Summer Series:
Creating Community. Finding Hope.
Who We Are
The Summer Series is a collective fundraising effort co-led by four Chicago-based nonprofits: Chicago United Solidarity Project (CUSP), Pet Mutual Aid (PMA), Trash People, and Women Unite! (WU!). Together we’re hoping to raise funds and awareness, not just for our work, but for the work of South Side organizations committed to making our world a more just, more compassionate place.
What We’re Doing
We’ll be hosting a series of events and fundraising opportunities this summer that we hope will connect our networks, deepen relationships, and cultivate hope. In addition to connecting folks, we’ve set an ambitious goal of raising $30,000 by the end of September. 20% of dollars raised will be donated to the following South Side organizations: Chicago South Side Birth Center, Cedillo’s Fresh Produce, M.A.S.K., Gyrls in the H.O.O.D., and Free Root Operation. The remaining 80% will be distributed among CUSP, PMA, Trash People, and WU!.
What You Can Do
Life in 2024 is … a lot. Everything is always on fire and there are so many heavy, complex issues that demand our attention and energy. We hope that our Summer Series will connect you with incredible folks and accessible solutions, so you can create community, find hope, and build a better world.
Between now and September, we hope you’ll join us in the following ways:
Mark your calendars and connect with us at the following meetups—don’t forget to bring your friends!
Wednesday, June 12: Happy Hour & Game Night at Guild Row from 6–8:00 p.m. with an optional, pre-event trash pickup led by Trash People from 5:30–6:15 p.m. More details here.
Sunday, July 28: Farm-to-table dinner at Cedillos Fresh Produce (more details to come!)
Saturday, August 10: Back-to-School BBQ & Free Store (more details to come!)
Saturday, September 14: Yoga & Ice Cream Social (more details to come!)
Make a donation to our fundraising campaign and help us hit our $30,000 goal & encourage your networks to donate too!
Contribute to our school supplies drive.
Why We’re Doing It
Fundraising is a grind that pits nonprofits and community groups against each other. It has us fighting for resources rather than working together. It also pressures groups that rely on fundraising to make every relationship transactional, prioritizing those who can give over those who can’t.
This summer, we’re hoping to forge a new path, one that recognizes the practical need to raise funds without sacrificing the critical needs of meaningful relationships, community, and connection. With this in mind, the Summer Series seeks to:
Connect our networks: We love the folks who make our work possible and want y’all to meet each other!
Build bridges: Chicago is the most segregated city in the United States. By connecting our communities to a variety of Chicago organizations, we hope to build a network of care and aid across neighborhoods.
Share resources and information about issues, causes, and solutions: The world is … a lot. Each of our events will include ways to support and learn from community leaders helping meet Chicago’s most pressing needs.
Cultivate hope: By connecting folks to people and causes, we seek to cultivate the hope and resilience needed for the long haul.
