Take-Aways from Real Talk Session 3: It’s Not You, It’s the System
We were grateful to partner with SVP Chicago for Session 3 of Real Talk: It's Not You, It's the System. Moderator Lori E. Lightfoot (Founder and Board Chair, Chicago Vibrant Neighborhoods Collective) joined panelists Luis Gutierrez (Founder & CEO, Latinos Progresando), Matt Johanson (Co-Founder, Just Act Partners), Carlos Nelson, (CEO, Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation), and Drea Slaughter (Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative) for a conversation was honest, grounded, and full of the kind of insight that only comes from people doing this work every day.
They didn't shy away from the hard truths: risk-averse funders, the ongoing "COVID hangover," the erosion of community voice in decision-making, and the very real toll this work takes on leaders and their teams. And yet, we left energized with examples of community organizations that are building stronger systems, forging unlikely partnerships, and refusing to wait for someone else to fill the gap.
A few themes that stayed with us:
When community organizations work together, they can move real resources. Our panelists shared the powerful example of The Excellerator, a collaborative funding model built specifically to support Black-led and Mexican-led nonprofits.
Pretending organizations are more prepared than they are helps no one. Honest relationships with funders matter. Our panelists made a compelling case for transparency about capacity, timelines, and what it actually takes to do this work well.
Social impact can't live on the margins of a company's strategy. Corporate engagement has to go deeper. When it becomes central — with proximity to communities and a real business case — it changes what's possible.
Community voice isn't a checkbox. Structural, decision-making power for community leaders — including in philanthropy itself — is the direction we need to keep moving.
And woven through all of it: the reminder that self-care and sustainability for nonprofit leaders is needed to make the long game possible.
We're grateful for the openness and energy attendees brought into the room. We hope those who were able to join left with new perspectives, meaningful connections, and ideas to carry forward.
The CVNC and SVP Chicago teams are working to compile the learnings from the Real Talk series, so stay tuned for more to come!
