Life After YLF
Join current, past, and prospective Young Leaders Fund members for a panel discussion on how YLF can shape your professional and philanthropic journey!
Location
Builders Vision
167 N Green Street, Chicago IL 60607
167 N Green Street, Chicago IL 60607
Date & Time
May 13, 2026
5:30 -7:30 PM
5:30 -7:30 PM
Join the Young Leaders Fund, an initiative of The Chicago Community Trust, for “Life After YLF,” a panel discussion with YLF alumni who’ve translated their YLF experience into careers in philanthropy, public service, and beyond. They’ll share insights on how YLF shaped their professional journeys, their community work, and the way they show up as leaders in Chicago. Whether you're thinking about your next steps as a philanthropist or curious how others brought their YLF experience into a professional context, this conversation will help you reflect on your own role in shaping Chicago’s future.
Panelists
Laura Gutierrez
Program Officer
Builders Vision Philanthropy
Builders Vision Philanthropy
Laura Gutierrez (she/her) is a Program Officer for Builders Vision Philanthropy. In her role, Laura focuses on the foundation's work in the Chicago region. Her passion for people and communities is embedded in the belief that every person deserves a safe and thriving community.
Laura is an active civic leader and serves on a handful of boards of local community-based organizations serving residents most in need. She is currently the Board President of Beyond Hunger, a steering committee member of Nuestro Futuro, a giving circle of the Chicago Community Trust, a steering committee member of Chicago Latines in Philanthropy, and a board member of Forefront. Lastly, she is a member of the Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program with the State of Illinois.
Lynette McRae
Vice President, Prospects and Growth
Purpose Built Communities
Purpose Built Communities
Lynnette McRae is a community development practitioner with more than 15 years of experience working across government, philanthropy, and nonprofits. She has led initiatives that expand equitable access to housing and economic development for disinvested communities, and is skilled at working collaboratively with community and multi-sector leaders to move thoughtful ideas to action.
Lynnette is a native Chicagoan who loves to travel and in her spare time, you can find her spending time with family and friends, attending live music events, discovering new restaurants, and picking up new hobbies. She's currently learning to speak Spanish and sew.
Melanie Wang
Program Director, Cultural Grants
The City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
The City of Chicago, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
Melanie Wang is Program Director of Cultural Grants at the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), Chicago's municipal agency for arts and culture. In her role at DCASE, she stewards $10 million annually in public grant funding to Chicago-based artists and cultural organizations. Her work in social impact also spans nonprofit and corporate responsibility, including the Arts and Culture Committee for Chicago’s comprehensive plan, justice-focused arts service nonprofit 3Arts, and Allstate.
A longtime Chicagoan, Melanie loves local history, dining, and rediscovering the city in all its seasons.
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