Chicago Beyond Announces New Investments to Strengthen Family Connections Across the United States

New partners support innovative solutions to advance systems change in justice and maternal health

Pictured: Kansas Children’s Discovery Center

Chicago Beyond today announced new seeding investments in three organizations advancing innovative solutions in justice and maternal health across the United States. The three new partner organizations are expanding proven and promising approaches, from improving family visitation in correctional facilities to increasing access to community-based maternal healthcare.

“Families experience some of life’s most consequential moments while navigating systems that don’t always recognize the complexity of their lives or the relationships that matter most,” said Liz Dozier, founder and CEO of Chicago Beyond. “Whether it’s navigating pregnancy and postpartum care or maintaining meaningful connection during a parent’s incarceration, these organizations are challenging longstanding practices by centering the experience and knowledge of people most affected. In doing so, they’re helping reshape how support is designed and delivered, with the goal of creating better outcomes for families, and ultimately communities, over time.”

The organizations are part of Chicago Beyond’s Seeding Fund, which provides one-time investments of $100,000–$300,000 to support leaders and organizations in building, testing, and strengthening community-rooted ideas and approaches with the potential for immediate impact. Chicago Beyond’s newest investment partners include:

• Ameelio (National): Ameelio is working to create a more rehabilitative corrections system by removing financial barriers to communication and education for people experiencing incarceration. As the only nonprofit provider in the prison telecommunications industry, Ameelio is challenging exploitative models that place significant costs on families seeking to stay connected. Chicago Beyond’s investment will help bring Ameelio to more people incarcerated and families across the country at a moment of pivotal growth for the organization.

• Kansas Children’s Discovery Center (National): Kansas Children’s Discovery Center launched its Play Free program in 2018 to create child-centered visitation experiences for families separated by incarceration. The program has connected more than 3,600 children and caregivers and established a model across the state’s entire corrections system. Chicago Beyond’s investment will support the Play Free Field Accelerator, helping children’s museums and correctional facilities across the country launch their own Play Free visitation experiences, designed to fit their local context and to serve more families.

• Mamatoto Village (Washington, D.C.): Mamatoto Village provides culturally resonant perinatal care and workforce development to improve maternal health outcomes. The organization has supported more than 4,000 families and reports zero maternal deaths among its clients since 2013. Chicago Beyond’s investment will help expand its workforce training programs and strengthen its organizational infrastructure, improving access to community-based maternal healthcare for women and families in Washington, D.C.

These new investments build on Chicago Beyond’s growing commitment to supporting leaders and organizations advancing change across justice and maternal health. To date, Chicago Beyond has invested more than $14 million in 24 maternal health leaders and organizations across 14 states and Washington, D.C., and $15 million in 44 justice leaders and organizations across 13 states.

Together, these investments reflect Chicago Beyond’s commitment to backing community-led solutions that strengthen families, address systemic barriers, and influence the institutions and practices that shape people’s lives.

Chicago Beyond is a national philanthropic organization that addresses systemic inequity by backing solutions led by those closest to the issues. Since its inception in 2016, Chicago Beyond has invested more than $100 million in over 200 individuals and organizations in support of its mission. Because there is no single barrier to equity, Chicago Beyond engages in opportunities across philanthropy, justice, health, and beyond.