• 2026 Building Strong Communities Program Application

  • Building Strong Communities is a five-month, cohort-based leadership exchange that provides global interactions to generate fresh perspectives, unlocking new solutions that address housing insecurity in Chicago. The program will engage ten Emerging and Established leaders, five per cohort, working in Chicago’s housing sector, with priority given to those serving the South and West sides of Chicago. The exchange includes pre- and post-exchange leadership training and a one-week international professional exchange to a WorldChicago partner country with continued mentorship. The exchange includes meetings with global counterparts, site visits with innovative organizations and government representatives, presentation opportunities at global convenings, and case studies relevant to the Chicago context. This program is generously supported by The Chicago Community Trust.

    The deadline for application submissions is Sunday, July 26th, 2026 at 11:59 PM CST. Semifinalists will be interviewed by the WorldChicago team in early-mid August, and the five participants for this cohort will be selected and notified by the end of August.

    If you have any questions, please contact info@worldchicago.org.

    • Program Requirements 
    • Are you available to travel for 5-7 days in November 2026?*
    • Do you have a valid United States passport with an expiration date later than July 2027?*
    • Are you comfortable with the requirements of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (including biometric data)? If in operation, authorization from this program will be mandated for travel to the European Union beginning in late 2026.*
    • Demographic Questions 
    • Format: (000) 000-0000.
    • Gender (as listed on your passport)*
    • Age*
    • Please select the race(s) or ethnic identity(ies) that best describe you.

    • Would you define yourself as an Established or an Emerging leader? Emerging and Established Leaders are defined below: 

      • Emerging leaders are defined as community organizers and early career professionals.  
      • Established leaders are defined as professionals in nonprofit, civic, policy, or public-serving roles (who are no longer considered early career professionals). 
    • *
    • Which area of Chicago do you work in or with?*
    • Browse Files
      Drag and drop files here
      Choose a file
      Cancelof
    • Question 1 - Why This Program Matters to You 

    • Record a short video (3 minutes or less) explaining why you would like to participate in this exchange program. In your response, please address:

      • Why this exchange program on social housing and generational wealth matters to you and your community
      • How your current work, organizing, or leadership touches social housing, affordable housing, or homeownership pathways on the South or West Side
      • What perspectives, skills, or lived experiences you would bring to this cohort of 5 participants working on housing justice and wealth-building for their communities
    • Browse Files
      Drag and drop files here
      Choose a file
      Cancelof
    • Question 2 - Learning from Housing Challenges 

    • Record a video (3 minutes or less) describing one of your most challenging experiences related to social housing, affordable housing, or community-based civic engagement. Please include:

      • The challenge and your role in addressing it. 
      • What you learned about housing systems, policy, or community needs 
      • How it informed the way you now think about social housing, homeownership, or long-term wealth-building 
    • Browse Files
      Drag and drop files here
      Choose a file
      Cancelof
    • Question 3 - Addressing Community Housing Needs 

    • In 500 words or less, please answer the following questions:

      • Describe a housing-related problem you would like to solve that affects residents on Chicago’s South or West Sides (for example, barriers to homeownership, instability in social housing, displacement, or lack of wealth-building opportunities through housing). 
      • How would your community, city, or the world be different if this problem were solved? 
      • How would you use creativity, cooperation, or a shared vision between residents, institutions, and policymakers to help solve this problem? 
    • Application Submission 
  • Should be Empty: