The Cambodian arts nearly destroyed by genocide find new life in Chicago.

Cambodian Americans in Chicago are determined to keep their art and culture alive. After fleeing Cambodia, where the Khmer Rouge seized power in 1975 and committed genocide that killed 90 percent of the artists, Cambodians found a new home in this country. As a result of their determination and solidarity, they have preserved their art and culture by passing it on to younger generations. On February 9, 2011, WBEZ met with the Cambodian Association of Illinois. Here is the story

Muhammad Sankari from Arab American Network on WBEZ

Muhammad Sankari, 22, is an organizer with Core Member Arab American Action Network’s youth program.  He was nominated by Chicago Cultural Alliance for the Dear Chicago commentary series, a project of WBEZ’s Partnership Program. During this radio program which aired February 7, 2011, Mr. Sankari states that he has observed police officers mistreat teenagers of color in his neighborhood. He calls upon the city council and the next mayor to take action to stop “criminalizing” our youth. Mr. Sankari’s commentary can be heard here

The Alliance is Hiring!

Grants and Member Programs Manager

Full-time (35 hours)

General Description

The Grants and Member Program Manager works with the Executive Director to develop and implement the Alliance fundraising strategy and selected programs. This includes the identification of funding opportunities, the development of proposals, submission of grant reports, and the maintenance of basic fundraising documents. The person will also work with the Executive Director on appeals, campaigns, and individual and corporate donor cultivation strategy. This person will work with the fundraiser planning committee to coordinate MOSAIC, the Alliance’s annual fundraiser, as well as other donor cultivation events. He/she will also be the primary liaison to the fundraising and marketing committees.

The Grants and Member Programs Manager will coordinate programming that directly serves the Alliance’s Core Members, including Building Strong, Building Smart (capacity-building workshop series) and Alliance Exchange (best-practices presentation and discussion program). He/she will also coordinate the delivery of shared services, such as the Alliance’s shared grants consultant, to Core Members.

This position will report directly to the Executive Director. When the Alliance hosts interns, the position may supervise 1-2 interns.

Responsibilities

• Identifies and pursues funding opportunities, including grant writing, the coordination of proposals with members, staff, and board, and reporting
• Works with fundraising committee to create and implement MOSAIC and other donor cultivation events
• Communicates effectively, efficiently, and regularly with Alliance constituents, including Core Members, Partner Institutions, funders, and external stakeholders
• Coordinates and implements Alliance programs among Core Members and Partner Institutions
• Acts as the primary administrator for Building Strong, Building Smart, and Alliance Exchange,  and is responsible for grant reporting related to programming
• Maintains a keen grasp of the needs of Core Members and an awareness of resources that the Alliance can leverage for them
• Supports the Executive Director in implementing the Alliance’s mission 

Time Allocation

60% - Fundraising; 40% - Program

Qualifications

• Proven ability to coordinate programs with a diverse group of individuals and entities
• Strong knowledge of fundraising principles and keen grasp of funding sources that align with Alliance mission
• Superior oral and written communication skills
• Passion for cross-cultural understanding and exploration
• Knowledge of Chicago, particularly its ethnic communities
• Understanding of Chicago arts and culture funding community
• A Bachelor’s degree in humanities, education or social sciences; MA preferred
• Strong computer skills, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint
• Experience planning large-scale fundraising events and coordinating programs desirable
• Ability to communicate and relate to a wide range of individuals
• Three or more years experience in the following areas
• Fundraising record that demonstrates ability to meet increasing financial goals
• Coordinating complex activities that involve multiple constituencies and different individuals

Compensation

This is a twelve-month, full-time, benefitted position with a competitive salary ($36-43,000/year), with a potential for renewal pending funding availability.

How to Apply

Send letter of interest, current resume, and phone numbers of three work references to: job@chicagoculturalalliance.org.  EOE, M/F/D/V.  No phone calls please.

The Alliance is Hiring!

Operations Assistant

 20 Hours/Week with possibility of moving to full-time in January 2011

 The Chicago Cultural Alliance (Alliance) is the only organization of its kind in the United States. Formed by a consortium of Chicago-area ethnic museums, cultural centers, and historical societies partnered with mainstream institutions and agencies, the Alliance is devoted to its mission of effecting social change and public understanding of cultural diversity through first voice perspectives. Through both cross-cultural programming and organizational capacity building, the Alliance enriches the cultural fabric of Chicago.

 The Alliance increases the visibility and impact of Chicago's ethnic assets by leveraging partnerships between member organizations and major cultural and government institutions. The Alliance provides organizational development assistance to its members in an effort to assure the long-term efficacy of its public education, marketing, preservation and social service programs. The Alliance has recently adopted a Civic Engagement Model that guides all of its programming and leads Core Members in an effort to connect cultural heritage and practices to contemporary issues, such as health care, im/migration, and the environment.

 General Description

The Operations Assistant works with the Executive Director, Grants Manager, and Community Engagement Coordinator to maintain efficient and effective office operations. The Operations Assistant will coordinate office operations and procedures in order to ensure excellent communication and organizational effectiveness and efficiency. The primary responsibility of this position is to maintain and to build successful organization operations through tasks such as custom website and database management, communication with staff and members, creation of email blasts, maintenance of calendars and basic bookkeeping tasks.

 Responsibilities

· Maintains custom database of members, donors, and organizations

· Updates website with information about programs, events, and announcements

· Responsible for inputting data into Quickbooks, setting checks to print, preparing deposits, and generating reports, invoices and receipts

· Create, posts, and prints program applications, memos, correspondence, reports, and other documents as necessary

· Answers, composes, types, formats and sends correspondence, newsletters, reports, programs, and invitations

· Performs administrative tasks as required (mailing, filing, photocopying, presentation templates, etc.)

· Responsible for contents and neatness of office supply and snack cabinets; ensures supplies and snacks are kept in stock

· Makes reminder phone calls

· Receptionist duties - answers phone calls and directs them to appropriate person, answers basic questions about organization and provides callers with address, directions, and other information as needed and welcomes visitors.

· Assists staff with administrative needs

· Completes in a timely fashion all other tasks and individually established goals as assigned by the Executive Director

 Qualifications

· Experience working in Quickbooks and exposure to financial best-practices

· Strong proficiency in computer software, including Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Internet browsers, and basic design software as well as social networking technologies

· Demonstrated ability to manage multiples tasks and priorities, prioritize work, maintain deadlines and ensure quality of work.

· Superior interpersonal, oral and written communication skills that can be adapted to reach a wide range of individuals

· High levels of initiative and attention to detail

· Well-developed problem-solving , time management, organizational, and prioritizing skills

Ability to manage multiple tasks with frequent interruptions
Associate's degree in humanities, finance, education or social sciences; BA preferred.
Passion for cross-cultural understanding and exploration

Preferences

· Experience working in an administrative role for a non-profit organization

· Experience working with Chicago's Latino, Asian, or African-American communities

Physical Demands
The Operations Assistant will spend long hours sitting and using office equipment and computers, which can cause muscle strain. The Office Manager will occasionally be required to lift of supplies and materials.

Environmental Conditions
The Operations Assistant will work in a busy, open area office. He or she is faced with constant interruptions and must meet with others on a regular basis.

Compensation

This is a 20 hour/week position with the possibility of moving to a full-time (35 hours/week) in January, with possibility for additional hours during busy time periods. This position requires a flexible schedule; applicants must be willing to work some evenings and weekends. The position pays $10-12/hour, depending on experience.

 How to Apply

The Chicago Cultural Alliance is an equal opportunity employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply. Applications received prior by 11/8/2010 will be given priority.

 Qualified and interested candidates should submit letter of interest, current resume, and phone numbers of three work references to Rebeccah Sanders, Executive Director: info@chicagoculturalalliance.org Please note "Operations Assistant" in subject line.

 Finalists may be required to undergo a criminal background check and a credit check.

Call for Artists to Participate in Art Loop Open! Proposals Due August 31!

CHICAGO, IL (August 2, 2010) - Chicago Loop Alliance and Chicago Artists' Coalition will transform the Loop into an interactive, multi-venue public art exhibition with the inaugural Art Loop Open, October 15 - 29, 2010, and Chicagoland's diverse and talented visual artists are encouraged to participate!

Art Loop Open will not only offer the potential for artists to win cash prizes totaling more than $50,000 but also the valuable opportunity to reach new and coveted audiences. Work will be seen and voted on by potentially 500,000 daily visitors to the Loop, presented in such high profile venues as Macy's, the Wit Hotel, Palmer House, The Hard Rock Hotel, Block 37, Merchandise Mart, Cadillac Palace, Oriental Theatre, and more.

To ensure the highest quality of artwork on display for public voting, all submissions will be vetted by an expert jury which includes Mary Jane Jacob (School of the Art Institute, author and curator), Tricia Van Eck (Associate Curator, Museum of Contemporary Art), Theaster Gates (Director of Arts Development, University of Chicago), and Susan Aurinko (independent curator and former Director, Flatfile Galleries). A curatorial team, led by Shannon Stratton (Founder, three walls Gallery), will curate the selected works into the venues.

"The Chicago Artists' Coalition and the Chicago Loop Alliance, partners in Art Loop Open, are thrilled to have the opportunity to create an event that empowers this city's artists. Art Loop Open is designed to give every participating artist various tools to enhance their career, including evaluation by a renowned jury; technological marketing capabilities through the web site and voter experience; public programs; new audience cultivation; art sales and of course the chance to win prizes!," said Carolina O. Jayaram, Executive Director, Chicago Artists' Coalition.

Artists are invited to submit their application through August 31, 2010; for more information, including qualifications, entry process and fee structure, please visit ArtLoopOpen.com.

Core Members can access a downloadable version of this information by clicking here as well as a document outlining the benefits of CAC membership that can be distributed to your communities! 

Selected: Participants for Conservation & Collections 2010

The Chicago Cultural Alliance is proud to announce that the following ten Core Member organizations applied for and will be receiving resources through this year’s Conservation & Collections program:  American Indian Center of Chicago; Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture; Cambodian American Heritage Museum; Chicago Japanese American Historical Society; Chinese-American Museum of Chicago; Latvian Folk Art Museum; Polish Museum of America; Swedish-American Museum; and the  Ukrainian National Museum. This program is an excellent opportunity for Core Members to further ensure that the public continues to have access to their various collections, which tell the story of Chicago’s ethnic communities. Conservators from the Field Museum and the Chicago History Museum will be conducting comprehensive preservation reviews of Core Members’ collections, as well as conducting a series of hands-on workshops throughout the next six months. These workshops will focus on best practices for the storage, handling, and display of artifacts and collections.

The Alliance is Hiring

Requests for Proposal-Grants Writer

Chicago Cultural Alliance

The Chicago Cultural Alliance is a consortium of Chicago-area ethnic museums and cultural centers whose mission is to effect social change and public understanding of cultural diversity through first voice perspectives.

The Alliance is soliciting bids from grant writers to assist Alliance members with their grants research and grants writing. This is a pilot program for the Alliance and is one of several efforts to combine back office and support services for members. Members of the Alliance that are participating in this grant writing program are: American Indian Center, Bronzeville Historical Society, Indo American Heritage Museum, Ukrainian National Museum, Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture, Arab American Action Network, and the Filipino American Historical Society.

The consultant will be responsible for the following work, although the work listed is not all needed by each participating member. While the contract will be between the Alliance and the consultant, each participating member will also have a letter of agreement individualizing their work plan, deliverables, and deadlines.

• Research to identify potential foundation, business, government, and/or corporate grants
• Research to identify potential corporate sponsorships
• Develop a calendar of deadlines for submissions
• Create template proposals, attachments, and standard documents
• Write individualized proposals for specific programs or to specific funders
• Write grant reports and attachments
• Training staff about grants research, writing, and developing relationships with funders

The pilot program will begin in June and run for a minimum of six months for 10-12 hours per week. The pilot phase is structured so that the consultant will work with two to three members at one time for a specific amount of time, then move on to other members. At the completion of the pilot phase, an evaluation will be held including the participating members, the Alliance, and the consultant, and plans for the future will be made.

Pay is $35 per hour during this pilot phase. Occasional meetings with the participating members in their communities will be required. Willingness to learn about the various cultures of the members will be expected and will not be included in the paid hours.

The following qualifications are required: Proven track record with a minimum of four years of grants writing and grants research; experience writing successful grants for small to mid-size social change nonprofits; experience as an independent contractor able to juggle multiple clients simultaneously; interest in and experience writing about issues facing ethnic communities and conducting research on various cultures.

Please submit a cover letter indicating interest in this pilot program, resume, list of current clients, and grants writing accomplishments by May 10, 2010 to: Kris Torkelson, search coordinator for the Chicago Cultural Alliance at ccasearch@comcast.net.

Selected: "Talking About...." Dialogue Program Participants

The Chicago Cultural Alliance is proud to announce that the following nine Core Members applied for and will be receiving funds and resources for this year's Talking About Dialogues' Program: American Indian Center of Chicago, Arab-American Action Network, Cambodian American Heritage Musem, Chinese-American Museum of Chicago, Ethiopian Community Association of Chicago, Indo-American Heritage Museum, Irish American Heritage Center, Polish Museum of America, and the Swedish-American Museum.

Talking About Dialogues is a program designed to bring together Core Member communities to discuss significant contemporary issues, such as immigration, ethnic identity, climate change, and health care, from the varied perspectives and experiences of community members. Requisite training began on Monday, March 22nd with a day-long workshop on civic engagement. Representatives from each of the nine accepted Core Members gathered together at Casa Michoacan to learn about innovative ways to engage their respective communities, as well as identify ways to bridge topics raised by museum exhibits with issues relevant to their communities.

Members such as the Arab American Action Network cited challenges such as "trying to engage the largest section possible of the Arab community, which is separated from our organization's site [due] to recent demographic shifts that place the majority of this community" farther away from their actual geographic location. Future programming, including cross-cultural dialogues and public panel discussions, will help to deliver a diversity of perspectives that's more reflective of our multi-cultural society.

Selected: Cultural Perspectives & Climate Change Participants

The Chicago Cultural Alliance is pleased to announce that four Core Members have been selected to participate in the 2010 Cultural Perpsectives & Climate Change Program: Casa Michoacán, the Indo-American Heritage Museum, Casa Aztlán, and the Ukrainian National Museum. This program is an exciting collaboration between the Alliance and the Field Museum's division of Environment, Culture, and Conservation. Participants will explore the connections between cultural practice and environmental sustainability. Casa Michoacán wrote in their application that the "main challenge [we face] is recycling and water waste. The community needs to know the importance of recycling and how important it is to recycle for the environment . . . We need to persuade the community to recycle and save water more often." Participants will be attending several training sessions, as well as taking part in exercises to help identify and map the various cultural, social, and environmental assets their communities possess, with the ultimate goal of leading their communities to preserve and sustain what those landmarks. 

Alliance Holds Third Annual Meeting

On March 5th, 2010, over 80 people from Core Member organizations, Partner Institutions, and the general public gathered in the gorgeous, sunny ballroom at the Irish American Heritage Center for the Chicago Cultural Alliance's third annual meeting. We were incredibly proud that Sunny Fischer, Executive Director of the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, was there to speak about the importance of small ethnic museums and cultural centers to the life of the city of Chicago. As always, it was an opportunity for Core Members to mingle with one another, vote for new board members, hear about the accomplishments of the past year, and learn about new opportunities for 2010.

Alliance Seeks Ethnographer!

Project: Culture & Climate Change/Engaging Chicago’s Diverse Communities in the Chicago Climate Action Plan

Position: Anthropologist

Project Schedule: Mid-March 2010–Mid-September 2010 (6 mo., part-time)

Application Deadline: March 8, 2010

Description: The Chicago Cultural Alliance (Alliance) seeks an anthropologist to work on an asset-mapping project that involves ethnography and training. The anthropologist will work as part of a team to help two Alliance organizations identify community concerns and eco-friendly values and practices that they can draw on to help their communities become more sustainable and climate-friendly. The project will be conducted in partnership with The Field Museum’s division of Environment, Culture, and Conservation (ECCo). ECCo is conducting rapid inventories of various Chicago neighborhoods to recommend steps for the Chicago Department of Environment to engage communities in successful implementation of the Chicago Climate Action Plan (CCAP). The anthropologist’s primary responsibility will be to work with Field Museum and Alliance member staff to conduct rapid participatory fieldwork research; analyze the research; and write reports to be submitted to the Alliance and the Department of Environment.

Required Qualifications:

·     Master’s degree in Anthropology or Sociology

·     Ability to work under tight deadlines

·     Experience working in Chicago neighborhoods

·     Interest in applied anthropology: conducting rapid research and quickly translating it into recommendations and action plans

To Apply: Please email cover-letter, current CV, and names of references to Rebeccah Sanders, Executive Director: rsanders@chicagoculturalalliance.org

For more information: http://www.chicagoclimateaction.org/

Please note that this is a grant funded contract positoin that will be part-time for 6-months. The Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Mimosa Shah Joins Alliance as Community Engagement Coordinator

The Alliance is proud to announce that Mimosa Shah has joined the Chicago Cultural Alliance as our Community Engagement Coordinator. Ms. Shah will work with Core Members and their constituents to develop, deliver, and facilitate Alliance programs and outreach activities.

Prior to joining the Alliance, Ms. Shah worked with a Core Member - the Indo-American Center, a community-based organization located in the West Ridge neighborhood of Chicago.  As the Literacy Coordinator, she managed an English as a Second Language program for nearly two-hundred lower-income refugees and immigrants, oversaw the development of three staff members, authored and reported upon a series of grants, and documented the progress of clients as they transitioned to life in America.

Previously, she worked on the staff of several political campaigns in northern Illinois. These campaigns were grassroots in nature, dedicated to open processes and the mobilization of individuals who had little experience with campaigns. Empowerment was also central to her work as a legal advocate for survivors of domestic violence at Apna Ghar (Our Home), a Chicago-based social services agency championing the rights of all to lives free from violence.

Mimosa holds a B.A. in English from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is currently working towards the completion of her M.A. in Humanities from the University of Chicago, focusing primarily upon the gaze in mid-twentieth century South Asian cinema. She also lived in Paris, France for a year, where she studied French language and culture at the Sorbonne. Her diverse interests echo a common theme of community activism and an appreciation for the wealth of voices comprising American society today.

Grant Award

The Alliance is pleased to announce that we received a grant from the Chicago Community Trust to fund a second round of smARTscope™ for additional Core Members. We will be working with the Arts & Business Council of Chicago to deliver the management assessment survey and to develop capacity-building trainings based on the final reports.  

Alliance Hosts Panel in Celebration of United Nations Day!

Photo from left: Jorge Felix (Alliance Board of Directors), Maria Drell (Brazilian Cultural Center), Rebeccah Sanders (Executive Director, Chicago Cultural Alliance), Jan Lorys (Polish Museum of America), Mayor Richard M. Daley, Rosa Cabrera (Field Museum, Alliance Board), Cara Pickett (Chicago Cultural Alliance), Peg Strobel (Alliance Board of Directors)

The Alliance has moved!

The Alliance is proud to announce that it has moved into new offices at the Irish American Heritage Center!

Chicago Cultural Alliance
4626 N. Knox Avenue, Room 301
Chicago, IL 60630

Phone: (773) 283-1958

The new space gives us room to grow as the Alliance expands its staff and operations. While we are currently in the process of renovating our new space, it promised to be a beautiful space where we can welcome our communities and supporters.

The Chicago Japanese American Historical Society will join the Alliance in its new space in November 2009. How exciting it is for the Alliance to provide space and to begin functioning as an incubator for our community organizations.

Since 2007, the Swedish American Museum has hosted the Alliance. We are so grateful to their board and staff for their support, encouragement, and resources!

A Historic Year and a Bright Future

As our first fully operational year comes to a close, the Chicago Cultural Alliance is well on its way to enriching Chicago's cultural landscape by strengthening the city's ethnic museums, cultural centers, and historical societies. In a city of neighborhoods, these organizations are vital to maintaining our city's character, providing a sense of historic perspective and linking this history to the issues facing our communities today.

Since our official launch in February 2008, the Alliance's programming, membership, and profile have grown tremendously. The city's institutions and communities have embraced the Alliance. Our mission of promoting social change and public understanding of diversity through the first voice perspectives of our members has resonated throughout the city. In the past year,

•Our membership has grown by 25% to include 25 ethnic museums and cultural centers that represent over 21 ethnic groups.

•We have built partnerships with 12 high profile institutions in the metropolitan area, including Chicago 2016, Brookfield Zoo, and the University of Chicago's Center for International Studies.

•In the wake of a devastating fire at the Chinese American Museum of Chicago, the Alliance coordinated volunteers, resources, and fundraising efforts, and we continue to provide assistance in the museum's recovery efforts.

•We have developed several workshops with our partners to deepen our members' organizational capacity. We are also providing training around significant issues such as immigration.

•Conservators from the Field Museum & Chicago History Museum are training our members on proper artifact conservation practices.

•With the Arts & Business Council of Chicago and through the generous funding of the Joyce Foundaton, we have delivered a series of seminars based on our members' SmARTscope results.

•The Alliance has joined the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, representing Chicago in an impressive network with organizations such as South Africa's District Six Museum and Atlanta's Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site.

•We have remained committed to a unique model of cross-cultural collaboration. Our members are working across ethnicities in programs such as the Field Museum's Cultural Connections series. Members have also collaborated in environmental and arts programs developed by the Alliance.

•The Alliance has received broad public support and is becoming a resource for the city of Chicago. This year, we have received funds from a number of high profile foundations such as the Chicago Community Trust and the Joyce Foundation.

•As the Alliance, our members now have wider access to Chicago's institutions and agencies, who recognize the collective expertise and perspective that the Alliance can bring conversations about the past, present, and future of our city.

The Chicago Cultural Alliance is a one-of-a-kind organization. By working together as the Alliance, Chicago's ethnic museums, cultural centers, and historical societies have strengthened their presence and influence in the city. The Alliance is creating a new and exciting model of how ethnic communities can collaborate to preserve their cultural heritage.

CCA Internship Opening

Community Engagement Intern (2 openings)

Supervisor: Executive Director

Objective: Assist the Executive Director in daily activities and communication with the Chicago Cultural Alliance community, the general public, and the media.

Responsibilities: The Community Engagement Intern will deal directly with Chicago Cultural Alliance members and partners by handling member requests, registration for and publication of events & workshops, assisting with meeting development, and invoicing. In addition to these internal community responsibilities, the Community Engagement Intern will lead the effort to build an online presence for the Chicago Cultural Alliance through Web 2.0 technologies. The intern may also assist in the development of a media contact database.

Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have excellent writing and communication skills and the ability to multitask. He or she should be creative, personable, feel comfortable working with a diverse group of people and have excellent computer skills. We prefer applicants with solid knowledge of social networking sites and a social science or public relations background.

Dates of Project: Spring Semester 2009; start and end dates of internship are flexible.

Time Commitment: 10-15 hours per week for a period of at least 16 weeks

Application Deadline: We are currently accepting applications for this position.

How to Apply
A completed application consists of the following:

• One page personal statement describing your reasons for seeking an internship with the Chicago Cultural Alliance and what you hope to gain from the experience
• A resume outlining your educational, professional, and volunteer experiences
• Two references from current or former professors or employers

Applications can be emailed to info@chicagoculturalalliance.org with Community Engagement Intern noted in the subject line.

CCA Project Featured in Chicago Wilderness Newsletter

LNCI at Work: Nature and Culture in a Program for Immigrant Youth

Cardamom, turmeric, cinnamon: these plants may not figure prominently in many Chicago Wilderness residents' gardens, but they did occupy front-and-center seats in a program of the Indo-American Center of Chicago that connected immigrant youth with the soils and natural resources of their new home. The program took place over the summer and involved 15 children recently arrived in the U.S. in an intergenerational effort to foster a sense of community, a sense of place, and a sense of pride among the residents of Chicago's Rogers Park neighborhood.

The Indo-American Center, which provides immigration, adult literacy, after-school tutoring, and other services to South Asian immigrants, was looking for culturally-relevant ways of connecting immigrant youth with the neighborhood's green spaces. The intergenerational gardening project proved to fill that need with fun and learning: community elders instructed the youth in the medicinal and traditional uses of South Asian plants while teaching them how to play outdoor games of South Asian origin. At the same time, all of the participants worked side by side to beautify their neighborhood by planting hearty perennials on street corners and other public spaces.


The program was made possible in part by a grant from Chicago Wilderness to the Chicago Cultural Alliance -- a consortium of Chicago's ethnic museums and cultural centers -- with assistance from the West Ridge Garden Club and the North Side Alliance. Ritwik Banerji, the Indo-American Center's Youth Program Coordinator, believes that "sowing seeds" had both a metaphoric and a literal meaning in the case of this program, as the activities helped to counter the feeling of rootlessness held by many immigrant children. Mr. Banerji hopes to offer the program again next summer and is currently searching for potential garden plots in the community as well as a Master Gardener willing to help with the project. For more information, you can contact Mr. Banerji at 773-973-4444 or rbanerji@indoamerican.org.



Website: http://www.chicagowilderness.org

CHICAGO 2016 PARTNERS WITH CHICAGO CULTURAL ALLIANCE

CHICAGO (October 13, 2008) - Today, Chicago 2016 announced it is partnering with the recently formed Chicago Cultural Alliance (CCA), a membership organization of Chicago's ethnic museums, cultural centers and many of the city's larger cultural institutions, to bring the series Bodies in Motion to Chicago this fall.

"The people of Chicago are one of the bid's greatest strengths," said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of Chicago 2016. "Chicagoans hail from every corner of the globe, and we have a long tradition of celebrating and embracing our cultural heritage. By taking an active role in the CCA, Chicago 2016 can help build this important multicultural network as we prepare our bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games."

The CCA is the only organization of its kind in the United States and seeks to effect social change and build public understanding of cultural diversity with innovative programming and collaborations driven by Chicago's ethnic communities.

"This city loves its sports, and nothing captures our collective imagination like the magnificence of human potential on display through the Olympic Games," said CCA Board Member Jennifer Amdur Spitz. "By working with Chicago 2016, CCA can capture that imagination in programming, and contribute a whole new level of cross-cultural dialogue to enrich the Olympic experience."

The first collaboration between Chicago 2016 and the CCA is focused on Cultural Connections, a public-education program developed by the Field Museum to offer cross-cultural, public events based in an anthropological framework of "Common Concerns, Different Responses." The program also offers continuing professional development courses for Chicago Public School teachers.

Bodies in Motion explores the cultural significance of athletic activities for Chicago's different ethnic communities. The first event, "Going the Distance," will take place at the American Indian Center on Sunday, October 19. It is a collaborative effort between the American Indian Center and the Swahili Institute of Chicago and explores how "The Long Walk" and long-distance running uplift each respective community in spiritual, political and practical ways.

Cultural Connections: Bodies in Motion Series Schedule

October 19
Going the Distance
Collaboration between the Swahili Institute of Chicago and the American Indian Center
2:00 - 4:30 PM
American Indian Center
1630 W. Wilson, Chicago

November 8
Time to Spare
Collaboration between the Bronzeville/Black Chicagoan Historical Society and the Filipino American Historical Society of Chicago
12:30 - 3:00 PM
Lincoln Square Lanes
4874 N. Lincoln Avenue

December 6
Going for Gold
Collaboration between the Chicago History Museum and the Hellenic Museum and Cultural Center
11:30 AM - 2 PM
St. Basil Greek Orthodox Church
733 S. Ashland Avenue

###

About Chicago 2016
Chicago 2016 is a 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to seek the privilege of hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago. The committee's board consists of business, civic, athletic, cultural and academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. Patrick Ryan serves as the organization's chairman and CEO.

About The Chicago Cultural Alliance
The Chicago Cultural Alliance is a consortium of over 25 ethnic museums and cultural centers and twelve institutional partners that was established in 2007. These museums and centers have worked together for several years through The Field Museum's Cultural Connections program. The partners built upon this collective experience, with stewardship from The Field Museum, to form the Alliance and became a fully independent 501(c)(3) organization in 2007. Cultural Connections has received generous support for the Bodies in Motion series from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, JPMorgan Chase Foundation, Polk Bros. Foundation, the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, the Illinois Humanities Council and the Chicago Park District. Visit www.chicagoculturalalliance.org to learn more about our programs and partners.

Rebeccah Sanders
Interim Executive Director
Chicago Cultural Alliance
(773) 275-7004
rsanders@chicagoculturalalliance.org

Mica Matsoff
Chicago 2016
(312) 861-4826
media@chicago2016.org


Website: http://www.chicago2016.org

Recovering From the Fire

The Chicago Cultural Alliance thanks our community for their great support of the Chinese Museum of Chicago (CAMOC).We are proud that a number of our CCA members and partners recruited volunteers to help with the move out of the museum last week. Despite the great damage suffered by the structure, the volunteers, led by staff from the Field Museum and Chicago History Museum, were able to salvage much of the collection from the first and second floors of the museum.

The Chinese American Museum of Chicago needs some assistance as they continue to forge ahead in their recovery efforts.

1. Finding a new warehouse space with HVAC and security

2. Space for sorting and re-accessioning items

3. Appraiser for items lost/damaged in fire with a focus on 3D objects, textiles, and wooden furniture

4. Conservation estimates

5. Office space

Any suggestions about these items can be directed to info@chicagoculturalalliance.org

Website: http://www.camla.org

CCA Receives Grant From Chicago Wilderness

The Chicago Cultural Alliance received a $9,500 grant from Chicago Wilderness's "Leave No Child Inside" initiative for the summer project "Youth Connecting Communities with Nature."

This project is between four Alliance core members seeking to increase the investment of their youth in nature and their communities' outdoor experiences while exploring cultural assets and social issues that link their communities to nature.

The four members participating include Bronzeville/Black Chicagoan Historical Society, Indo-American Center, Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture and Swedish American Museum Center.

These members will share the grant and will come together to share their projects at Barrio Art Fest 2008 on August 16th. The "Youth Connecting Communities with Nature" project was inspired by ECCo's* New Allies for Nature and Culture effort to build partnerships between organizations that work on environmental, social and cultural issues.
*ECCo (Environment, Culture, and Conservation) is a Division of Science at The Field Museum where Cultural Connections resides.

CCA Launch a Success!

The official launch of the Chicago Cultural Alliance, which took place at the Chicago History Museum, came together in perfect harmony. Members and guests were able to mingle over a light breakfast surrounded by tables adorned with cultural textiles.

Following breakfast, guests were welcomed by the Executive Vice-president and Chief Historian of the Chicago History Museum, Russell Lewis and by the President of the CCA, Kerstin Lane. Congressman Rahm Emanuel also sent greetings and good wishes to the CCA by Karolina Zaczek. Joseph Podlasek, of the American Indian Center, provided information as to the formation of the CCA and Jorge Felix, of the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, introduced guests to the current projects of the CCA.

The program also featured readings done by poets Bassey Ikpi, Kelly Tsai, Mayda del Valle, and Marty McConnell, which were very electric performances. Please see below for links to the poems.

Anna Politkovskaya to Katie Couric By Marty McConnell
Making Guacamole By Kelly Zen-Yie Tsai (www.yellowgurl.com)

CCA Receives Award of Excellence

The official launch of the Chicago Cultural Alliance, which took place at the Chicago History Museum, came together in perfect harmony. Members and guests were able to mingle over a light breakfast surrounded by tables adorned with cultural textiles.

Following breakfast, guests were welcomed by the Executive Vice-president and Chief Historian of the Chicago History Museum, Russell Lewis and by the President of the CCA, Kerstin Lane. Congressman Rahm Emanuel also sent greetings and good wishes to the CCA by Karolina Zaczek. Joseph Podlasek, of the American Indian Center, provided information as to the formation of the CCA and Jorge Felix, of the Institute of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, introduced guests to the current projects of the CCA.

The program also featured readings done by poets Bassey Ikpi, Kelly Tsai, Mayda del Valle, and Marty McConnell, which were very electric performances. Please see below for links to the poems.