Local Change Agents Host Inaugural Cincinnati SOUP Micro-Grant Dinner

CINCINNATI - May 11, 2015 - PRLog -- Like eating? Like supporting local initiatives? A local committee of Cincinnati residents facilitated the inaugural event for Cincinnati SOUP, an organization that holds micro-grant dinners for creative projects throughout Cincinnati and Hamilton County.

Cincinnati SOUP is a pubic dinner series sponsored by The Xochitl Project that brings together members of the community in order to support local projects with small grants. The idea began in Detroit and has rapidly spread throughout the country, finding inspiration in our very own city. Community members who were in attendance had the opportunity to hear proposals from individuals and groups interested in launching art, urban agriculture, and social programs while enjoying a modest dinner of soup, salad, and bread. After hearing proposals attendees voted on the project they felt would benefit the community the most; the winner received the money collected to launch and the newfound support of hundreds of community members.

True to the spirit of micro-lending, these small grants often provide the seed money to allow bourgeoning entrepreneurs to begin turning their dreams into reality.

Cincinnati SOUP’s first dinner event was held in April at Meier’s Wine Cellars located at 6955 Plainfield Rd. in Silverton. Tickets were $10 and the event was open to the public.

“The Cincinnati SOUP initiative is based on a simple philanthropic recipe: bring a group of change agents and community activists together, ask each person for a modest donation, listen to a few proposals on how the donation could fund a worthwhile project, vote, and give all the money to the top vote getter. Participants who join us at this fun local event will go home full, fulfilled and with a renewed sense of community,” said Herschel E. Chalk III, spokesperson for Cincinnati Soup.

Individuals or groups who want to pitch projects at an upcoming Cincinnati Soup event must describe why their project would be of benefit to the local community.

Proposals can be submitted online at www.cincinnatisoup.org/submit-a-proposal/

About Cincinnati SOUP


Modeled after the successful Detroit SOUP (http://www.detroitsoup.com/), Cincinnati SOUP is a micro-granting dinner celebrating and supporting creative projects in Cincinnati and Hamilton County. Cincinnati SOUP’s mission is to promote community-based development through crowd funding, creativity, collaboration, democracy, trust and fun. They aim to empower residents, help create jobs, allow people to establish new relationships and networks, promote actions and change, foster critical dialogue, instill neighborhood pride and provide a deeper understanding of democracy. For more information about Cincinnati SOUP, go to www.cincinnatisoup.org.

About The Xochitl Project


The Xochitl Project is a non-profit which seeks to foster cultural and linguistic diversity through service by encouraging and providing opportunities for minorities to participate in community service projects abroad. Learn more about The Xochitl Project at www.xochitlproject.org