A celebration of community, connection, and the power of public access media to change lives across Chicago.
Thursday, November 12, 2026 · 5:30 PM · The Geraghty
About the Chicago Voices Gala
Where Chicago Speaks
and the World Listens
The Chicago Voices Gala is an extraordinary evening honoring the storytellers, advocates, and community leaders who have used public access television to shape the soul of this city. Hosted by CAN TV — Chicago's community media network — this annual gathering brings together changemakers, supporters, and voices from every corner of Chicago.
For decades, CAN TV has served as an open platform where anyone with a story can reach everyone with a screen. From neighborhood associations to grassroots movements, from local artists to civic organizers — CAN TV has been the megaphone for communities that mainstream media overlooks.
The Gala is our night to celebrate that mission. To honor those who've dedicated themselves to community storytelling — and to look boldly toward the future of inclusive, accessible media in Chicago.
Evening Program
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5:30 PM
Cocktail Reception & NetworkingWelcome drinks, passed hors d'oeuvres, and an opportunity to connect with fellow community leaders and CAN TV supporters.
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6:00 PM
Doors Open — Welcome to the Main HallGuests are seated for the evening's program. Opening remarks from CAN TV leadership.
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6:30 PM
Community Voices Awards CeremonyRecognition of outstanding community producers, advocates, and partners who have amplified Chicago's diverse stories through public access media.
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7:00 PM
Live Auction & Fund-a-NeedSupport CAN TV's mission directly through a live auction and Fund-a-Need segment, helping expand access to community broadcasting resources.
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7:30 PM
Dinner ServiceA curated dinner experience featuring Chicago's finest seasonal cuisine, served as the evening program unfolds.
Meet Our
2026 Award Honorees
LIFETIME
ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Peggy Montes
EXEMPLARY PUBLIC
SERVICE AWARD
Congressman Danny K. Davis
EXEMPLARY COMMUNITY
PRODUCER AWARD
Lorii Abela
EXEMPLARY NON-PROFIT
PARTNER AWARD
Black Star Project
Black Star Still Rising
Hosted by Stephen “Silver” Carter
Typography is the art and technique
Typography is the art and technique of arranging type to make written language legible, readable and appealing when displayed. The arrangement of type involves selecting typefaces, point size, line length, line-spacing (leading), letter-spacing (tracking), and adjusting the space within letters pairs (kerning).
Thank You To Our Sponsors
As of October 14, 2026
Sponsorship Opportunities
Empower Community Voices
Make an impact by becoming a sponsor for the Chicago Voices Gala. With your support, you'll help sustain CAN TV's mission of community broadcasting — amplifying the voices that matter most across Chicago. This is a rare opportunity to align your brand with a cause that has been a cornerstone of our city's civic life for decades.
| Presenting Sponsor($50,000) | Lead Sponsor($25,000) | Gold Sponsor($15,000) | Silver Sponsor($7,500) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Table of eight at the gala | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Acknowledgement as Underwriter of CAN TV Original Program, includes on-air logo and 30 second video community engagement promo. | Four first-run episodes of CAN TV Original Program (TBD) | Two first-run episodes CAN TV Original Program (TBD) | One first-run CAN TV Original Program (TBD) | – |
| Social media post highlighting company's support of gala (10K+ distribution) | – | |||
| Logo recognition on gala website | ||||
| Logo recognition on invitation | ||||
| Logo recognition on event signage | ||||
| Recognition in all press releases, media alerts and PSAs | – | |||
| Logo recognition in post-event social media promotion | – | |||
| Corporate representative to serve as Gala Chair | – | – | – | |
| Social media post recognizing corporate representative as Gala Chair | – | – | – | |
| On-stage remarks during gala program | – | – | – |