HOOD HOPES & URBAN DREAMS

Young Chicago Authors: Brave New Voices

Footage of the 2008 Brave New Voices youth poetry contest in Washington:

The artists, Nate Marshall and Demetrius Amparen were both highschool students at the time of this video. They wrote this peom for Young Chicago Authors, a program to designed to inspire and develop literary skills for youth. The content of the poem was inspired by the violent deaths of the artists' friends and the fear that they too could become victims of similar crimes. The reaction of the audience, which includes students from all over the country is a testiment of how the horror of youth violence is widespread.

26th Annual UNCF Walk for Education

It’s the 26th Annual UNCF Walk for Education on Saturday, September 19th at our new location Burnham Park located at South Lake Shore Drive at 31st Street.  There’s free food, fun, live entertainment and activities for the entire family!  Registration starts at 7:00AM, program festivities begin at 8:00AM, followed by the Walk.  Register at http://give.uncf.org/ChicagoWalk or call (312) 845-2200.  Support UNCF—the United Negro College Fund, because "A mind is a terrible thing to waste."

Aspire's Beautiful Children Fashion Show

Join us at Aspire's Beautiful Children Fashion Show Saturday, September 19th from 11AM to 2PM at Drury Lane Oakbrook Terrace.  Lisa Parker from NBC 5 News emcees as children from Aspire take to the runway.  Don’t miss your chance to win tickets to The Oprah Winfrey Show and more.  Proceeds go to Aspire Children’s Services, helping children with developmental disabilities aspire to a world of possibilities.  Tickets are $50 and include lunch, silent auction, raffle and fashion show.  For more information visit www.aspireofillinois.org, or contact Susan Ondreja at (708) 547-3550 x3558

4th Annual Auburn Gresham 79th Street Festival

Come out for a fun-filled, exciting day for the entire family at the 4th Annual Auburn Gresham 79th Street Festival on Saturday, September 12th at 10AM.  It will be on 79th Street between Racine and Loomis.  We are celebrating a community where residents live, work and play. We will have games and activities including a petting zoo, pony rides, basketball competitions, and live ‘hometown’ Chicago music and food.  Free and open to the public.  For more information call (773) 483-3696.

The Walk for Polycystic Kidney Disease

Don’t miss the Annual Walk for PKD to benefit research and education aimed at treating and curing one of the most common of all life-threatening genetic diseases, Polycystic Kidney Disease.  PKD affects over 600,000 Americans, including 20,000 men, women and children in the Chicago area alone. The Walk for PKD takes placed on Sunday, September 27th at Busse Woods Forest Preserve, Grove 6 in Elk Grove Village.  For details, call 1-800-PKD-CURE or register online at www.pkdcure.org.  A cure is our finish line!

The Cantigny Green Fair

Cantigny Park, part of the McCormick Foundation, and SCARCE will host Cantigny’s first-ever Green Fair on Saturday, September 26th.  The event, from 10AM to 4PM, will celebrate what’s working in our community—for people, businesses and the environment.  The Cantigny Green Fair line-up includes expert speakers, eco-activities for kids, a local and organic Farmers Market, cooking demos, organic wine tasting, live music and a “FashionEconista” show.  All the events are free, and more than 100 vendors will be participating.  Interested vendors should call (630) 260-8266.  In addition, high school and college students are invited to enter a Recycled Art Contest with cash prizes.  Entry forms may be downloaded from the Cantigny website or call (630) 260-8266.  More information about the Green Fair is available at www.Cantigny.org and
www.scarce.org.  Cantigny Park is open every day through October from 7AM to sunset.  Parking fees are $5 per vehicle or $2 off-peak (before 10AM and after 5PM).

For Autism with Love

The Answer Inc. invites you to the “For Autism with Love” Gala & Dinner Dance fundraiser on Sunday, September 20th at Skylite West Banquets, 7117 W. Ogden Avenue in Berwyn, IL.  Help The Answer Inc. raise funds to strengthen the mission of the organization, which is to provide support, resources, education, recreation and advocacy for families affected by autism and/or other developmental disabilities.  For more information, call (708) 296-5651 or visit www.theanswerinc.org.  

18th Annual Dance for Life Benefit

One stage…one cause.  Come join the fight against HIV and AIDS at the 18th Annual Dance for Life Benefit on Saturday, August 29th.  Watch as five of Chicago’s premier dance companies unite at the largest performance-based AIDS fundraising event in the Midwest.  Proceeds benefit the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Chicago House, AIDSCARE, Center on Halsted and the Dance for Life Fund.  For more information, visit DanceforLifeChicago.com or call (312) 922-5812.    

Summer Fun

See what it’s like when streets are filled with people, becoming your playground.  In the morning and early afternoon on Saturday, August 1st, Open Streets will give friends and families the chance to enjoy the streets the way they want: biking, dancing, playing, walking and more!  The free event combines last year’s two Sunday Parkways events into one, huge eight-mile event.  Like last year, Open Streets will span from Logan Square to Little Village, passing through Humboldt Park, North Lawndale and Garfield Park along the way.  There is no event registration, and participants can join in at any point along the route.  Take a step off the route at any of the community-run activity stations. The lively scenes will display each community’s flavor with performances, children’s games, art activities, workout classes, music and much more. 

Woodlawn Community Service hosts its Annual ETA Theater Event

Woodlawn Community Service Corporation hosts its Annual ETA Theater Event, "Pill Hill," Saturday, August 1st at 8PM at ETA Creative Arts Foundation, 7558 S. South Chicago Avenue.  Ticket donation is $30.  Meet & Greet afterward w/refreshments.  For more information, call President/Chairman, Gail Mercherson at (773) 684-2944.