Minds Matter News
Help MMC win Cubs Awards (vote daily thru 8/21!)
Great news — Minds Matter Chicago has been named a finalist for the 2026 Cubs Charities Community Awards, presented by the Robert R. McCormick Foundation! Fan voting determines which finalists receive a $10,000 grant, and we need your help to win. Here’s how you can support us: 👉 Vote here: https://www.mlb.com/cubs/community/cubs-charities/community-awards/vote A $10,000 grant would…
Minds Matter Chicago Welcomes New Board Members & Secures City Grant to Expand Student Impact
Minds Matter Chicago is excited to announce two dynamic additions to its 2025-2026 Board of Directors – and to share that it has been awarded the City of Chicago Department of Family and Support Services Individual Youth Mentoring Grant. Dominic Cador joins the board after serving as executive sponsor for Minds Matter New York from…
2025-2026 Welcome Letter
Hello Minds Matter Chicago Community, I am honored to welcome you to a new program year filled with opportunity, growth, and impact. This year marks not only a continuation of our mission but also a renewal of our shared commitment to the students, families, and volunteers who make our community so extraordinary. As a first-generation…
Summer Program Spotlight: Meet Emma
The school year is off to a great start at Minds Matter Chicago but the experiences and memories our students had at their summer programs will last a lifetime. Meet Emma For her summer experience, Emma was excited to learn more about International Relations, so she applied to the JSA program at Stanford. When she…
Dropped Consulting to Drop Beats: Meet the MM Alum & Entertainment Entrepreneur Who’s Spinning at the 2019 MM Spring for Students
August 10th, 2018, the day before his 24th birthday, Martin Arredondo walked out the doors of the elite RSM accounting firm for the last time, saying an early farewell to a promising career in finance consultancy. He wasn’t making a strategic move to another company; he was starting his own: DJ Mayhem Entertainment. On March…
Kimberly Alvarado awarded scholarship for outstanding essay!
We are proud to announce that our very own, Kimberly Alvarado, was awarded a $2,500 scholarship for her outstanding Hispanic Heritage Month essay! The award was presented by City Treasurer, Kurt Summers. Kimberly’s scholarship will be used to support her first year of college. Congrats, Kimberly! See the story here!
Minds Matter Chicago Featured in the Chicago Tribune!
RedEye, a publication of the Chicago Tribune, engaged Minds Matter Chicago President, Maria Ptouchkina, regarding how the organization has helped bridge the college enrollment discrepancy gap in low versus high-income students. Read the article for yourself! Do good helping low-income students live up to their college potential
Minds Matter Chicago Publishes Our 10th Annual Report
10 years ago, we leveled the playing field by giving bright, motivated students – regardless of socioeconomic status – the help they needed to ensure their dreams of attending college. In this 10th Annual Report we are sharing the accomplishments and the success stories of our students. We are excited for the road ahead, and hope you’ll join…
Minds Matter Wins Support with the 100 Women in Finance Donation!
Each year, 100WF selects a U.S. beneficiary for its fundraising efforts. In December 2016, Minds Matter was honored to accept this amazing recognition … along with the equally amazing $1.2 Million donation to our growing national organization! For more details: Minds Matter to Receive $1.2 Million as 100 Women in Finance U.S. Beneficiary