We’ve had the chance to interview some pretty amazing people this year who are working to make Chicago better, and make parents’ lives easier. Now, as 2025 draws to a close, it’s the perfect time to look back and reemphasize their unique achievements. Discover new names and businesses working to help change Chicagoland and parents for the better.
Susan McConnell
Founder & Executive Director of Let It Be Us
In 2014, Susan founded Let It Be Us—a nonprofit and licensed child welfare agency seeking to help children in the Illinois welfare system find their forever homes. Their programming is aimed both at recruiting new Illinois foster parents and connecting waiting children with the right home.
Check out: Meet the woman helping Illinois’ foster children find the families they deserve
Quentin Laurent
Restaurateur & Manager of Tanta Chicago
Quentin is the manager of the vibrant Peruvian eatery, Tanta. It’s a must-try Chicago eating experience, with a menu filled with authentic Peruvian dishes and flavors. This year, the accomplished restaurateur also welcomed his first child, a daughter. He has since been learning how to balance fatherhood with a thriving career.
Check out: How Tanta Chicago’s manager is blending fatherhood and food with a new Peruvian Thanksgiving meal
Amy Briggs
Creator & Founder of Aviva
Aviva is an AI-powered virtual scheduling tool that Amy Briggs designed specifically for parents like herself. It seamlessly turns your emails into calendar events so you don’t miss a single thing. School updates, birthday invites, after-school sports? Aviva keeps track of them all for you. It’s a tool built from empathy, not data.
Check out: How Chicago mom Amy Briggs found a way to lighten the load of parenthood with this AI-assistant tool
George Gonzalez
Hairstylist and Owner of George the Salon
George the Salon continues to be one of Chicago’s most respected luxury salons. It’s also where you can find George’s exclusive hair care line, I am gorgeous—formulated with top-shelf ingredients for an affordable price. The best part? Ten percent of all profits go towards supporting survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence. The cause is very important to George, whose work continues to uplift and support women.
Laura Reitsma
Founder of Fierce Productions
Laura is an entrepreneur, mother and breast-cancer survivor. In 2015, she founded Fierce Productions—an event planning and design company that executes weddings, galas and other big events with unique flair. Laura and her team are always looking for ways to think outside the box and do the unexpected.
Check out: Think Pink: How one Chicago mother fought breast cancer, postpartum depression and anxiety
Meggan Teague
Content Creator, @mamaknowschicago
Meggan is your new Chicago mom-friend! She uses Instagram to share kid-friendly spots to play, eat and explore around the city. Follow along as Meggan and her daughter Ruby experience everything Chicago has to offer. It’s fun, engaging content your whole family can watch together.
Check out: Curating your city plans with Meggan Teague
Sarah Funk
Manager of Mud and Char & Content Creator, @sarafunk.lifestyle
Sarah’s Instagram content focuses on lifestyle and motherhood; how to foster meaningful family connection as a large family of eight. She’s also the co-founder and manager of Mud and Char—a chic eatery that serves up coffee and teas alongside healthy wraps, powerbowls and breakfast sandwiches.
Check out: How this mom of five found peace in the chaos
Desmond Owusu
Founder of the So Frsh, So Clean project & Owner of We All We Got
Over the past year, Desmond’s laundry passion project has helped over 300 low income/no income families wash and dry their clothes for free. The project runs out of Chatham Laundry on the South Side, with support from @laundrylove and @nyap.inc. Follow @sofrsh.soclean for updates. Desmond is also the owner of Chicago streetwear brand We All We Got. The products are made with love and soul, rooted in Black history and empowerment.
Check out: South side dad Desmond Owusu uplifting his community one load of laundry at a time
Adrienne Farrell
Founder & Owner of Brush Park Gymnasium
Adrienne has created an inclusive space that offers high-quality fitness classes and supportive child care. It’s basically a cool community center focused around exercise. Want to give it a try? Book a free day pass.
Check out: Brush Park Gymnasium is changing what parents can expect from a gym
Kris Christian
Founder & Owner of Chicago French Press
Chicago mother and business entrepreneur Kris Christian started the work of crafting coffee blends back in 2017—blends so rich in flavor they don’t need any added sweeteners. CFP products are now sold in its five cafes across Chicago and online. It’s a woman-powered business rooted in community and 5% of each retail bag goes to nonprofit organizations uplifting women and youth in vulnerable communities.
Check out: Brewing up success with Chicago French Press CEO Kris Christian
