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A Q&A with Edwin Tobar and Mariah Van Ermen The Trust established the Flexible Funding program in 2020 to fund key community development…
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Following On the Table, more than 60 Chicagoland residents receive $1,000 to implement creative, actionable ideas
CHICAGO – July 21, 2016 – Today, The Chicago Community Trust and Goodcity Chicago announced the 64 recipients of the inaugural Acting Up awards that will receive $1,000 prizes to help Chicago-area residents take action on their creative ideas to make their communities safer, stronger and more dynamic. Over the course of three weeks following On the Table 2016 on May 10, nearly 400 videos were submitted for consideration by community members across the city and suburbs.
In 2016, more than 55,000 Chicagoland residents participated in On the Table—a single day in May dedicated to sparking conversation about the future of our region. Every year, participants come out of On The Table excited and passionate about their conversations, armed with fresh ideas about how to collectively improve the neighborhoods and communities we call home. In an effort to help some of those ideas come to fruition, this year the Trust, in partnership with Goodcity, invited On the Table participants to submit videos outlining ideas for positive community impact, naming the new program Acting Up.
“The Acting Up awards allow us to invest in actionable, grassroots ideas that will make a significant difference in communities across the city and suburbs,” said Terry Mazany, president and CEO of The Chicago Community Trust. “We were so impressed by the overwhelming number of passionate and creative responses, and are looking forward to seeing these ideas come to fruition and their impact in communities, and on lives, throughout Chicago.”
Acting Up winners come from across the city and suburbs with plans focused on a wide range of issues–health care, gun violence, open spaces, arts and culture and more. The applicant pool was made up of diverse individuals from across the Chicagoland region–young, old and everything in between. Some applicants are working independently or partnering with neighbors, family or friends, while others represent a wide range of nonprofit or community organizations.
The winning entries:
“Goodcity is committed to identifying, starting and growing social entrepreneurs who are making a difference in communities across Chicago and is honored to partner with the Trust on this important project,” said Jimmy Lee, president of Goodcity Chicago, which partnered with the Trust to coordinate the Acting Up awards. “We are inspired by the creativity and passion shown by individuals and organizations alike in these videos, and look forward to seeing the ideas become reality.”
On the Table participants submitted their ideas online through brief two-minute videos. In June, a team of 30 judges representing a variety of community backgrounds and expertise spent a day at the Trust viewing and evaluating these video entries and selecting winners.
Click to learn more about On the Table.
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