Climate change will dramatically impact where Americans live. In fact, cities around the Great Lakes are already experiencing the first signs of climate migration inflows from increasingly hotter and more disaster-prone regions. The policy and programming choices that these receiving cities make today will determine whether population growth leads to economic opportunity and revitalization or to housing shortages, gentrification, and displacement.

The Great Lakes Receiving Network engages regionally with anticipated receiving cities in community-led conversations, scenario planning exercises, and cross-learning events about what a resilient future looks like amid climate migration, for both existing residents and newcomers. Network activities help answer questions about the housing, infrastructure, and public service needs that will allow these cities to thrive in our climate future.

Young adults today are less likely to out-earn their parents than any previous generation, even when they do everything “right.” Basic necessities like housing, healthcare, childcare, and education that were affordable to previous generations are far more expensive today, making the transition into adulthood harder to navigate. To succeed in the future, young adults will need structured opportunities to gain professional experience, build networks, and access high-quality education and training to land good first jobs that lead to careers.

CELNA’s Postsecondary Pathways for Youth team works to promote stronger alignment across the systems that shape young adults’ economic success so paths from high school to economic security become more accessible, affordable, and equitable. We do this through three reinforcing strategies:

• Advancing innovative program models, including apprenticeship models and other pathways strategies;
• Conducting research and analysis on programs and policies that affect the institutions and systems that young adults must navigate as they exit high school and transition to adulthood; and
• Building networks of experts & practitioners to accelerate learning and to promote alignment across initiatives and communities focused on youth and young adults.

The two major initiatives of Postsecondary Pathways for Youth are the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship and the Launch Pathways initiative.

WeProsper launched in 2021 to end predatory lending practices in Illinois, protect the Predatory Loan Prevention Act, and promote affordable lending alternatives.

For years, non-bank lenders and other businesses have pushed high interest rates, inflated prices for inferior financial products, and confusing, burdensome terms on marginalized communities already experiencing disinvestment, discriminatory policies, and pay gaps.

Despite less pay for equal work, Black and Latine communities in Chicago have to pay more to borrow—sometimes as much as 400 percent interest on short-term loans like payday, installment, or car title loans.

Those barely making ends meet pay huge premiums whenever their paycheck falls short. It’s no coincidence these communities are also banking deserts populated by alternative financial service providers.

Thanks to the leadership of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus and Governor J.B. Pritzker, Illinois enacted a 36 percent rate cap on personal loans. The Predatory Loan Prevention Act is one of the strongest regulations in the country—but it must be fully protected and implemented across all of the state’s communities to be effective.

Led by the New America Chicago, Chicago Urban League, and the Woodstock Institute, WeProsper launched in 2021 to end predatory lending practices, protect the PLPA, and promote affordable lending alternatives.