Meet the Previous Recipients

Chicago Prize is founded on the belief that community leaders are best positioned to create catalytic plans for positive change in their communities. Each team offers a remarkable vision for their community and compelling collection of projects and plans to achieve their goals in partnership with the community. Congratulations to the two recipient teams.


Always Growing, Auburn Gresham proposal was awarded the $10 million Chicago Prize in 2020. The Sankofa Wellness Village in West Garfield Park is the second Chicago Prize recipient to receive $10 million in capital over five years.

  • Always Growing, Auburn Gresham

    Always Growing, Auburn Gresham is comprised of three investment-ready capital projects poised to reinvigorate this South Side, predominantly Black neighborhood back into a thriving destination.

    The AGAG projects come directly from Auburn Gresham’s community-driven Quality-of-Life Plan.

    LEARN MORE

  • The Sankofa Wellness Village

    The Sankofa Wellness Village is a series of four interconnected, multi-partnered capital and social enterprises including the Sankofa Village Wellness Center, the MAAFA Center for Arts & Activism (the “MAC”), The K innovation hub and business accelerator, the Community Grocer Initiative (CGI).

    The Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative was convened by community stakeholders to address the neighborhood conditions that contribute to the economic, physical, psychological, and spiritual health of West Garfield Park residents.

    LEARN MORE

Pritzker Traubert Foundation would like to thank the many organizations and individuals who supported the Chicago Prize process. We are grateful for our many partners who continue to build this initiative, especially the community leaders who applied for the Prize and the many public and private funding partners who have invested in their ideas.

We want to give a special thanks to We Rise Together for their continued partnership and $2.5 million commitment to funding the 2022 finalists.

Thank you to our reviewers and advisors who contributed their time and talent. A special thanks to Andy Zopp of Cleveland Avenue, Helene Gayle and Andrea Saenz of the Chicago Community Trust, and Juan Salgado of City Colleges of Chicago for their participation as members of the 2022 Selection Committee.