Crossroads Fund, a Chicago foundation that funds grassroots groups working for racial, social and economic justice, will honor Karen Lewis and the Chicago Teachers Union at their annual benefit Seeds of Change on April 12, 2013. Blocks Together and the Chicago chapter of the National Lawyers Guild will also be honored at the event.
Crossroads Fund has been supporting grassroots groups working for racial, social and economic justice in Chicago for more than 30 years. We were one of the first supporters of a number of controversial issues and movements, including ACT/UP, the movement to end the Death Penalty in Illinois, and the activism of undocumented "Dreamer" youth, among others. We're excited to celebrate our support for the movement to protect public education at our benefit this year.
As Crossroads Fund Executive Director Jeanne Kracher explained, "Chicago has a reputation as a place where the Office of the Mayor dominates - some may say dictates - the life and movements of the city. Any community organizer will tell you — months of work can come to a full stop if they run contrary to the policies of the Mayor of Chicago. That's why this year, we are so happy to honor three groups who persist in the face of Chicago politics as usual: Karen Lewis and the Chicago Teachers Union; Blocks Together; and the National Lawyers Guild Chicago Chapter."
On April 12, 2013, at our annual benefit Seeds of Change, Crossroads Fund will present the Ron Sable Award for Activism to Karen Lewis and the Chicago Teachers Union and Blocks Together, and the Donald F. Erickson Synapses Award to the National Lawyers Guild Chicago Chapter.
Ron Sable was an activist and moving spirit here in Chicago. As a doctor at Cook County Hospital, Ron helped to provide care to low-income people, and worked across connecting issues, including women's and reproductive rights, just treatment of prisoners, and national health care. Ron was one of the founders of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago and one of the first openly gay candidates for Alderman in the city of Chicago. Ron served on the Crossroads Fund Board of Directors for ten years. Previous Ron Sable award winners include Dr. Quentin Young and the Chicago Freedom School.
The Donald F. Erickson Synapses Award recognizes Don Erickson, the founder of the Synapses Foundation, which was dissolved in 2007, with the assets serving as the first endowment gift to Crossroads Fund. Don was a Chicagoan who taught geography, history and social studies at Calumet High School. He was a committed activist for social justice, working to end human rights violations across the globe. Don had a particular interest in ending U.S. corporate support of the military regime in Burma. The award has been previously given to the Electronic Intifada and the Immigrant Youth Justice League.
Crossroads Fund supports community organizations working on issues of racial, social and economic justice in the Chicago area. For more information, see www.crossroadsfund.org .