PILSEN — A pozole-themed fundraiser Saturday, celebrating the traditional Mexican stew, will help Pilsen kids have access to art.
Supporters can sample more than 30 pozoles, ranging from traditional to exciting, at the 7th annual Pozolada from 6-10 p.m. Saturday at Local 399 Union Hall: 2260 S. Grove St. in Chinatown. The event benefits ElevArte, a community arts studio that facilitates free arts programming for youths in Pilsen.
General admission tickets, which include an open bar of beer by Lagunitas Brewing Company, wine punch, pop and a dessert table, are still on sale for $60. VIP tickets, with early check-in and a private beer reception, are also on sale for $100.
Guests will go home with a one-of-a-kind handmade bowl created by ElevArte youths and volunteers while supplies last.
The tradition of pozole began in pre-Columbian Mexico and continued to spread, with each land putting a regional stamp on the dish. The comfort food, traditionally made from maize, meat, chili peppers and other regional flavors, ultimately follows the migration of trails into the United States, making it a memorable dish for many Chicago families, according to the organization.
Performances for the evening include ElevArte’s Youth Circus, Holy Cross Marimba Ensemble and Dos Santos Anti-Beat Orquestra.
The fundraiser helps support ElevArte's art programming for Pilsen youths, said Maria León, ElevArte's executive director.
"Today, more than ever, it’s important for youth to have access to spaces where they feel safe and can belong," she said. "ElevArte is a safe-haven for hundreds of youth from Chicago’s Southwest neighborhoods."
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