Advocates4Action and Evanston Cradle to Career call for grant applications!

Each year, A4A/EC2C sponsors grants ranging from $250 to $1,000 to support projects and ideas that bring people in Evanston together to share skills and knowledge.

If you have a great idea and you're an Evanston resident, volunteer group, neighborhood group, or community group, YOU can apply!

"I love everything about this work," says Kimberly Holmes-Ross, who manages Advocates4Action, a community leadership council that aims to amplify community members' voices and guide them to lead in the work necessary for change (learn more here.

"Empowering people to empower their communities. It doesn’t get better than that!"

Past grantees include:

-- Kemone's World Teen Mom Workshop -- World of Women: monthly support group for mothers -- Purple Line Adventure Play: pop-up playgroups in the 8th ward -- Mission/Friendship Church: Connecting young men with seniors and service -- Paint 'n Puffs: textured hair paint event -- Golf Project: Golf lessons for minority males, age 8 to 13 -- Get Fit E-Town: three outdoor bootcamps -- Life Without My Child: Loss/grief sessions -- Haitian Community Festival: activities for kids -- Moving Your Mind: mental health awareness for teens -- Visions/Breaking Chains: vision board workshop -- West End Area Block Club: tool and toy lending library

Requirements: you cannot be a nonprofit organization, and you must attend one of the following workshops:

11 a.m., October 12 at Family Focus Evanston, 2010 Dewey

6 p.m., October 29, at The Levy Center, 300 Dodge

6 p.m., November 7 at Gibbs-Morrison Cultural Center, 1823 Dodge

The Community Building grants are offered in partnership with Evanston Community Foundation and funded by United Way of Metro Chicago and are awarded to individuals and groups who want to make their local communities better places to live. The first round of grants were awarded in January 2019, with 14 grants and more than $10,000 awarded to date.

Click here for more info.