Gone are the days when fair trade meant unflattering designs or met only the needs of a specific niche market. Fair trade has grown up and its offerings now command a respectable space in many women's closets and jewelry boxes.

There is no shortage of nonprofit organizations doing great work in Chicago. For families dealt with a devastating blow like news that they have been diagnosed with cancer or they don’t have health insurance to cover prescriptions that can keep them from an emergency room visit, those organizations can mean the difference between life and death. Literally. We interviewed three of those organizations in our community that are making a difference every day for thousands of our neighbors and friends.