Special event to benefit the homeless

Two of the most exciting political stand-up comics working today will be performing at DePaul University's Merle Reskin Theatre in downtown Chicago on May 20, 2016 at 7pm in order to raise money for Housing Forward, whose mission is to transition people from housing crisis to housing stability. The tickets are $30, and they are on sale now through Brown Paper Tickets. W. Kamau Bell is a socio-political comedian who is the host of the brand new CNN travel show, The United Shades of America which premieres on Sunday, April 24th. His new one-hour comedy special, Semi-Prominent Negro, also debuts on Showtime on April 29th. Semi-Prominent Negro is directed by Morgan Spurlock. Kamau is also known for his cult-favorite but criminally short-lived Chris Rock-produced FX comedy series, Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. The New York Times called Kamau the most promising new talent in political comedy in many years. Among the places Kamau has been seen or heard are Comedy Central's @midnight, HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, Conan, Meet The Press, WTF with Marc Maron, The Rachel Maddow Show, Fresh Air, and This American Life. His writing has appeared on VanityFair.com, Salon.com, MSNBC.com, and Buzzfeed. Kamau is also proud to be the ACLU's Ambassador of Racial Justice. Kamau is also the host of Kamau Right Now!, a public radio talk show that airs on KALW in San Francisco. He also produces a weekly podcast with fellow comedian Kevin Avery entitled Denzel Washington is The Greatest Actor of All Time Period. SF Weekly called Kamau “smart, stylish, and very much in the mold of politically outspoken comedians like Dave Chappelle.” Hari Kondabolu is a Brooklyn-based, Queens-raised comic who the NY Times has called one of the most exciting political comics in stand-up today. In March 2014, he released his debut standup album Waiting for 2042 on indie-label Kill Rock Stars. He was the NYU's APA Institute's Artist in Residence for the 2014-2015 Academic Year. Hari has done standup on the Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Live at Gotham, and John Oliver's New York Standup Show. His Comedy Central Presents half-hour television special debuted on the network in February 2011. He was also a writer and correspondent for Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell. He has performed at such notable festivals as the HBO Comedy Festival, South by Southwest, Bumbershoot, Sasquatch, the Aspen Ideas Festival and Just for Laughs in Montreal and Chicago. All proceeds from this event benefit Housing Forward. Housing Forward is the only nonprofit organization in west Cook County with a comprehensive, long-term solution for preventing and ending homelessness. Founded in 1992, the agency provides integrated services to at-risk and homeless individuals and families in six areas: emergency assistance, employment readiness, supportive housing, outreach and engagement, supportive services, and emergency shelter. Housing Forward’s goal is to transition people from financial and housing crisis to stability. For more information, visit www.housingforward.org.