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35 under 35 Leadership Awards Recipients Announced

May 7 3:38 PM
CHICAGO - The Community Renewal Society announced today the thirty-five honorees of the 35 Under 35 Leadership Award in the Chicago Metropolitan region. The Award will be presented at a reception highlighting the honorees’ contributions to the community on May 16, 2009, at DePaul’s Egan Urban Center, l E. Jackson. Jonathan Fanton, president of The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation will be the keynote speaker.

The thirty-five leaders come from diverse backgrounds and demonstrate a commitment to eliminating race and class barriers. The honorees were selected for their creativity, for their ability to build bridges and work across racial, ethnic and economic divides.

“In continuing a tradition of celebrating leadership in the community, we value these dynamic young people,” said Rev. Calvin S. Morris, Ph.D., Community Renewal Society’s executive director. “These honorees share a common goal for positive change. We look forward to their imprint in the social landscape here in Chicago.”

The 2009 recipients of Community Renewal Society’s 35 Under 35 Leadership Awards are:
  • Kulsum Ameji, Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago
    Jenny Arwade, Albany Park Neighborhood Council
    Juana Ballestros, Greater Humboldt Park Community of Wellness
    Adriana Cardona, Big Picture High School/Chicago Public Schools
    David Benjamin Cassel, Alliance of Local Service Organizations
    Keidra Chaney, DePaul University
    James Dower and Daniel Isherwood, Urban Initiatives, Inc.
    Dr. Chandra Gill, Jacob Carruthers Center for Inner City Studies
    Alicia Gonzalez, Chicago Run
    Joseph Hollendoner, Broadway Youth Center—Howard Brown Health Center
    Eric Johnson, Golden Apple Foundation
    Amanda Rose Klonsky, Free Write Jail Arts and Literacy Program at Cook County Detention Center
    Lakita Little, Frazier Preparatory Academy
    Phylicia Lyons, School Choice Illinois
    Demetrio Maguigad, CIRCA (Center for Immigrant Resources and Community Arts)-Pintig
    Sharmili Majmudar, Rape Victim Advocates
    Sheila Maloney, Chicago Committee for Minorities in Large Law Firms
    Justin Massa, MoveSmart.org
    Todd McMeen, Green Street Project
    Mark Meinster, United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, UE
    Clayton A. Muhammad, Boys II Men-East Aurora Schools
    Jeff Nelson, Urban Students Empowered
    Hyeri Maria Park, Korean American Community Service
    Amisha Patel, Grassroots Collaborative
    Ziomara Perez, Nettlehorst Elementary Chicago Public School
    Kate Robertson, Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Ministries, Mayu Alpaca, Chicago Fair Trade
    Eric Rodriguez, Latino Union of Chicago
    Angela Jean Rogensues, The Dreamcatcher Foundation
    Sarwat Rumi, Mango Tribe
    Amber Smock, Access Living
    Sara Spoonheim, Faith in Place
    Sean Tenner, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Sudanese Community Center
    Monica Torres-Linares, Legal Assistance Foundation of Greater Chicago
    Amy Totsch, PACT (Public Action for Change Today)
    Jaime Zaplatosch, Openlands Project


  • Nominations were reviewed by a 10-person selection committee of corporate and nonprofit professionals who exemplify the leadership recognized with these awards. Several factors were considered when judging the nominees work:

    o The commitment to eliminating race and class barriers
    o An innovative approach
    o Impactful documented results in the community

    Initially conceived as a way to honor The Chicago Reporter’s 35th anniversary, the 35 under 35 Leadership Awards are a natural extension of the leadership development work Community Renewal has carried out over the last 127 years. For decades, the organization has mentored and trained both individuals and organizations, many of whom have gone on to make a significant impact on the communities they serve.

    For more information, tickets and registration visit: www.communityrenewalsociety.org




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