Weave Chicagoland

From: Kirk Fleming, Tenant Organizer
Organization: Alliance of the Southeast (ASE)
Event/Initiative: Supporting Germano Millgate Families

Our Mission

I am Kirk Fleming, a passionate tenant organizer with the Alliance of the Southeast, advocating for the rights and well-being of families living in the Germano Millgate Apartments. These families face daily challenges due to income inequality, poverty, and limited access to resources. My goal is to empower these families by providing support for essential needs, creating opportunities for growth, and building a stronger, more connected community.

The Need

The families of Germano Millgate Apartments struggle with:

• Insufficient access to food and clothing.
• Limited job opportunities and resources for skill-building.
• Substandard housing conditions.
• Lack of community development programs.

This stagnation perpetuates cycles of poverty and limits families’ ability to thrive. Your sponsorship or donation can help change this reality.

Our Goals

With your support, we aim to:

1. Provide Food and Clothing: Supply groceries and winter clothing to families in need.
2. Facilitate Employment Opportunities: Host job fairs and connect residents with training programs.
3. Enhance Housing Options: Advocate for better housing conditions and access to affordable housing.
4. Create Community Events: Organize holiday gatherings, weekly outings, and educational workshops.

Opportunities for Sponsorship

We invite you to contribute through financial support, in-kind donations, or volunteerism. Below are the sponsorship levels:

1. Platinum Sponsor ($5,000 or more)

• Logo featured on all event materials and social media posts.
• Speaking opportunity at key events.
• Recognition in post-event press release and report.

2. Gold Sponsor ($2,500 - $4,999)

• Logo displayed on event materials and social media.
• Mention during event announcements.

3. Silver Sponsor ($1,000 - $2,499)

• Recognition on social media and event program.

4. Community Donor (Any Amount or In-Kind Contributions)

• Acknowledgment on social media and event program.

How Your Support Will Make a Difference

Your sponsorship will directly impact the lives of over [insert estimated number] families by:

• Providing meals for the holidays.
• Distributing winter clothing to children and adults.
• Helping parents find stable jobs through job fairs.
• Creating a sense of community through events and workshops.

Next Steps

Hi. I’m Bob, and I’m new to this group. I feel like I’ve been drawn to the processes of community-building for the past several decades, as a soccer coach, a public high school teacher, and a member of the Baha’i community. Baha’is throughout the world, millions, dedicate themselves to the building of communities based upon the spiritual principle of the “Oneness of Humanity,” the reality that all of us, in reality, are members of one human race, a single people, belong to one extended human family. I now live in Westchester, and my efforts to build community are centered in Chicago’s western suburbs.

A Labor of Love for Englewood...That's the R.A.G.E Way! Check out our newsletter here - https://mailchi.mp/ragenglewood/septemberlabor24

The Baha’i Faith is the most recent of the world’s independent religions. Its members accept Baha’u’llah (Arabic for “Glory of God”) as the Manifestation of God for this day and age. The most fundamental spiritual principle that animates the work of Baha’is, several million worldwide, is the concept of the “Oneness of Humankind.” This concept recognizes the truth that all of humanity is one people, a single human race, one extended family. Based on this principle, Baha’is work to transform the whole of society — heart by heart, community by community — from its present state of conflict and division toward the unity of all humanity as we come, gradually, to live in material prosperity and spiritual peace. The sacred Writings of the Faith prohibit all efforts at proselytizing, mandating that all Baha’i embrace and work with all peoples — of every religion, nation, and culture, etc… — in an active effort to include all peoples in the building of community. This is why I’m here, to walk side by side with others, like you, who desire that more and more people come together in genuine unity.

The Community Renewal Society, a faith-based organization in Chicago, is looking for a Manager of Policy and Organizing. Founded in 1882, the organization develops and communities to advocate for social and economic justice through a policy advocacy network and by publishing a highly-regarded investigative journal on matters of social justice.

This opportunity came to us via Peace Brook, a network of community builders convened by weaver @Barry Koren, and a collaborator with Weave's Online Peace & Justice topic group.

The position description is attached.

@Kate Towle

I’d love to invite you all to attend our upcoming event, “Find Your Cause!”

Find Your Cause brings together local organizations and passionate volunteers who are ready for hands-on, skills-based, and board service opportunities. Grassroots organizations from the South, West, and Northwest Sides will highlight the incredible work they do in their communities and connect attendees to meaningful opportunities to engage and volunteer.  

Attendees can learn South Side history by catching one of our complementary shuttles from the West or Northwest Sides, enjoy wellness and meditation activities, and treat yourself to a scoop of Ida’s Artisan Ice Cream while discovering your civic love language.  

Date and time: Friday, September 20 · 6 - 8pm CDT

Location: 8560 South Cottage Grove Avenue Chicago, IL 60619

We would love to see you there! RSVP here!

Please share with your networks and pass this invite along to any students, community members or groups that might be interested. We will provide two service hours for attendees!

Hello Chicago area weavers,

We wanted to share and invite you to the upcoming RCD Annual Conference held August 9th - 11th at Kinfolk CoLab in Oak Park, IL. The first three workshop options are immersive experiences that each last the entire weekend, and the next four options are à la carte (you may register for all or simply attend what interests you most). The facilitators on deck are truly extraordinary, highly skilled in container building and holding space for workshop participants to explore topics together.

Details and registration at www.raceconsciousdialogues.org

Full Weekend Experiences:  BIPOC Affinity Group Series  /  White Affinity Group Series  /  Community Connection Circle

À La Carte workshops:   Social Justice Parenting   /  Safer Spaces for Artists and Organizers  /  Ancestral Lineage Healing   /  Long Arcs: The Duration of Justice Work

Photos from recent gathering:

Race Conscious Dialogues is a local nonprofit and community resource, was honored to receive a delegation from the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program, hailing from Brazil, South Africa, Netherlands, Iraq, Switzerland, India, Finland, and Czech Republic as part of the program "The Problem We All Live With: Dismantling Racial and Social Injustice." They reached out to learn more about our process, methodology, and community. We shared an incredible morning together, conversing about RCD and learning about work underway all over the world. Thank you to WorldChicago for bringing us together.

R.A.G.E. is seeking to hire an experienced, full-time Community Strategist to join our dynamic team. As a vital member of our organization, the Community Strategist will play a crucial role in fulfilling our mission to create tangible solutions and mobilize residents and resources to restore our community.

If you are passionate about community development, possess excellent communication and relationship-building skills, and are committed to making a difference in Englewood, we want to hear from you! To apply or learn more about this exciting opportunity, please visit our job posting here. Additionally, if you know someone who would be a great fit for this role, please feel free to share this opportunity with your networks!

Link here for more details: https://bit.ly/workforrage

I am excited to share with you all that I am featured in a groundbreaking HBO documentary 'South To Black Power' that premieres on HBO tonight at 9pm (CST). In the documentary South to Black Power, Charles M. Blow, New York Times columnist and best-selling author of The Devil You Know: A Black Power Manifesto, sets off across the country on a personal journey. Along the way, he meets with politicians, historians, community activists, colleagues, friends, and family members to test his theory on Black Liberation, which involves a daring strategy for Black Americans to move to southern states to control legislatures and gain greater political power. I shared my story about my choice to stay here in Chicago in order to build community, power and culture.  Check it out this evening or stream it on MAX!

In this season of celebration and gratitude, we invite you to join Chicago Weavers for an evening of food, fellowship and storytelling! Join us on Wednesday, December 6 where we’ll enjoy dinner together, hear one another's stories of community building, and explore how we might support each other. All are welcome, so bring a friend!

Wednesday, December 6 from 5:00 – 8:00 pm

901 E 95th, Chicago, IL 60619 (Enter through DOOR B)

5:00 – 6:00: Dinner + Cookie Exchange (We’ll provide dinner, and if you’re able, bring your favorite cookies to share!)

6:00 – 8:00: Activities

Let us know you’re coming by registering here.

Hello Chicago friends! I'm Elana Kahn. Though I joined the network as an independent citizen, I'm now Executive Director of the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes, which is part of the Illinois Department of Human Rights. Today is my sixth day on the job! We are working on some great initiatives to address the root causes of bias and hate, while supporting victims. I'm looking forward to meeting you on September 7!

Learn more about the CDHC here --Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes

Hi Chicagoland weavers! We're excited to connect at our next (virtual) Weave Chicagoland gathering on Wednesday, September 27 from 6:00 - 7:30pm. Be sure to register here - and feel free to forward to others.

We're also looking for help to plan the gathering. If you are interested in helping decide the agenda's activities, fill out this Doodlepoll by Thursday. We'll meet for 1 hour within the next few weeks to brainstorm  what the evening will look like.

See you soon! 🙂

Thank you for the 39 years on earth 🌍

Chicago Cares and Ellen Ray, an AGLN Fellow and Weaver, are thrilled to host you for a Chicago meet-up onThursday, September 7 from 5:30 – 8pm!

Fellows in the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN) and members of Weave’s Online Community are invited to gather at Impact House, a 40,000 square foot work club for social impact leaders in downtown Chicago, for an evening of celebration and connection. Each organization and network participating in the meet-up – AGLN, Chicago Cares, and Weave – supports leaders and builds community, locally and nationally. While we might be differently-minded, we are like-hearted! So we invite you to gather, weave a stronger leadership fabric here in the Chicago metro region, and celebrate our ever-growing community!

Can you make it? Click here to register.

Welcome to the Weave Chicagoland online subgroup! 👋😁 We're so glad you're here.  This is a space for all of us passionate about weaving community in the Chicago area to learn from and support one another's efforts to weave deep relationships within our community.

Ways to use the online space

We're growing this group together and we invite you to share about what you're up to and how we can support your weaving work. Here are some ways to engage:

1. Introduce Yourself: We have a discussion page dedicated to learning about one another's stories, which helps weaves us together. Tell us about yourself on this page and anything that might surprise us about you!
   
   
2. Check out upcoming local events (and share your own!): Got a neighborhood picnic coming up? Maybe a workshop you're hosting that's perfect for weavers? Let us know about it by posting the the communityCalendar.
   
   
3. Exchange resources: In need of volunteers to your next event? Or maybe you have a set of great conversation starters you want to share? The Ask & Offer Marketplace forum is a space to exchange a variety of goods and services. And if you have tools and skills that aren't time-bound, add them to the Resources page.
   
   
4. Know of any weaving organizations?: We're starting a directory of local weaving organizations. Add ones you know to this list.
   
   
5. Add yourself or your work to the Interactive Resource Map. See people and resources by locations in the Chicago area here.
   
   
6. How do YOU  want to connect and use this space? Reply in the comments below!
   
   

How to connect with other members

1. In-Person Gatherings: We hope to gather regularly in person. Find all upcoming session details on the Calendar.
2. Online Discussions: Share questions, ideas, musings, and more via our different Discussion categories.
   
   

Update your notifications

You can set your notification preferences to weekly or daily and get instant alerts to newly posted events. Update your settings (and make sure they're not going to spam) by: Click your name in the top right > Your Settings > Notifications > Subgroup Follows > Weave Chicagoland. Or just click here. 🙂

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at any time!
The Weave Team