RDLF News: Issue 19

Movement on Montrose Open House

On September 7th, The Reva and David Logan Foundation (RDLF) hosted an Open House and Community Day at Movement on Montrose . It was an opportunity to get to know people and businesses in the neighborhood.

The RDLF provided free food from our Rescue & Redistribution program and Cradles to Crayons Chicago provided free backpacks and diapers. Visitors helped themselves to as much as they needed.

DJ Matt kept the car park grooving all day. Inside, free dance classes were offered – from ballet to waacking – by Dance Avondale; plus, yoga from Laura Johnston and aerial silk demonstrations by Julie Matolo and Michelle Reid.

Pak Suan, a farmer from Global Garden Refugee Training Farm, brought fresh produce and free snacks of fried opo squash and marigolds both grown at the farm.

Project Onward opened an exhibition that remains on view through October. To celebrate, artists Ruby Bradford and Stephon Doby offered $10 portraits for visitors.

Sixteen vendors had tables in the event space, including Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez’ office, which handed out free naloxone with instructions on when and how to use it. The Art of Wellness offered visitors a chance to sit down and relax through art making.

Movement on Montrose has several upcoming public events including Fempreneur Poder Hub‘s “Mi Barrio es Tu Barrio” and the Latine Poetry Festival. Stay in the know by subscribing to the mailing list?and public events calendar.

Grantee Accomplishments

Two RDLF grantees, The War Horse and Pollen Initiative, work together to bring together incarcerated veterans for a writing seminar

The War Horse News produced their seventh writing seminar, this one inside San Quentin Rehabilitation Center with the help of Pollen Initiative, to provide this year's War Horse fellows, a group of incarcerated veterans, with a unique opportunity for personal expression and healing through writing.

The fellows were mentored by accomplished journalists who facilitated deep discussions and, as one fellow wrote, provided transformational feedback. By the end of the workshop, a large majority of the fellows reported that they felt their stories were important and that they were better equipped to tell them.

Scott Wilson, a national correspondent from Washington Post, called the “The War Horse’s first outreach into the prison system … extraordinary in its ambition and effect.”

Read more here.

In addition, congratulations to the following partners, who were featured in the news:

• Vision Maker Media released six short films about the effects of climate change from Indigenous voices in partnership with GBH/Nova, as reported by Current.?
• Nicole Clarke-Springer from Deeply Rooted Dance Theater shares her perspective on activism through art in this article by Essence.?
• South Chicago Dance Theatre received a glowing review in The Berkshire Edge for their performance at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival under Kia S. Smith's decisive leadership.
• Camesha Jones from Sista Afya Community Care NFP explains ?the importance of ensuring that more Black providers enter the mental health field on PBS Newshour.?
• The Bristol Cable talked about the success of their membership drive motivated by RDLF's challenge grant on Hold the Front Page.
• Natalia Viana from Agência Pública spoke about the downfall of X as an investigative journalism platform in this article from Reuters Institute.?
• This article by The Block Club spotlights Dion's Chicago Dream for their work combatting food insecurity in Englewood and their recent national award.?

Upcoming Opportunities

Volunteer at the Hyde Park Jazz Festival on September 28, 29

Hyde Park Jazz Festival is looking for volunteers to lend a hand on September 28th and 29th. Possible responsibilities include greeting visitors at the information desk, selling merchandise, and helping out during performances.?

Check out this year's lineup and sign up for a volunteer shift.?

Open Applications

• AMPT Digital Communications Cohort: This cohort experience aims to equip nonprofit executive directors and communication directors with essential skills and knowledge around digital communications to thrive in the digital world.?Over four weeks, cohort members will participate in interactive sessions covering key areas of digital communication, including graphic design and social media strategies. Sessions take place from November 6th to December 4th. The application closes September 30th at 11:59pm CT.
• Terralingua Indigenous Youth Storytellers Circle: The Indigenous Youth Storytellers Circle (IYSC) is an ongoing Terralingua project that aims to amplify the voices of young Indigenous people from all over the world. Young Indigenous people up to 35 years old are welcome to apply. Proposed stories can be in written and/or visual media. The deadline for Expressions of Interest is October 7th.
• W. Eugene Smith Grant: The W. Eugene Smith Grant is designed to encourage and support visual storytellers whose photographic work renews the tradition of W. Eugene Smith’s dedicated compassion as a photographic essayist. Special consideration will be given to work that promotes social change, embraces new technologies and image distribution, and seeks to integrate the tradition of photography and social change with contemporary practice. The submission deadline is October 8th at 10:59pm CT.?

Job Openings

• Global Investigative Journalism Network : Program Director; Resource Center Researcher
• Communities In Schools (CIS) of Chicago :?Development Coordinator
• Chicago HOPES for Kids :?Site Coordinator (Part-Time)
• City Bureau : Chicago Director, Documenters Program ?
• Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) : Program Director

What We're Reading

A Baby Adopted, A Family Divided

• Reveal: "Reporters Andrew Becker and Bernice Yeung dig into the story of [a] complicated and controversial adoption, how it circumvented the mission of the Indian Child Welfare Act, and why some of the baby’s Native family and tribe were left feeling that a child was taken from them."

Doctors Saved Her Life. She Didn’t Want Them To.

• Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley: "Marie Cooper ... always said that at the end of her life, she did not want to be resuscitated. ... 'I could just feel the tubes all over in my throat, just like they were really still in there,' said Ms. Cooper, now 81. 'I’d rather be dead than live like this.'"

The Deteriorating Environment Is a Public Concern, but Americans Misunderstand Their Contribution to the Problem

• Inside Climate News: “Translating concern about the environment to actual change requires people to believe they have something at stake ... 'It’s troubling that Americans aren’t making that connection.'"

• The War Horse: "Despite assurances from the military that it takes stolen weapons extremely seriously, firearms—along with other high-value military equipment—have continued to disappear in recent years. ...?it’s unclear how many weapons are still going missing, how big of a problem it is, and what the military is doing to address it."

We'd like to hear from you!?

Thanks for reading! We have an open call for content from our partners to highlight the brilliant work they're doing in the community. If you are a current grantee or partner with The Reva and David Logan Foundation and you would like to contribute to our next newsletter, please reach out to Sabrina Boggs, Communications Coordinator at sabrina(at)loganfdn(dot)org. Please note that we will not share fundraising campaigns.

In addition, we are frequently reposting our grantees on our social media, so make sure to follow us and tag us in your posts! Links to our socials are below.

See you next time!

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