CNT delivers game-changing research, tools, and solutions to create sustainable + equitable communities.

Recent Work

Community Data Trust and Knowledge Lab

We’re creating a trust-based collaborative model to collect, analyze, protect and share data generated from and providing insights into our... more »

Transportation Equity Network Bus Priority Engagements

We're bringing a racial-equity and mobility-justice approach to learning how strategies like bus stops, bus lanes, and more bus-friendly... more »

Flood and Sewage Coalition

Partnering with other groups and centering community residents’ experience to address immediate flood risks and correct long-standing inequities in... more »

‘Neighborhood Technology’ equals community-powered solutions
February 12, 2026

  Chief Strategy and Program Officer Miriam Savad, above (at a CNT planning retreat) led our recently-completed theory of change, impact framework and strategic plan process.  By Miriam Savad 2025 was by all accounts a disruptive year, ushering in a wave of instability. Yet amid this challenging time, CNT still carved out time to reflect on the purpose and direction of our work: our work is to equitably change systems to support more just, resilient, sustainable and... Continue reading »

 

Featured Publication

Bridging Visions, Accelerating Impact: Elevated Works 2025 Impact Report

By CNT and Elevated Works
June 9, 2025

Bridging Visions, Accelerating Impact: Elevated Works ETOD Technical Assistance Program Impact, by CNT and Elevated Chicago, highlights new best practices for publicly funded community development in general and equitable transit-oriented development specifically. With case studies, a comprehensive project list and other features, this report highlights the impact of the City of Chicago’s Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Technical Assistance Program from 2023 to 2025. The City’s $1 million investment in the Elevated Works technical assistance program we coordinated ensured the success of 29 projects, representing $300 million invested in Chicago communities. All 29 projects made meaningful progress, with 7 reaching groundbreaking and 5 more celebrating grand openings. Beyond these individual project milestones, Bridging Visions, Accelerating Impact describes shared successes and challenges for the entire pipeline and describes how we've advocated for systems-level changes to reduce barriers for equitable transit-oriented development in Chicago moving forward. From 2023 to 2025, we partnered with Elevated Chicago , IFF , Metropolitan Planning Council , Rudd Resources...

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Publication Library

 

How a Year of Funding Whiplash Reshaped the Nonprofit Work Force

Chronicle of Philanthropy | February 13, 2026

After years of rebuilding their staffs from COVID-era cuts, nonprofits entered 2025 expecting to keep hiring. Instead, many found themselves cutting back.

Federal grants were paused or clawed back; contracts once thought secure fell through, and organizations that spent years stabilizing their work forces were suddenly forced to downsize, freeze hiring, or eliminate entire programs. The result was a nonprofit job market that tightened abruptly.

(click to view PDF of article)

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Highlights of our work with governments, advocates, policy makers, and community groups over the past 10 years

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