2020 Grantees
In May of 2020, Innovation 80 announced grants totaling $80,000 to its first group of four grant recipients. We are excited to continue to partner with these organizations.
The Kedzie Center & 2nd Story
Forget border walls
All a fearful waste of funds
Build skills in the young
The Kedzie Center, in collaboration with 2nd Story, will create, and Innovation 80 will fund, the Diane Plotkin DACA Storytelling Program for three groups of students who identify as DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) in the River North area. Students will be offered opportunities to tell their personal stories in an empowering and healing way and to deliver them for impact. The program will foster inter-group sharing and will culminate in a performance of a number of pieces from each cohort, reaching at least 100 community members.
Reading Between the Lines
Read. Think. Share.
Mine the gems of mind
New-released
Reading Between the Lines uses discussion of literature to build critical thinking and communication skills with soon-to-be released and formerly incarcerated women and men. The exchange of ideas around short, powerful texts promotes confidence, collaboration, openness and trust, offering participants tools to engage with the world in new ways. Innovation 80 is funding activities that will prepare Reading Between the Lines to deliver their program inside the Cook County jail. This project has already received official approval from CCDOC.
Silk Road Rising
Hearing journeys’ truths
Paves the way to empathy
Each soul’s tale unique
Silk Road Rising’s EPIC (Empathic Playwriting Intensive Course) program, has guided students in Chicago public schools in writing short plays that promote empathy around issues they see in their own communities. Innovation 80 is providing funding for Silk Road Rising to expand EPIC’s focus to guide other participants who are traditionally underserved to tell parts of their own stories. New target populations will be inter-generational groups, people with developmental or intellectual disabilities, and English language learners in the West Ridge neighborhood of Chicago.
SkyART
Minds imagine.
Hands fine-tune line and hue
Grant whimsy flight
SkyART, after 18 years of proven community engagement and youth development through free art programs in South Chicago, will begin to bring its program to young people on the West Side, aided by funding from Innovation 80. This year-long program for high school-aged young adults develops art as a pathway to their future. It offers a crucial bridge between high school and meaningful post-secondary educational and career opportunities, in an encouraging environment that promotes self-discovery, communication, and collaboration.
Impact of Past Grantees
Here are some quotes from participants in the above programs:
The Kedzie Center and 2nd Story's DACA Program
“In the current political climate we face, it is vital that we rise and empower our communities through our stories and resiliency.”
– Blanca, Participant
“It is important to tell our stories and that there is life beyond DACA.”
– Vanessa, Participant
“What makes Reading Between the Lines such a remarkable and essential program is how it gives men and women leaving prison the tools to engage with the world.”
– Alex Kotlowitz, Senior Advisor
“When I make art, it just makes me go into this type of mood and I can’t stop making art. I just keep going on and on – it’s like a happy-slash-passionate mood. The happy part makes me feel good, and the passionate part makes me feel confident.”
– Jordan, Age 13
“Storytelling can be so powerful and I would like to develop my skill so I can also share what I have learned with others.”
– DACA Student
“I sometimes worry that telling my story feels like something negative, but learning new skills to be able to tell my story in a positive way will help me throughout my life.”
– DACA Student
“2nd Story welcomed my dark humor, my individual voice, valuing the storyteller as much as the story. So many people want to share their stories, stories like mine, echoing our sameness, making us feel less alone in the truth of who we are.”
– 2nd Story Participant
Reading Between the Lines
“Reading Between the Lines may help a participant get a job, but its real value is that it helps them keep that job.”
– Erwin Mayer, Executive Director, St. Leonard’s Ministries
“It broadened my mind. Some of the readings and discussions have made me change how I look at things.”
–Zedrienne, Participant
“I used to have a problem with talking about issues with people in general. What is talking gonna do? We need action. But I learned that communication is a tool, talking and sharing views helps mold your mind so you can think at a higher level."
–Richard, Participant
The Epic Program with Silk Road Rising
“EPIC filled in a gap in my own approach to teaching. I was able to engage with students on a different level and really saw the classroom dynamic change.”
– 10th grade teacher
I learned that I need to have empathy for myself. I should be as understanding with myself as I am (with) anybody else.”
– 10th grade EPIC Student
“Because of EPIC, I have a more open mindset. Instead of drawing conclusions about others, I’ll try to understand why they’re doing what they’re doing.”
– 10th grade EPIC student
“Before EPIC, I didn’t know I could write a play. Now, I’m less shy and want to express myself even more! I will keep writing plays to share my story with others.”
– 9th grade EPIC Student
SkyArt
“I have learned that art is about way more than just painting and drawing and all that. I learned that people see everything differently.”
– Cassandra, Age 12
“Once I came here, it was like stepping into another realm or something. You can come here and be yourself. You can be an artist. It feels really good to come here.”
– Jon, Age 24
“The Art Center actually took me out of the streets.”
– Ashyia, Age 19
We continue to fund our grant recipients from previous years. Please click the buttons below to see more.
All Grantees
Artists Breaking Limits and Expectations (2022) • America SCORES Chicago (2022) • Albany Park Theatre Company (2022) • Awakenings (2023) • BandWith (2023) • Changing Worlds (2021) • CircEsteem (2021) • Chicago Arts and Music Project (2023) • Chicago Poetry Center (2023) • Chicago West Community Music Center (2022) • Free Street Theater (2022) • FreshLens (2023) • Global Girls (2022) • Green Star Movement (2021) • Ignition Community Glass (2021) • Intonation Music (2022) • Lawndale Pop-Up Spot (2023) • Mobile Makers • Music in Urban Schools Inspiring Change (2022) • Palenque LSNA (2023) • Project Danztheatre Company (2021) • Reading Between the Lines (2020) • ReinventAbility (2021) • Silk Road Rising (2020) • The Simple Good (2023) • Sit Stay Read (2021) • SkyArt (2020) • Snow City Arts (2022) • Storycatchers (2021) • Sukkah Design Festival (2023) • The Kedzie Center / 2nd Story (2020) • Theatre Y (2022) • West Point Fellowship (2021)