Seeds of Change - Crossroads Fund (original) (raw)

Seeds of Change

DATE

FEED

Seeds of Change 2026

DATE

Friday, March 13, 2026 at 5 pm

LOCATION

Malcolm X College: 1900 W. Jackson Boulevard, Chicago, Illinois

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Thank you for making this year’s Seeds of Change: Strength in Community a powerful gathering, whether you attended in person or supported from afar, you joined us in celebration, solidarity, and remembrance.

We could not have done it without you! A special thank you to our Host Committee, Sponsors, Advertisers, Auction Donors, and Volunteers.

Make One Last Donation

Board member Chandra Palmer and Development & Communications Director Emmanuel Garcia kicked off the event with a warm and sparkly welcome before introducing Executive Director Jane Kimondo.

This year’s Seeds of Change gathering carried both deep grief and powerful purpose. Executive Director Jane Kimondo’s program remarks honored the life and legacy of beloved colleague and Program Director Michael Caga-anaan Aguhar, whose sudden passing on February 20 has profoundly impacted the Crossroads Fund community.

She also uplifted and remembered other movement leaders we lost, whose lives and legacies continue to shape the struggle for justice, including Assata Shakur and Rev. Jesse Jackson. Their words and example reminded us of our collective responsibility to fight for freedom, affirm our humanity, and “Keep Hope Alive.”

Amid loss, we were reminded that we are sustained by one another, “we are all we got.” The evening reflected a shared commitment to balance mourning with celebration: uplifting community, supporting movements, and continuing the fight for justice in a challenging political moment.

Grounded in gratitude for our community, board, staff, and partners, the night affirmed that even in difficult times, we are the right people, doing the right work—together.

The event also included a dedicated wellness and remembrance room in Michael Caga-anan Aguhar’s honor—a quiet space where guests could reflect, share memories, and connect with photos of him alongside his family and friends.

Our annual fundraiser included a joyful note with an incredible musical performance by the talented singer Joyce “Peaches” Faison and her outstanding band. Their energy and artistry set a warm, welcoming tone and created a joyful atmosphere for more than 450 guests in attendance.

The exceptional musicians who brought the performance to life included Ryan Priester on guitar, Charlie Johnson on keys, Ron Hall on bass, Lenard Stroud on drums, and James Perkins on saxophone.

LIVE STREAM HERE!

WATCH US ON YOUTUBE: You can now view the 2026 Awards Presentation on-demand and share it with your friends.

The Obama Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) Coalition took action when the Obama Foundation announced in 2016 that Jackson Park would host its presidential library. While this news excited locals, it also raised concerns about excluding low-income residents from jobs and benefits, and fears of rising rents displacing Black families. The Coalition sought commitments from the Obama Foundation, the University of Chicago, and the City to ensure the development’s benefits reached Woodlawn’s long-time residents. They wanted job opportunities and housing protections for the neighborhood. The Obama CBA’s success shows grassroots organizing works and offers a blueprint for other neighborhoods facing displacement and gentrification.

First Defense Legal Aid (FDLA) mobilizes lawyers and over-policed community members to fill gaps in public defense and create, protect, and engage replicable alternatives to the criminal system starting with its entry points. Their 24-hour hotline, Know Your Rights trainings, in-house Civil Rights Legal Aid Program, and ongoing policy advocacy secures the civil and human rights of those detained by police. In 1995, FDLA created a hotline that connected anyone arrested or detained by the Chicago police with an on-call attorney who could provide free police state representation. Because of FDLA’s advocacy, this critical service was adopted by the Cook County Public Defender’s office in 2019 and universalizing access to a basic civil and human right.

The TRiiBE is an award-winning digital publication and production company founded in 2017 by Morgan Elise Johnson, Tiffany Walden, and David Elutilo, aimed at reshaping the narrative of Black Chicago. The TRiiBE addresses racism and systemic harms while uplifting Black creativity and resistance. Its team has produced thousands of articles and artworks, reaching millions globally. Co-founders Johnson and Walden established the platform to tell nuanced, solutions-driven stories about Black lives, countering harmful media portrayals. Since launch, The TRiiBE has published a magazine, maintained a local business database, issued newsletters, and hosted outreach events. Following the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 uprisings, they continued the tradition of the abolitionist Black press, amplifying community demands.

SPONSORSHIPS

As of 3/11/2026

Trailblazer $10,000 and above

Anonymous

Woods Fund Chicago

Changemakers 7,500−7,500 - 7,500−9,999

Mainstream Media

Catalysts 5,000–5,000 – 5,000–7,499

Grand Victoria Foundation

Visionaries 2,500–2,500 – 2,500–4,999

CIBC Bank

James & Megan Murray Cusick

Susan Eleuterio & Tom Sourlis

Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation

Irving Harris Foundation

Jani Hoft & Linda Wagner

Nova Collective

Movers & Shakers 1,000–1,000 – 1,000–2,499

Gary Arnold

Kay Berkson & Sidney Hollander

Missy Carpenter

Evette Cardona & Mona Noriega

Mardge Cohen & Gordy Schiff

Alice Cottingham & Dave Beard

Denise Ferguson

Illinois Community Power Fund

Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Nora Kyger & Bill Foster

ONE Northside

Patricia O’Brien

Paul M. Angell Family Foundation

​​Barbara Ransby & Peter Sporn

Ala Salameh

Misuzu Schexnider

Third Wave Fund

Robin Semer & William Lamme

Stewards 750−750-750−999

AMPT Advancing Nonprofits

Martha Biondi

Megan Carney

Skyler Larrimore

Gordon Mayer & Kate Graham

Joey Mogul

NAKASEC

Mary Pounder

Gordon Quinn

Sponsor 350–350 – 350–749

Molly Armour

Chicago Foundation for Women

Jessyca Dudley

Sue Foran

Aviva Futorian

caronina grimble

HANA Center

Mia Henry

Kheira Issaoui-Mansouri

Terrence Keleher

Sharmili Majmudar

Alma Rodriguez

jan susler

Tom Wilson

HOST COMMITTEE

As of 1/27/26

2026 HOST COMMITTEE

*Also a Crossroads Fund Board Member

NOTHING BROUGHT US MORE JOV THAN HAVING OUR COMMUNITY COME TOGETHER.

Don't forget to tag @crossroadsfund

Photos by Ying Mai

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