Chicago Service Organizations Celebrate Chicago Community Trust's On The Table: Service Edition
May 1, 2014 /3BL Media/ - The Taproot Foundation and Chicago Cares have asked local leaders in service to participate in the Chicago Community Trust’s On the Table initiative on May 12th, 2014 with the key question “why is volunteer service important to you?” Thanks to the thousands of volunteers who make it matter in every neighborhood, the Service Edition will focus conversations on the unique role these organizations have in defining civic engagement in Chicago.
“Chicago Cares is proud to be a part of 'On the Table: Service Edition.' We’ll be hosting five conversations attended by our volunteers and the general public to talk about why people volunteer and the challenges that service can help address in Chicago,” said Chicago Cares Executive Director Jenné Myers. “We look forward to the outcomes from these partnerships, as the information will inform our programmatic focus areas and the new projects we design for and in our communities.”
Participants in the Service Edition include the Donor’s Forum, Quarterback, BuildOn, City Year Chicago, the Honeycomb Project, HRMAC, Arts & Business Council, Lumity, Artswork Fund, Net Impact, HandsOn Tech, Public Allies, HandsOn Suburban Chicago, and WITS. “We often talk about how WITS volunteers become more civic-minded through their work with CPS students,” said Executive Director Brenda Palm. “'On the Table’ is an ideal forum for volunteers to focus what drives them to do this work and how they see the role of volunteerism in moving our city forward.”
Drawing from volunteers in every neighborhood, each organization will be hosting unique conversations that get to the heart of what it means to be civically engaged in Chicago and how together, we can create change. With a diversity of gatherings, On the Table conversations will offer a platform for every volunteer to join a conversation with dinners such as:
► The Honeycomb Project will host an all-ages community dinner at Inspiration Kitchens exploring Chicago’s challenges, strengths and its future – focusing on teen volunteers.
► HandsOn Tech has partnered up with Andrew Means, founder of Data Analysts for Social Good, to host a lunchtime discussion as part of the Do Good Data conference.
► Public Allies will focus its discussion on the millennial voice and the unique view they bring to volunteering in the nonprofit sector.
“On the Table gives service leaders a wonderful platform to bring together volunteers and really understand from their perspective how they see their role in addressing our city’s challenges,” said Elizabeth Schwan-Rosenwald, Executive Director for the Taproot Foundation, Chicago. “We’re honored to be a part of On the Table and the Trust’s 99th anniversary celebrations.”
About The Taproot Foundation
Since its founding in 2001, the Taproot Foundation has led the development of the pro bono movement. Through award-winning programs, pioneering thought leadership, and partnerships with companies to develop and scale corporate pro bono programs, Taproot works to engage the nation’s millions of business professionals in pro bono service. Taproot’s website,taprootfoundation.org, is the premier destination for doing, getting, supporting, and learning about pro bono. The Taproot Foundation’s mission is to lead, mobilize and engage professionals in pro bono service that drives social change. To learn more visit www.taprootfoundation.org.
About Chicago Cares
Founded in 1991 by Leslie Bluhm and Mary Prchal, Chicago Cares is a nonprofit organization that has mobilized nearly 500,000 volunteers to meet Chicago’s most challenging needs. As the leading service organization in the city, Chicago Cares creates programs that foster civic engagement by educating and empowering volunteers to be agents of change. With 250 monthly group service projects, corporate programs and annual events, our model connects needs with action. For more information, visit www.chicagocares.org.
For more information, please contact:
Mary Hankey
Phone: (312) 635-1129
Email: mary@taprootfoundation.org
