MOVING IDEAS INTO ACTION WITH THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST’S ACTING UP AWARDS

MOVING IDEAS INTO ACTION WITH THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY TRUST’S ACTING UP AWARDS More than $150,000 in funding available to support actionable follow-up to On the Table discussions

On Tuesday, May 8, Chicagoland residents will gather across the city and

suburbs for The Chicago Community Trust’s fifth annual On the Table – coming together in small groups for mealtime conversations to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing their communities and to share ideas on what they can do to make a difference. To encourage On the Table participants to move their ideas

from discussion to action and support tangible activities that benefit neighborhoods, the Trust today announced the return of its Acting Up awards.

Over the past two years, Acting Up awards totaling nearly $200,000 have been given to 135 diverse projects discussed during On the Table. This year, the Trust will be giving away more than $150,000 – in $1,500, $2,500 and $5,000 increments – to help encourage people to work together and take action for the public good.

“Through On the Table, participants make connections and come up with ideas to make our communities better,” said Daniel Ash, chief marketing officer at The Chicago Community Trust. “Through the Acting Up awards the Trust provides cash awards to help these tables do something – sparking positive action and helping great things happen across the region.”

Implemented by the Trust in partnership with Goodcity, Acting Up awards have funded projects big and small – from a Little Village podcast addressing gentrification to bringing together community members of all ages for a

monthly healing dinner in Englewood. Other projects include an event that provided free mammograms to patients with disabilities and the production of a video that helps young people understand their first paycheck.

A full list of winners – and their videos – over the past two years can be found here. http://cct.org/about/partnerships_initiatives/acting-up-awards/.

On the Table participants are invited to submit a brief video, no more than two minutes, outlining their planned activity. Video entries will be accepted online between May 9 and 25 at www.onthetable.com. A selection committee of diverse community representatives will select winners based on creativity, level of community engagement and potential impact of the ideas. Acting Up winners will be announced in late June.

For additional rules and regulations, please visit www.onthetable.com/acting-up-awards/.

To learn more or to sign up to host an On the Table conversation, visit www.onthetable.com or call 866-737- 6951. Join the conversation on social media using the hashtags #OnTheTable2018 and #ChiTrustActingUp.

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