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The Coming Week Has Non-Profit Events Galore
- Bob Benenson
- 4 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Cluster of Fundraisers and Fun on the Farm Events, Including Three on One Day
Since I became active in the Chicago region's local food ecosystem, I've noticed a phenomenon that is almost predictable: There will be times during the year — sometimes individual days — with multiple events planned by community non-profits.
One of these is occurring over the week starting this Saturday, with three big events next Thursday alone.
Lots of choices, all recommended.
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September 13: Star Farm Chicago's September Soiree Marks Arrival of Its South Side Market
Star Farm Chicago is an urban farming and landscaping operation that bolsters the economy and provides opportunity in the disadvantaged Back of the Yards neighborhood on Chicago's South Side.
Its September Soiree — which takes place THIS SATURDAY from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. — is its big annual fundraising event, and this year it has a literally fresh twist. It is taking place at its recently opened, long anticipated Fresh Market and Shared Kitchen at 5256 S. Ashland Ave.
Check out the graphic above to view the scrumptious-sounding farm-to-table menu curated by 47th Street Bistro. There will also be a silent auction with incredible prizes: trips to Mexico and Italy, concert tickets, art pieces, and more.
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September 16: Say Ole to Mole at Liberty Prairie's Mexican Dinner and Cooking Lesson in Grayslake
Liberty Prairie — a non-profit advocate of sustainable farming, food education and farmland preservation — continues its Farm-to-Table Dinner series this Tuesday (September 16) with Chef Ernesto Rodriguez of Evanston-based El Molcajete Sauces. He will prepare a Mexican-style dinner and present a hands-on demo on how to make mole sauces.
From the organizers:
You will learn step by step how to create traditional mole sauce, discovering why Oaxaca is affectionately known as "The Land of the 7 Moles." You'll get the chance to roast and grind an array of ingredients, including chiles, nuts, seeds, spices, chocolate, and fruit. It's a fantastic opportunity to master the art of balancing flavors, from smoky and spicy to subtly sweet, achieving the perfect thickness for your mole.
As the mole simmers to perfection, we'll also prepare some delicious accompanying dishes such as chicken, rice, and beans. To enhance the experience, we'll sip on Oaxacan-style beverages and delve into discussions about the rich culture and culinary heritage of Oaxaca, often hailed as the food capital of Mexico.
The event takes place Tuesday from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Liberty Prairie's Blue Schoolhouse, 32470 Harris Rd. in Grayslake in Lake County.
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September 18: Austin Town Hall Farmers Market Host the Good Good Food Block Party
Austin Town Hall Farmers Market, in the far west Chicago community of Austin, takes place all season on Thursdays. But on September 18, it's not just a farmers market... it's a Good Good Food Block Party! The event will take place at the regular market site, the historic Austin Town Hall building, 5610 W. Lake St. in Chicago.
According to the organizers:
The Good Good Food Block Party will create an engaging, family-friendly event celebrating healthy food, fun, and movement-centered activities. By celebrating Hunger Action Month and the back-to-school season, this event provides accessible, healthy food choices, and lasting resources for Chicago’s Westside.
This fun day out includes a DJ on the Main Stage; a Culinary Corner with the awesome Chef Sebastian White doing food demos and serving up samples; an Amazon Access Food Budget Hub; a Hydration Station with drinks from Keurig Dr. Pepper; a Community Partner Row; and of course, the farmers market vendors.
September 18: Just Roots Urban Farm Non-Profit Has All-Star Chef Lineup for Annual Fundraising Dinner
Regular readers of Local Food Forum may recognize Just Roots, an urban farming non-profit. I write about my bi-weekly CSA pickups and the natural beauty of their half-acre farm on Chicago's South Side.
Their September 18 dinner, titled Growing Together, will take place at Chicago Illuminating Company, located at 2110 S. Wabash, near the McCormick Place convention center. All of the dishes are made by the following outstanding chefs using fresh, organic produce from Just Roots' farms.
Reynaldo Quinones, Avec
Sebastian White, The Evolved Network
Devon Quinn, Eden
Michael Lanzerotte, Meraki Hospitality Group
Moses Ponce, Good Eating Company
Q Ibraheem, private chef
In addition to the amazing food, the event includes live music, an open bar, and a silent auction.
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September 18: Demera Restaurant's Evening of Hope to Fund Health Care in War-Torn Ethiopian Province
Chicago is renowned for the generosity and philanthropy of its chef community, and Tigist Reda of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant in the city's Uptown neighborhood participates regularly in a wide variety of fundraising food events.
But Tigist has a personal humanitarian mission: addressing a major health care crisis in her home province of Tigray, which the Ethiopian government essentially cut off from the world during a deadly civil war from 2020 to 2022. And her chef peers are once again rallying to assist her at Demera's An Evening of Hope fundraiser.
The event takes place at Demera (4801 N. Broadway) on Thursday, September 18 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. All proceeds from the event will go to the Health Professionals Network for Tigray (HPN4Tigray) for its programs benefiting the health and nutrition of the region's women and children.
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September 19-21: Northern Illinois Young Farmers Coalition Expands Farm-ily Reunion to Full Weekend
Much of region's outdoor growing season is starting to wind down — which means more time for our hard-working young farmers to take time for fun. With its 4th annual Midwestern Farm-ily Reunion, which takes place in north-central Illinois September 19 to 21, the Northern Illinois Young Farmers Coalition now can start calling its event a tradition.
The Reunion will take place at Hazzard Free Farm, 5111 Ahrens Road in Pecatonica, a sustainable farming hub west of Rockford. Andrea (Andy) Hazzard, the host for the event, produces ancient and heirloom grains and is a stalwart advocate for a better and more sustainable food system.
The event kicks off on the evening of Friday, September 19 with The Froth, a new wrinkle featuring storytelling by attendees who are farmers or farmworkers. The Reunion continues on Saturday and Sunday with camping, lots of delicious food, beverages, music and so much community.
Intrigued? Don't dally... Ticket sales are scheduled to end Sunday (September 14).
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