Matt Altstiel
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Published writer, hip-hop artist, photographer -- all of these describe Matt Altstiel, yet even combined they're only a portion of his skills and accomplishments. Matt is also passionate about education and youth sports -- and he happens to excel at nonprofit development.
Matt is the development manager at Metropolitan Planning Council, which addresses planning and development challenges in the Chicago area. In the last two years, he has helped MPC grow its budget by over 15 percent. Prior to that, he brought in over $120 million in new funding in four years at Chicago Public Schools. His fundraising efforts yielded medical coverage for thousands of students, expanded restorative justice efforts, and made possible three elementary magnet schools.
Matt is also vice president of Minnesota Gophers in Chicago, serves on the Albany Park Community Center Associate Board and is actively involved at Chicago Sinai Congregation.
AGE:
33
PRIMARY GIG:
Development Manager at Metropolitan Planning Center
ON THE SIDE:
Photographer (owner and operator of MBA Photography), Chicago Now Blogger, Grant Writing Consultant, a member of The Pond (an artist collective)
SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT ME:
I am a multi-platform published photographer and writer. I had a song that made German Hip Hop radio.
HOW YOU JEW IN CHICAGO:
I am a member of Sinai Congregation, LINK Chicago, and part of Sinai’s volunteer choir. I go to Torah study with my wife where we’re the youngest by 30 years, and it’s wonderful. My wife and I did Honeymoon Israel and we regularly get together with other Jewish couples. We host the family’s Chanukah and Pesach, and host Shabbat with friends once a month.
IF TIME AND MONEY WERE LIMITLESS, I WOULD:
Travel to all the UNESCO World Heritage sites with my wife. Start a narrative, storytelling media company that challenges broad stereotypes about the Rust Belt / Midwest and documents the region as an emerging hub for social and economic innovation. Find a cure for Multiple Sclerosis.
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