Voice of the People’s annual celebration of history and fundraiser, Sweet Home Uptown, was held Thursday, April 3rd at the Palmhouse in Evanston. The event, dubbed the “Preservation Celebration”, proved to be an informative and sentimental coming together of people with “lived experience” in the fight for social justice and creating affordable housing opportunities. But the event also came off as a pep talk of sorts for team members preparing for their big game — now with a star player, the federal government, potentially sidelined.
In a time when larger foundations, non-profits and corporations are wracked with “uncertainty”, and simultaneously fielding an upsurge in donation requests, Voice is thankful to sponsors, as well as individuals and family funds — who stepped up in a big way, including with record attendance at Sweet Home Uptown 2025. (Donation commitments are still coming in and your support is wanted and needed: https://bit.ly/SweetHome2025 or vophousing.com/donate.)
Pictured (L to R): Eric Butler, Kari Moe, Jane Ramsey, Angela Clay, Mike Rohrbeck, Aurie Pennick, Kristin Faust, Mark Angelini, Hoan Huynh and Fritz Kaegi.
In no small measure, the great success of the Preservation Celebration was due to an amazing array of guests and speakers who made real their connection to Voice and their personal/professional journeys in social justice and affordable housing. Sen. Mike Simmons, in legislative session in Springfield, shared his message remotely. The crowd broke into applause at different times as he told his personal story about growing up in a diverse community and the importance of affordable housing. See Sen Simmons Video here.
Pedro Morales Jr., Voice’s very own, emceed the event with warmth and energy. President Eric Butler joined staff members Charles Jordan, Anna Miller, and Mike Rohrbeck in highlighting Resident Services programming and preservation victories, including progress on the 5-building Heart of Uptown Apartments (HUPA) project, now under construction.
But focus also was brought to the challenges of saving affordable housing, including at the 137-unit Leland Hotel. Starting in 2024, ONE Northside has been mobilizing a task force, powered by public officials, service agencies and Voice, to save and enlist support for a new potential buyer for the building, now Mercy Housing Lakefront. Even with this platform of support, the crowd learned of the additional difficulty in lining up services, funding and subsidies needed — The Special Alchemy that is affordable housing preservation. You can see the video of the same now on our YouTube Page: https://bit.ly/VoiceVideos.
Special Guest, Cook County Assessor, Fritz Kaegi addressed the crowd. He reiterated his commitment to reform, and strive for accuracy and equity in the property tax system, including supporting permanently affordable housing with tax relief – as one important member of the “Preservation Team”. He also shared his personal connection to Jane Ramsey, Legacy Leader Honoree. She was introduced by non-profit professional and executive coach, Kari Moe, a top aide to Mayor Harold Washington, Sen. Paul Wellstone and others, and member of the “sisterhood” including Jane Ramsey and Helen Shiller.
Jane’s story of family, of engagement with the civil rights movement, and her personal commitment to community development moved the crowd, including associations with Voice stretching out over decades. Kristin Faust, the Executive Director of the Illinois Housing Development Authority, was central to the evening’s program, not as a housing official, but as a long-time friend to History Maker Honoree, Aurie Pennick – an iconic figure in racial justice and a ceiling-shattering role model in philanthropy. Aurie’s memories of work with Martin Luther King, fair housing and pioneering initiatives at the Chicago Community Trust, the MacArthur and Field Foundations moved the crowd.
Pictured (L to R): Zoe, Abbie and Huy from IL State Rep Hoan Huynh’s office get ready for their picture at the Selfie Wall.
Illinois Rep Hoan Huynh, now Vice Chair of the Housing Committee of the General Assembly, stirred the crowd with his introduction of Mark Angelini, Mover & Shaker Honoree. His personal perspective hit home on the need for affordable housing – as a refugee from a war torn country, like many housed by Voice of the People, and as the first Vietnamese American to be represented in the legislature.
Mark Angelini, the penultimate community development professional, responsible for preservation of affordable housing for thousands of individuals and families, made his remarks a closing call-to-action. We cannot afford to lose any of our affordable housing! We need to shake up the system so our most disadvantaged among us have access to services, economic opportunities and healthcare — made possible by the affordable housing they have; with neighbors and in the community they know best.
Pictured (L to R): Angelo Perez, Voice Secretary & HUPA Project Resident, with Mark Angelini of Mercy Housing Lakefront, prospective owner of the Leland Hotel, both featured in film The Special Alchemy: Affordable Housing Preservation
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Thanks go out to all the Sweet Home Uptown 2025 Hosts, Sponsors and supporters, event consultants Hoopla Communications, Host/Sponsor Coordinator, Rita McLennon and Executive/Events Administrator, Shirley Watson. Kudos to Voice’s housing partner, Preservation of Affordable Housing, and advocacy partners, ONE Northside and Northside Action for Justice.
Special Recognition goes out to our video production team for the film The Special Alchemy: Affordable Housing Preservation, especially hosts at two locations, including POAH, Skender Construction, Preservation Compact and ONE Northside. The videographer was Lorenzo Leyva, supported by Voice Manager, Anna Miller, and film producer, Christopher Rohrbeck, who lent his time to the project.
Food vendors made the evening special. Thanks to Fat Cat Chicago, Everybody’s Coffee, Greenspoon Catering and especially Assad’s Mediterranean Bites, housed at Shop & Save (next to Voice Offices @ Sheridan/Wilson).