Voice of the People in Uptown, as a community-based and tenant-led organization, begins its 56th year in 2024 — celebrating our history, recognizing impactful leaders of the present and past, and detailing our “leap forward” at a blues-themed annual fundraiser “Sweet Home Uptown”: Thursday February 29th, 2024. SAVE THE DATE.
To be held at the PALMHOUSE in Evanston, 619 Howard Street, from 6-9 pm, this 4th annual celebration and fundraiser will feature delicious “Taste of Uptown” dining, amazing music of the Chicago blues scene and left coast all-stars, and recognition of community development and legacy leaders – to be revealed soon. (Stay tuned for the announcement.)
Over 700 attended events virtually and in-person in 2021 and 2022, and at the PALMHOUSE in Evanston in early 2023. About 4000 others have viewed the Sweet Home Uptown events and related feature, history and testimonial videos on the Voice YouTube Channel (bit.ly/VoiceVideos). The Chicago blues hit “Gotta Move Out to the Suburbs” by the Cash Box Kings has provided a fun and thematic inspiration to Sweet Home supporters committed to preventing displacement and preserving a place for people of all races, incomes and needs in Uptown and on Chicago’s north lakefront.
The goal is to raise $90,000 at Sweet Home Uptown in this – Voice’s most critical year. At the event, you’ll learn about the groundbreaking community land trust named after our legacy leader, Dovie Thurman. You’ll hear about advance work being done by development and resident services staff for a 5-building, 103-unit preservation project – the Heart of Uptown Apartments. We’ll unveil technical assistance and networking services intended to increase the capacity of affordable housing owners to viably continue – keys to sustaining racial, economic and needs diversity in Uptown and the north lakefront.
Sponsorships are available for corporations, foundations, host-donors, and local non-profit and business allies. Sponsors and hosts are invited to an invitation only Piano Bar Reception and “Hard Hat Tour” of the “New Double Door” music venue – at the historic Wilson Avenue Theatre. If you would like to support an affordable housing resident to attend Sweet Home Uptown 2024, base price tickets cost $150.00 and tables are $750.00 !
Photo Caption: Mike Rohrbeck, Voice Executive Director, presents award to 2023 Honorees, the dynamic couple of affordable housing, Jackie Taylor Holsten and Peter Holsten.