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Contact: Eva Penar
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The Chicago Community Trust Announces New Fellows
The Trust Fellowship offers professional development opportunities for both emerging and experienced leaders in the not-for-profit and public sector.
January 27, 2009, Chicago – The Chicago Community Trust, metropolitan Chicago’s community foundation, today named eight Trust Fellows – five emerging leaders and three experienced leaders – for 2009. All Fellows were selected for their demonstrated leadership and commitment to their field. The new class of Fellows are leading organizations spanning the not-for-profit sector that include education, housing, science and theater.
The Trust Fellowship is a significant investment in the leadership talent for not-for-profit organizations and supports excellence in the sector. The experienced leaders receive up to $60,000 and emerging leaders receive up to $30,000 to fund their professional development plans. The Fellowship is designed to elevate the careers of Chicago leaders and increase their future impact on the Chicago metropolitan area.
“At this time in history when Chicago is showcasing its talent and innovation to the world in so many fields, each of these Trust Fellows represents our next generation of not-for-profit leadership,” says Terry Mazany, president and chief executive officer of the Trust. “Each Fellow has enormous talent and potential in his or her field. We are excited to see the leadership that they bring to their field and to the Chicago metropolitan area.”
All were selected for their creativity, originality, and potential to make important contributions in the future. The Trust Fellowship offers the opportunity for Fellows to take a leave from work or continue to work while engaging in professional development activities. The Fellowship provides financial resources which can cover current salary and benefits for time off, costs related to academic courses, coaching, learning from other practitioners and other associated expenses. Recipients this year include:
• Jaime de Leon is new communities program director for Enlace Chicago, previously known as the Little Village Community Development Corporation. (Emerging)
• Juan Dies is executive director of Sones de Mexico Ensemble. (Emerging)
• Liz Drapa is associate director for the Corporation for Supportive Housing. (Emerging)
• Malik Gillani is co-founder and executive director of Silk Road Theatre Project. (Emerging)
• Christian Greer is senior director of education at The John G. Shedd Aquarium. (Experienced)
• Gabrielle Lyon is co-founder and executive director of Project Exploration. (Experienced)
• Sylvia Puente is director of The Latino Policy Forum. (Experienced)
• Sandra Wilkniss is director of the Thresholds Institute, the research and training arm of Thresholds Psychiatric Rehabilitation Centers. (Emerging)
“From a large field of applicants from the region, the Trust selected these eight because of their enthusiasm and exuberant energy toward their career and field,” says Maria Bechily, chair of the fellowship selection committee and an executive committee member for the Trust. “Their passion for their job and how it touches the community was evident in the proposals that we received from this new group of Fellows. This new era of leadership will be a tough act to follow.”
The Trust Fellowship program, while in its inaugural year, builds on a history of Trust fellowships that have contributed in significant ways to increase the quality and diversity of Chicago’s not-for-profit leaders. The selection process began with an online application process. Nearly 100 applications were received in the summer of 2008. An 11 member selection committee chaired by Maria Bechily met to review proposals, conduct interviews and make the final decision. The next application process will start in late spring of 2009.
About The Chicago Community Trust
For 93 years, The Chicago Community Trust, the region’s community foundation, has connected the generosity of donors with community needs by making grants to organizations working to improve metropolitan Chicago. In 2008, the Trust, together with its donors, granted more than $100 million to not-for-profit organizations. From strengthening community schools to assisting local art programs, from building health centers to helping lives affected by violence, the Trust continues to enhance our region. To learn more, please visit the Trust online at www.cct.org.
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