’s healing, and it’s a form of resistance we can’t afford to lose. His 16-year collaboration with Dance for Life — an annual fundraiser born out of the urgent need to support a community in crisis — has helped raise vital funds for performers facing critical health issues.

In a powerful conversation with MIBF Director of Photography Mark Edward Harris, Miller reflects on the role of art in social change, his approach to capturing movement, and why supporting artists is more urgent than ever.

Dance for Life returns on August 16, 2025, through the Chicago Dance Health Fund. Read the full interview and learn how you can support this life-affirming work on our website.
🔗 https://better.net/arts-events/arts-defiant-healing-power-sandro-miller-on-dance-photography-and-creative-resistance/

Photographer Sandro Miller reflects on his longtime collaboration with Dance for Life, capturing the power of dance and the defiant, healing role of art in a world where creative expression is under threat.

06/24/2025

Pride Month is a celebration—but it’s also a reminder of the activism and resistance that made today’s freedoms possible.

As legislation threatens to strip away the rights and autonomy of q***r people across the spectrum, we must remember what’s been earned was not won through passive action. If we believe in a future where LGBTQIA+ people can not only live but flourish, we must show up and speak out.

Support looks like donating to organizations like Center on Halsted, Brave Space Alliance, Affinity Community Services and PrideArtsChicago. Explore our guide to local organizations supporting the LGBTQIA+ community in Chicago and beyond and tag an organization working hard in this space—because allyship means action. 🏳️‍🌈

🔗 https://better.net/arts-events/how-to-celebrate-pride-month-2025-in-chicago-and-the-north-shore/

📸 Steven Koch

06/20/2025

We talk about the power of family dinners a lot—and for good reason.

🍽️ Teens who eat with their families 5–7 times per week are 4x less likely to use to***co, 2x less likely to use alcohol, and 1.5x less likely to use ma*****na.
📚 Kids who regularly share meals with their families have better grades, higher self-esteem, and lower rates of depression and anxiety.

At the Make It Better Foundation, we’re passionate about the role shared meals play in strengthening families and communities. That’s why we continue to elevate the work of The Family Dinner Project—an initiative that helps families use mealtime as a chance to connect, communicate, and grow together.

As you gather around the table, help champion the power of family connection. Submit a You Said It piece featuring your favorite organization—like The Family Dinner Project—and they could receive a $1,000 grant and be honored at our Philanthropy Awards this fall. Learn more on our website!
🔗 https://linktr.ee/themakeitbetterfoundation

06/19/2025

The Fourth of July celebrates American independence—but that freedom wasn’t extended to all. Juneteenth tells a different story. On June 19, 1865, the last enslaved Black Americans in Galveston, Texas were finally informed of their freedom—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.

Today, Juneteenth is a federal holiday and a powerful opportunity to celebrate Black culture, acknowledge progress, and recognize the ongoing fight for racial justice and equity.

This year, honor Juneteenth by committing to:
– Educating yourself about Black history
– Supporting Black-owned businesses and organizations like My Block, My Hood, My City and Metropolitan Peace Initiatives
– Standing up against systemic racism

📚 Visit our website for Juneteenth resources: https://better.net/social-justice-civil-rights/celebrating-juneteenth-2025-the-history-why-its-important-and-how-to-get-involved-this-year/

📢 Share this post to help raise awareness and keep the conversation going.

06/17/2025

Want to raise kids who are kind, empathetic, and inclusive? Expert advice from Keshet, the Greater Good Science Center, and the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence share how to help children embrace differences and build a more compassionate world.