Dinner with John Events:
Dinner with John 2019:
JWF Youth Fellow Scholarship Award Presentation & Dinner at Ovation Chicago
On Thursday, October 10, over 100 family, friends, and fellows of the John Walt Foundation came together to celebrate and honor the life of the late Walter Long Jr., also known as John Walt. The second annual event, known as DinnerWithJohn, is a fundraiser to support the John Walt Foundation, created in honor of John Walt who’s life was tragically cut short in 2017.
Photo by Henry Jones
For the past two years, the foundation has come together to select fellows who receive a $1000 fellowship. The fellows are between the ages of 14 and 24 and are starting out or working on their careers in the arts, just as John Walt was. To date, there have been nine fellows, but the foundation hopes to increase that number as the years go on. The fellows receive the funds to help them pursue and perfect their craft, just as John Walt was doing as a member of the West Side rap group known as Pivot Gang.
Photo by: Khavon Thomas
The dinner began with some networking, with sounds by SqueakPivot: DJ/producer and member of PivotGang. During the dinner, guests had the chance to see a video that highlighted the 2018 inaugural dinner and the fellows that received the funds that year. Next Nachelle Pugh, John Walt’s mother, and Saba, John Walt’s cousin along with members of PivotGang and co-founders of the foundation gave out the fellowships to this year’s recipients. A rapper, poet, singer, photographer, and seamstress now join the four other young artists (a fashion designer, visual artist, dancer, and singer) and will have the chance to expand their craft in ways they may not previously have been able to without the support of the foundation.
Photo by: Henry Jones
After, members of the John Walt Foundation shared how impactful being a part of the board was for them, they encouraged guests to give what they could to help continue the legacy of John Walt and the efforts of the foundation. Guests enjoyed food from Blue Plate Catering and were able to interact in a more familial way with the long wooden tables provided by the venue, Ovation, located in the neighborhood that Walt’s mother grew up in.
The dinner would not have been complete without a dance party, with songs from PivotGang’s debut album, which includes a verse from the late John Walt on the track titled ‘Bible’. Guests enjoyed those songs as well as songs John loved along with ones his friends would remember him by.
Photo by: Khavon Thomas
Photo by: Khavon Thomas
PivotGang also honored John Walt this year by also featuring him on their debut album, You Can’t Sit With Us, as part of the cover art, of which a 3’x3’ version was up for auction, along with a number of art pieces that were drawn, painted, or photographed by friends of John Walt to remember him. Every Wednesday, these art pieces and many more can be seen on the foundation's Instagram and Facebook pages as part of a series known as #WaltWednesday.
The foundation raised over $6,000 that night and continues to accept donations via our website. Thank you to all of our wonderful sponsors for making this happen!
Photo by: Khavon Thomas
Photo by: Khavon Thomas
Dinner with John 2018:
JWF Youth Fellow Scholarship Award Presentation
