Alyssa Rapp

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) finances the creation and preservation of affordable housing in Illinois. IHDA was created by the state legislature in 1967 as a self-supporting agency to finance affordable housing across Illinois. IHDA does not use taxpayer dollars to sustain its operations, although it does administer publicly funded programs on behalf of the state. Since its creation, IHDA has provided more than $15 billion to finance a quarter million affordable homes. IHDA accomplishes its mission through a number of funding sources including the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credits, the allocation of federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and HOME Investment Partnership funds. IHDA is also a bonding authority and independently sells bonds, based on our strong credit rating of A1/AA-/AA- from Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings respectively. We partner with lenders, developers, local government, nonprofits, community groups and others to deliver low-cost financing programs. We provide financial assistance to low- and moderate-income homebuyers and homeowners, offer resources to developers who build or preserve affordable and mixed-income rental housing and provide oversight for hundreds of affordable rental communities across the state.

Spark is a Career Exploration and Self-Discovery Program that gives middle school students opportunities to understand, experience and pursue what’s possible for their future.  We are leading The Possibility Movement by bringing together diverse communities of families, schools and companies who care, share, teach and inspire. Spark Lab, Spark Mentorship and Spark High School Pathways use workplace experiences, mentoring and guided support to help students explore careers, build skills and find the right path to a successful future. 

Illinois Humanities, the Illinois affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is a statewide nonprofit organization that activates the humanities through free public programs, grants, and educational opportunities that foster reflection, spark conversation, build community and strengthen civic engagement. We provide free, high-quality humanities experiences throughout Illinois, particularly for communities of color, individuals living on low incomes, counties and towns in rural areas, small arts and cultural organizations, and communities highly impacted by mass incarceration. Founded in 1974, Illinois Humanities is supported by state, federal, and private funds. Learn more at ilhumanities.org and on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn @ILHumanities.

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) finances the creation and preservation of affordable housing in Illinois. IHDA was created by the state legislature in 1967 as a self-supporting agency to finance affordable housing across Illinois. IHDA does not use taxpayer dollars to sustain its operations, although it does administer publicly funded programs on behalf of the state. Since its creation, IHDA has provided more than $15 billion to finance a quarter million affordable homes. IHDA accomplishes its mission through a number of funding sources including the Illinois Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Illinois Affordable Housing Tax Credits, the allocation of federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits and HOME Investment Partnership funds. IHDA is also a bonding authority and independently sells bonds, based on our strong credit rating of A1/AA-/AA- from Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings respectively. We partner with lenders, developers, local government, nonprofits, community groups and others to deliver low-cost financing programs. We provide financial assistance to low- and moderate-income homebuyers and homeowners, offer resources to developers who build or preserve affordable and mixed-income rental housing and provide oversight for hundreds of affordable rental communities across the state.

Spark is a Career Exploration and Self-Discovery Program that gives middle school students opportunities to understand, experience and pursue what’s possible for their future.  We are leading The Possibility Movement by bringing together diverse communities of families, schools and companies who care, share, teach and inspire. Spark Lab, Spark Mentorship and Spark High School Pathways use workplace experiences, mentoring and guided support to help students explore careers, build skills and find the right path to a successful future. 

Bottlenotes is the leading interactive media companies in the U.S. wine and beer industries, educating and entertaining consumers via three main touchpoints: 1) Email newsletters • The Sip: Our email newsletter about all things wine now sent to over 500,000 wine enthusiasts daily via email and social media • The Pint: Our weekly email newsletter on beer, which goes out to over 100,000 consumers via email and social media • The Proof: another weekly email newsletter highlighting liquor, which goes out to over 100,000 consumers via email and social media 2) Events • Around the World in 80 Sips™ Events: Large-scale high-end events where 500-900 consumers come to taste 80+ wines from around the world. • Taste Around Town: The restaurant week for wine. Wine partners are featured in flights, pairing menus, by the glass for lunch and/or dinner, exclusively available during Taste Around Town. • iBev: The Annual Digital and Social Media Conference for the Beverage Industry. 3) Social Media : Effectively acquire a guaranteed number of wine-loving Facebook Fans for clients.