About Us
The CTD Collaborative includes
individuals, non-profit organizations,
service agencies, and faith communities.
Collaborative Members
Barb Food Mart · CORE Collective · DeKalb Area Belonging Council · DeKalb County History Center · DeKalb Migrant Aid · Family Service Agency · Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project · Federated Church of Sycamore · First Congregational UCC of DeKalb · First United Methodist Church of DeKalb · New Hope Missionary Baptist Church · Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation · Rooted for Good · Unitarian Universalist Congregation of DeKalb
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Project Coordinator
Frankie DiCiaccio
Programming Partner
Asheli Mann-Lofthouse/CORE Collective
CTD Collaborative Advisor
Laura Heideman, PhD
Fiscal Sponsor
First Congregational UCC of DeKalb
Story-Sharing
​Story-Sharing Facilitator
Ada Cheng, PhD
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Ada Cheng is an educator, artist, creator, speaker, and facilitator. Dr. Cheng was a tenured professor in sociology at DePaul University for 15 years until she resigned to pursue storytelling and performance. She has consistently engaged in public education and public outreach through the use of storytelling and performance arts. Today she creates platforms for people to tell difficult and vulnerable stories.
Community Aspirations
Story-sharing is a critical ingredient at CTD.
For many of us, telling a story to someone we just met can feel vulnerable.
To help foster a space where we all can feel confident being ourselves, we aspire to:
Embrace Difference
Welcome and respect all participants, regardless of their background, beliefs, or experiences.
Approach others' stories with empathy and understanding.
Respect Confidentiality
Honor the trust of others by keeping identities, personal stories, and experiences confidential.
Keep mobile devices silenced and stored away whenever possible, and refrain from taking video.
Share Authentically
Be genuine in your storytelling, but share only what you're comfortable with.
Practice Curiosity
Give full attention to speakers, avoid interrupting or offering unsolicited advice, and remain present.
Ask thoughtful questions and also respect boundaries.
Funding and Support
Made possible by a generous Community Unity Through Food Initiative grant from ​​​the Chicago Region Food System Fund​.
Story-sharing supported by Illinois Humanities.