NAACP Chicago West Side Branch revives 'Freedom Fund' event with concert fundraiser

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The NAACP's Chicago West Side Branch is reviving its signature Freedom Fund fundraiser this weekend for the first time in seven years, pairing a night of live music with a call to action.

The 2025 Freedom Fund Concert Fundraiser is set for Saturday at the Kehrein Center for the Arts in Austin. Headlined by singer Terisa Griffin and featuring the Hiplet Ballerinas, the event is themed "The Fierce Urgency of Now: Reignite! Rebuild! Recommit!"

Organizers say the concert will raise money for the branch's year-round advocacy in housing, education, economic development and criminal justice reform.

The branch will also honor four community leaders, including Vera G. Davis, longtime civil rights advocate, and Nathaniel Gaither, restorative justice hub director at Lawndale Christian Legal Center.

The evening begins with a VIP reception before the 8 p.m. concert. Tickets start at $50, with proceeds going toward the branch's programs.