Eco-Justice Collaborative is working with Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ to honor the Shawnee Vinyard Indian Settlement, members of the Council, and its chairman, Poet /Activist Barney Bush, at the 8th Annual Elizabeth I. Benson Award on Friday, Sept.12, 2014, at Wellington Avenue UCC, 615 W. Wellington Ave., in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood. The event will begin with a light meal and refreshments at 6 pm. followed by the awards program at 7:30 p.m.

The Elizabeth I. Benson Award was created in honor of Elizabeth (Betty) I. Benson, the inaugural recipient of the award and long-time member of Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ. The award is given to a person(s) or an organization who has worked tirelessly and faithfully for peace, social justice and the environment in the Chicago area and beyond, while simultaneously shunning personal recognition of their efforts. We hope you will help us honor Betty by becoming a sponsor of this year’s event. Betty died in May 2014 at the age of 97.

About the Event

Located in southern Illinois, the Shawnee Vinyard Indian Settlement is working to buy back their homelands along the Ohio River amidst a landscape where corporations are trying to secure properties and mineral rights to allow them to strip mine for coal and “hydrofrack” for oil and natural gas. These corporations include Peabody Energy, the largest private sector coal company in the world.

Many of the Settlement’s members and volunteers are on Federal Tribal rolls. The Settlement also is working on a 5-year plan that would create small, ecologically-oriented businesses that will provide jobs for both native and non-native citizens.

The evening will include music, film, poetry readings by Barney Bush and a light meal. But we will be raising funds through donations and sponsorships. See details below.

Tell Us You are Coming!

This event is free and open to the public.  Click here to visit our Brown Paper Tickets website to let us know you are coming.  Click on the “General” menu at the top of the list and let us know how many tickets you’ll need. This will help us provide enough food and drink for everyone. You will receive an email that confirms you are registered for this event.

How to be a Donor or Sponsor

The evening is free and open to the public. It will include music, film, poetry readings by Barney Bush and a light meal (stew, cornbread and pumpkin pie). The evening will raise funds for the work of the Shawnee Vinyard Indian Settlement through donations, sponsorships and the sale of crafts and artwork. The Shawnee Vinyard Indian Settlement needs funds in order to carry out its mission and work, so please consider being a sponsor.

The different donor levels include:

Corn of the earth
Name and logo listed in program
$50.00
Flowers of the fields
Name and logo listed in program, on our website, and on our FB event page
$100.00
Trees of the forest
Name and logo listed in program, on our website, and on our FB event page. Plus framed, autographed event poster by artist Brenda Friedman
$250.00
Birds of the sky
Name and logo listed in program, on our website, on our FB event page, on sponsor board and projected onto screen. Emcee recognition during the event. Plus framed, autographed event poster by artist Brenda Friedman
$500.00
Fish of the streams
Name and logo listed in program, on our website, on our FB event page, on sponsor board and projected onto screen. Emcee recognition during the event. Plus framed, autographed event poster by artist Brenda Friedman and DVD “Fracking Southern Illinois: Faithful Opposition” featuring Barney Bush
$750.00
Animals of the hills and valleys
Name and logo listed in program, on our website, on our FB event page, on sponsor board and projected onto screen. Emcee recognition during the event.. Framed, autographed event poster by artist Brenda Friedman and DVD “Fracking Southern Illinois: Faithful Opposition” featuring Barney Bush. Plus sharing a meal with guests Barney Bush and Shawnee Indian Vinyard Council immediately before or after the event, as mutually-agreed upon (Friday breakfast, lunch or light dinner or Saturday breakfast)
$1,000.00

Please consider sponsoring this event at one of the levels listed above and asking others you think might also want to sponsor. You can either use our online sponsorship form, or mail a check to Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ, 615 West Wellington Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, 60657. Please write “sponsorship for Elizabeth I. Benson Award” in the memo field.

If you cannot sponsor this event, please consider giving a one-time donation to the Shawnee Vinyard Indian Settlement. We’ve made it easy for you to choose any amount you want to give! Just click the donate button below.

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Commemorative Corn Poster

We are offering a 27”w x 18”h commemorative poster for sale ($35). The Five Sacred Colors of Corn print was created by Brenda Friedman, artist and member of Wellington. You can view and purchase your copy or this beautiful print by clicking the “Buy Now” button below. All proceeds will go to support the work of the Shawnee Vinyard Indian Settlement. 

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Posters ordered in advance will be ready to take home the evening of the event.

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