While Curaleaf’s signature teal logo has popped up throughout greater Chicagoland, residents can expect to see another signature part of our brand—our dedication to being Rooted in Good. This month, ten Curaleaf retail locations will open throughout the Chicago area—providing the community with access to our premium cannabis products and outstanding customer service.

Through our Rooted in Good initiative, we’ve committed $950,000 to six different organizations throughout the communities we’re excited to call home. We’re excited to help advance social equity in cannabis and remove systematic barriers in the Chicago area while providing opportunities to communities that were disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, institutional oppression, and cannabis injustices.

At Curaleaf, we are passionate about building meaningful relationships within the communities we serve. That’s why we’re excited that a Chicagoan, Raheem Uqdah, will be leading our newly founded partnerships. Raheem has been rooted in the community and has built invaluable relationships and social equity programming prior to joining Curaleaf.

Our $950,000 commitment will be dispersed amongst six local Chicago partners, including two community colleges and three job training centers:

Illinois Cannabis Business Development Fund, $300,000

Managed by the Illinois Department of Commerce, this fund is intended to provide technical assistance and training to support prospective entrepreneurs interested in applying for cannabis business establishment licenses.

Olive-Harvey College, $250,000

This community college on Chicago’s far Southside will introduce an educational cannabis program to help mold the next generation of cannabis leaders. It will also offer a paid scholarship program and paid internship.

Growing Home, $100,000

Chicago’s leading expert in farm-based training for people with employment barriers will continue to provide on-the-job experience, job-readiness and help people overcome issues like criminal records and medical needs. With their USDA-Certified organic urban farms, Growing Home is also committed to serving its Greater Englewood neighbors through access to local, healthy, high-quality and affordable produce accompanied by essential nutritional and cooking education.

An additional North Chicagoland Community College, $100,000

Curaleaf is supporting a local community college’s plans to develop and introduce a cannabis program that will educate, mentor, and provide internships and career opportunities within cannabis for students.

Greater West Town Community Development Project, $100,000

Providing educational and economic opportunities for disadvantaged residents of the Greater West Town communities—areas that have been disproportionately harmed by the War on Drugs.

Cara, $100,000

Working with people affected by poverty and challenges like recovery, domestic violence, episodic homelessness, and incarceration, Cara helps unlock the power and purpose within the community and its people to achieve real and lasting success.

Chicago, we are so excited to be a part of your great community. We can’t wait to settle and join you in the fight to create equity and opportunities in cannabis.