COMMUNITY RENEWAL SOCIETY ANNOUNCES 2009 WINNERS OF THE 35 UNDER 35 LEADERSHIP AWARDS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 7, 2009

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Jeanne Newman, Director of Marketing
Phone: 312.673.3836
jnewman@communityrenewalsociety.org

Al Shaw, Media Relations
Phone: 312.673.3865
Mobile: 312.593.0719
ashaw@communityrenewalsociety.org

COMMUNITY RENEWAL SOCIETY ANNOUNCES 2009 WINNERS OF THE
35 UNDER 35 LEADERSHIP AWARDS

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, 1 E. Jackson Blvd. 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 Organization
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
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-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:

The commitment to eliminating race and class barriers

An innovative approach

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

Community Renewal Society empowers people to build just communities by working to eradicate racism and poverty. It does so by informing, organizing, training, and encouraging individuals and communities in sustained and strategic efforts to engender systemic change and bring forth a vision of a just community where race and class no longer limit each person's full participation in all aspects of society. For more information, please see our website at www.communityrenewalsociety.org