Here are some of the projects I’ve had a leadership role in:

I was one of the lead organizers for No Games Chicago. We successfully opposed Chicago’s bid for the 2016 Olympics. I was also a spokesperson and maintained the web site. I am publishing a book about the campaign:

The ITRC (Illinois Information & Technology Resource Center) Community Technology Center Accelerator Project. I created this program of community technology centers for the ITRC (now called Lumity) in 2001 when I was part of the Mayor’s Committee on the Digital Divide. Some 23 community groups received funding, technical assistance and equipment through this program, which received over $1 million in support funding.

The Peoples Housing Community Arts Program. I was hired by Peoples Housing, a community development organization in north Rogers Park, Chicago, in 1993 to create an arts program. Over three years I built an innovative program that combined the arts, training and micro-enterprise. The program was recognized by the national office of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and was funded locally by The MacArthur and Community Trust Foundations. Download a PDF description of the work we did.

The Chicago Young Playwrights Festival at Pegasus Players. I created this program when I was the Managing Director at Pegasus Players in 1986. I produced 30 shows there and pioneered innovative co-production strategies. Twice during my tenure we had three shows running at the same time. We started what became the League of Chicago Theatres Co-op ad program. But the YPF remains one of my proudest professional accomplishments. Over the years OVER 10,000 one-act plays have been written for the festival by local teens. Many of the young playwrights have gone on to artistic , teaching and nonprofit careers. In 2006 The W.K. Kellogg Foundation awarded Pegasus $375,000 to expand the festival. 2016 marks the 29th season!

The Festival celebrated its 30th season on January 8, 2017! Read the review in the Chicago Sun-Times.