Since its founding in 1995, About Face has been dedicated to developing new work in Chicago and supporting LGBTQ+ artists at different stages in their process and careers. To date, About Face has presented 48 world-premiere plays, which have won critical acclaim and major recognitions including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Tony Award for Best Play, and 16 Joseph Jefferson Awards.

The cast of About Face Youth Theatre’s production of 20/20. Photo by Michael Brosilow

About Face educational programs combine learning techniques of theatre as a means of activism with a brave space for LGBTQ+ community building. About Face Youth Theatre, now in its 22nd year, provides free theatre training, leadership development, and opportunities for developing and performing in new plays for public audiences.

About Face recently took its commitment to education and the community even further when it announced its new Green Room Collective, which is a paid mentorship program for early-career LGBTQ+ arts leaders. And in June 2021, AFT awarded grants to two local LGBTQ+ playwrights to support their creative work. The playwrights each received $2,000 grant awards for use in their art-making processes.

Scott Bradley in Packing. Photo by Nathanael Filbert

All AFT programs are designed to empower people of all generations within the LGBTQ+ community and its Equity mainstage productions speak to the political urgency of this moment by addressing challenging social problems. The work onstage as well as auxiliary programs reveal community strategies for persistence and joy, acknowledge specific ways that social inequalities impact LGBTQ+ people, and strengthen networks of support.

The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation (PMAFF) has been a proud supporter of About Face Theatre (AFT) since 2015. AFT currently receives general operating support from PMAFF. Past support has included production-specific funding so AFT could share LGBTQ+ stories such as Audrey Cefaly’s THE GULF and R. Eric Thomas’ TIME IS ON OUR SIDE.

Kelli Simpkins and Deanna Myers in The Gulf. Photo by Michael Brosilow

For more information, visit aboutfacetheatre.com

The Paul M. Angell Family Foundation is pleased to have provided funding to Growing Home over the last six years.

 

 

Growing Home believes that everyone deserves a good job, to eat well, and to live in a vibrant, supportive community. The organization proudly runs three of Chicago’s first high-production, USDA-certified organic urban farms in the Englewood community of Chicago. Their mission is to operate, promote, and demonstrate the use of organic urban agriculture as a powerful and therapeutic vehicle for job training, employment, food access and community development. Through this innovative workforce development program, Growing Home helps individuals overcome the barriers created by criminal records, homelessness, or lack of job histories to become successful members of Chicago’s workforce. Growing Home also partners with local community organizations to offer workshops on gardening, nutrition, and cooking with produce.

 

 

 

Despite the global pandemic, Growing Home continues to grow to meet community needs. In April, the organization opened a new Honore Street South farm for more growing and training space. Growing Home was able to train over 50 people in the workforce development program by transitioning the classroom portion to a virtual format, including virtual elevator pitch workshops. Additionally, staff made wellness check calls to over 500 past participants to ensure they could meet basic needs and connect them to emergency assistance when necessary. Growing Home also partnered with local organizations to offer CSA’s in Englewood at no cost to residents as well as engage in door-to-door delivery and food drives.

 

 

 

For more information on Growing Home, visit https://growinghomeinc.org

 

 

The LOI process for our Spring 2021 grant cycle is now closed. Thanks to all who submitted. We are currently reviewing them and will be returning decisions in the coming weeks.

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The Foundation is pleased to announce the grant cycle calendars for 2021. Please note, all LOIs are due on the deadline date on or before 11:59 PM, Central Time, unless otherwise noted.

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Thanks to all who submitted LOIs for our Fall 2020 Cycle. Decisions have been sent to applicants and the LOI process is now closed. For those who have been invited to complete full applications or who are renewal applicants, applications are due August 10th.

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