Community Chat: What the X is Going On?

Residents attended a community chat to find out "What the X Was Going On?", sponsored by the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation. Executive Director Carlos Nelson felt this was one of many community fire-side chat-style problem solving sessions hed host to continue to engage the communit... more

Gallery 79 Features Oglesby School in Art Exhibit

A public CPS Elementary Art Exhibit showcased students artwork from southwest side Englewood-Gresham, Pershing and Midway Networks, on May 3, 2013. Several bus loads of Oglesby Elementary youth, parents, local residents and curious art lovers, participated in this early evening of art on display. Th... more

Health Fair "on the block" Auburn Gresham 2013

Come Out and Join Us at the: Auburn-Gresham Health Fair 2013 DATE: May 30, 2013 TIME: 10am - 2pm WHERE: Along the Block of 79th Street ... more

What the "X" is Going On?!!!

May 22, 2013 Time: 6–7 pm Location: 7801 South State Street Community Room - 2nd Floor Chicago, IL 60620 Have you noticed the large red "X" popping up on some buildings, in our Auburn Gresham community? Join us for this community discussion and be part of the so... more

Identity theft prevention and shredding programs to be offered at local bank

Urban Partnerhip Bank is joining with the Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation to present "Putting Your Financial House in Order," a free identity theft prevention program during Money Smart Week Chicago, April 20-27. "Putting Your Financial House in Order" will take place on April 24 fro... more

City Council Approves Keep Chicago Renting Ordinance, Parking Meter Changes

Renters in foreclosed buildings will see some added protections thanks to the Keep Chicago Renting ordinance that passed the full city council Wednesday by a 45-4 vote. “God has brought us a long way,” Ald. Walter Burnett Jr. (27th) said to dozens of cheerful housing advocates after t... more

Tenant group sues Chicago Housing Authority

Displaced tenants of Cabrini Green filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Housing Authority in an effort to return to their neighborhood after redevelopment. After the last iconic tower fell, the Cabrini Green row houses were all that remained of the public-housing complex. Its residents should hav... more

Englewood Renters Left Without Electricity, Gas Due To Foreclosure: 'We Were Left In The Dark' (VIDEO)

Eight members of the Shaw family, including a 14 month-old baby, have been living without gas or electricity for nearly a week, according to parents Shantisha and Ezekiel. Their two-bedroom garden apartment in Englewood, on Chicago’s South Side, is flooding and has mold damage. The two apart... more

CHA Broke Promise to Rehab Cabrini Rowhouses, Lawsuit Alleges

CABRINI-GREEN — A community group of some of the last public housing tenants in the Cabrini-Green rowhouses has filed a lawsuit against the Chicago Housing Authority, claiming the CHA reneged on a promise to keep hundreds of housing units. The residents of those 440 rowhouse units, which ar... more

Cabrini-Green residents sue CHA over renovated units

May 16, 2013 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- Long-time tenants are suing the Chicago Housing Authority for allegedly reneging on pledges to return them to their neighborhood after redevelopment. The Cabrini-Green Local Advisory Council filed its lawsuit in federal court today. Chicago has been demolishing or... more

West Haven Safe Summer League Championship Games

Join us for the three championship games of the 2012 West Haven Safe Summer Basketball League: grade school high school and adult. When: Thursday, August 14th, starts at 4p Where: United Center Tickets!!! Free admission, but you need a T-I-C-K-E-T to attend! Tickets can be picked up at the office,... more

Unique sponsorship opportunity to support West Haven’s Youth

About the West Haven Giants and West Haven Diamonds Near West’s baseball and softball programs currently serve over 25 boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 17 years old. Housed in West Haven, a community in the Near West Side of Chicago, the programs enable underserved youth to participa... more

Yum! Healthy Cooking at the Brown School

This winter and spring, youth at the Brown School are learning all about healthy eating! Near West is working with McKinzie Jacobs, a UIC intern, to teach 1st through 5thgrade students how to cook and prepare nutritious meals. As part of our health and wellness programming, McKinzie meets with the... more

Youth in Action: Winter Showcase

The Youth in Action Winter Showcase took place on December 21st. It was a HIT!! Over 100 participants, family members and guests attended the event at the Abraham Lincolnc Center. Youth from all four sites--Legends South, Oakwood Shores, Westhaven Park and Jackson Square at West End--participated... more

Spotlight on Jailon O'Neal

Jailon is a champion of the boxing ring! He began his training with us three years ago. Now, he fights in Chicago’s Golden Gloves competitions and other matches around the city. Jailon’s eye is certainly on the prize. His goal is to become a professional boxer one day, similar to hi... more

The Resurrection Project’s work covered by Univisión and The Gate Newspaper

The Resurrection Project (TRP) works to build relationships and create healthy communities, and we’re excited and grateful that our work has made the news again! On Friday, December 7, The Gate Newspaper ran a feature article on TRP and our work to stabilize Chicago’s Back of the Yards ... more

The Resurrection Project Applauds Wintrust’s Decision to Sell the Second Federal Deposits to Self-Help Federal Credit Union and The Resurrection Project

On November 28, 2012, Wintrust Financial Corp. agreed to sell Second Federal Savings and Loans’ three branches and deposits to The Resurrection Project (TRP) and Self-Help Federal Credit Union (Self-Help). You can read the Crain’s Chicago Business article here. TRP and Self-Help formed... more

The Resurrection Project and Self-Help Federal Credit Union joint venture acquires 1,100 loans to prevent massive foreclosures

On November 12, 2012, Self-Help Federal Credit Union (Self-Help) and The Resurrection Project (TRP) were successful in acquiring 1,100 loans totaling $141 million of face value from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). These loans are part of the former Second Federal Savings and Loan (... more

The New York Times features La Casa

La Casa Student Housing was featured in the Education Life section of the New York Times this weekend. The article is available online here, and was featured in the Sunday print edition on November 4, 2012. NYT reporter Michael Winerip visited with The Resurrection Project in September, and took ... more

La Casa Student Housing Media Coverage

The Resurrection Projects La Casa Student Housing Ribbon Cutting ceremony received great media coverage from national news outlets such as Univision, ABC, Azteca America and Fox News! See how they covered the event and La Casa below! Univision: Azteca America: WGN Chicago: Other media outl... more

2013 Think Green Project

QCDC celebrates 10th anniversary.

On Thursday, May 16, 2013, hundreds of people gathered at Maggianos Restaurant in River North to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Quad Communities Development Corporation (QCDC).

Shops and Lofts at 47 to anchor Bronzeville retail

Once completed in 2014, Shops and Lofts at 47 will feature a 41,000 sq. ft. Walmart Neighborhood Market, 14,000 sq. ft. of neighborhood retail and 96 rental apartments—an $46 million project in total. At the groundbreaking, Mayor Rahm Emanuel pointed out that Shops and Lofts at 47 aligns with... more

Quad Communities Development Corporation celebrates our Tenth Year Anniversary Luncheon

10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY FUNDRAISER 2003-2013 10 Years of Pursuing the Vision: Connecting the Past, Present and Future Thursday May 16, 2013 11:30 am to 1 pm Sponsorship packages available For more information contact: Yvette Kelly Special Events Coordinator at 773-268-7232 or ykelly@qcdc.org To... more

WBDC Micro Loan Days

Englewood Youths’ Become Tech Savvy And Get A Piece of The PI

A selected group of young men and women will spend it learning new languages, playing in traffic and giving one lucky organization a make-over. Englewood Codes is a10-week Teamwork Englewood program that will teach students about basic HTML, CSS and JavaScript code—the languages that power th... more

Digital Youth Summer Jobs Available

Digital Youth Summer Jobs Available Rashanah Baldwin Published: May 27, 2013 Digital Youth Summer Jobs ~ Summer 2013 ~ Description The Digital Youth Summer Jobs program provides an opportunity for youth (ages 14-17) to obtain basic life skills training, digital and news literacy training, work r... more

Summer Camp

Were all in this together. Fun Filled summer activities in summer camp. Camp Activities Arts and Craft Literary Arts Daily Outings Water parks and much, much more *Before and after care provided. For more info, see attched flyer

EXPUNGEMENT SUMMIT

Everyone deserves a 2nd Chance. New Faith Baptist Church International located @ 25 S. Central Ave, is bringing EXPUNGEMENTS to the community. Saturday, June 8, 2013 Registration @ 8:30 am-doors close at 6 pm Application, Preparation, Filing Volunteer attorneys will be on site to help with expung... more

Navigating A Data Driven Society to the Path of Educational Excellence

A critical aspect of achieving a model of educational excellence involves establishing early warning systems to eliminate or significantly reduce dropout rates amongst those at a greater risk. Last month, Teamwork Englewood galvanized parents and community stakeholders to view the documentary Drop ... more

Red Line South Reconstruction Project

Cermak-Chinatown to 95th/Dan Ryan • May 2013 – October 2013 CTA is rebuilding the south Red Line from just north of Cermak-Chinatown to 95th/Dan Ryan. The work will benefit Red Line riders for decades to come—through faster travel times, increased reliability, and spruced-up statio... more

The Crisis of Black Male Joblessness in Milwaukee: Trends, Explanations, and Policy Options

ABOUT THIS REPORT Since the late 1990s, issues surrounding race and employment have been a central research focus at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Center for Economic Development (UWMCED). In a series of reports, the Center has analyzed racial disparities in employment in the Milwaukee regio... more

Alderman Willie Cochran Discusses His Vote on on the Speed Zone Cameras and the Infrastructure Trust Ordinances

Greetings to all: Over the last two weeks the City Council has had two matters, Speed Zone Cameras and The Infrastructure Trust that were voted on. These matters have been in discussion for approximately six (6) weeks. Over that period of time thorough discussion were had and questions and ... more

Alderman Pat Dowell Discusses Her Vote on on the Speed Zone Cameras and the Infrastructure Trust Ordinances

At the two most recent City Council meetings, I cast votes on two ordinances that will affect all residents of the city. I cast a no vote for the ordinance authorizing placement of speed cameras near schools and parks and voted in favor of the Chicago Infrastructure Trust ordinance. (See ordinance ... more

2012 General Assembly Scholarship Application

2012 General Assembly Scholarship Application DEADLINE - June 15, 2012 The scholarships will be awarded for the 2012-2013 academic year. Individuals who have been awarded scholarships will be notified by July 16, 2012. There are specific criteria to be met for the scholarships, which may be used ... more

Woodlawn Rolls Out Network of Woodlawn's Education Strategy to Community Residents

Wednesday, October 17, 2012 Woodlawn residents, stakeholders invited to participate in community meeting to guide the future of local schools Network of Woodlawn and Woodlawn Children’s Promise Community to host 10/27 meeting, the first in the Future of Woodlawn series (Chicago) … Th... more

Woodlawn Public Safety Alliance Continues to Organize and Pray to Stop the Violence

Tuesday, October 16, 2012 W.Walker The Woodlawn Public Safety Alliance will be leading a prayer vigil and march around the 6300 block of S. Rhodes on Thursday, October 18th from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The vigil and march is part of a response strategy to call attention to the escalation of youth violenc... more

State of Illinois Invests $2 million towards Decreasing the Digital Divide in South Side Communities

Tuesday, October 16, 2012 Governor Quinn Announces First Winner of Illinois Gigabit Communities Challenge State’s $2 Million Seed Investment Will Jumpstart Fiber Optic and Wireless Network in Mid-South Side Chicago Neighborhoods; Help Create Over 50 Jobs CHICAGO – October 16, 2012.... more

Parkway Gardens goes to the Chicago Children's Museum

Friday, July 1, 2011 Ryan K. Priester —> —> —> —> —> Saturday June 11thwas a day of firsts. For many of the children gathered together by Officer Jennifer Maddox, the day would be the first trip to downtown Chicago, the Chicago Children’s museum, or, perhaps mo... more

Parkway Gardens Residents move toward GED

Tuesday, July 19, 2011 Candice Collins —> On April 26, 2011 Parkway Gardens Apartment implemented its first GED (General Education Development) program through Literacy Chicago. Jennifer Maddox, the resident service coordinator in Parkway Gardens has been a driving force behind the progr... more

Hurlock honored as Citizen of the Year

The South Chicago Chamber of Commerce selected Angela Hurlock, Claretian Associates Executive Director, as its Citizen of the Year at the Chambers annual awards ceremony May 10. Angela has served on the Chambers board of directors, most recently as its president. "It is so gratifying to be honore... more

Cinco de Mayo fair serves 250 seniors

The 17th annual Cinco de Mayo Senior Health and Resource Fair served over 250 seniors and their families on May 3. More than 45 vendors provided free health screenings, resources and more. Everyone enjoyed free lunch, free bingo, Zumba demo classes and much more! Thanks so much to our sponsors: ... more

9100 S. Burley Apartments celebrates grand opening

More affordable apartments are ready to rent in South Chicago after the grand opening of the 9100 S. Burley Apartments on Friday, April 26. More than 65 supporters celebrated the opening, which also served as the kick off for the 6th annual 10th Ward Green Summit. The new affordable apartment ... more

New apartments avaialble at 9100 South Burley Apts.

Claretian Associates has new apartments ready to rent at 9100 South Burley Apartments, an affordable multifamily housing development, part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program. Know someone who needs a lovely new apartment? Click for the flyer in English and Spanish. This is an affordable mu... more

Claretian Associates hosts Public Health Commissioner

Claretian Associates was pleased to take the Chicago Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Bechara Choucair on a trolley tour of South Chicago. Dr. Choucair has hosted many roundtable meeetings over the past year and we were delighted to take him on a tour and discuss issues in South Chicag... more

SWOP’s "Reclaiming Southwest Chicago" Housing Campaign Moves Forward

SWOP SWOP continues to move on its effort to respond to the large numbers of vacant buildings plaguing the Southwest side by submitting a funding proposal to the Illinois Attorney General office as part of their request for proposals for the National Foreclosure Settlement Awards. Back in July 2012... more

SWOP LEADERS MAKE HISTORY AT DRIVER’S LICENSE BILL SIGNING

On January 28, SWOP leaders watched as Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed the highway safety legislation into law. Illinois makes history by becoming the first state in over a decade that had the courage to work in a bipartisan manner to pass driver’s licenses for undocumented immigrants.... more

Two Greater Southwest Development Corporation (GSDC) Employees Become U.S. Citizens through SWOP’s New Americans Initiative (NAI)

Wednesday, July 13, 2011 Last month, Nick Kollias and Rob Navarro of the Greater Southwest Development Corporation (GSDC) became U.S. Citizens through the Southwest Organizing Project’s (SWOP) New Americans Initiative (NAI). SWOP’s NAI is a state program that educates and assists eligib... more

Southwest Organizing Project Gets The Word Out About Text4baby

Tuesday, September 4, 2012 Click here to watch the text4baby informational Video Having a child, whether your first or third, can be a time of great uncertainty, but more than 18,000 women in Illinois are finding stability and support through text4baby. Text4baby is the first ever free mo... more

SWOP’s Next NAI Citizenship Workshop is March 23rd at Daley Community College

Wednesday, February 27, 2013 Since 2005, the Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) has been a lead organization in the in the New Americans Initiative (NAI). Through NAI, administered by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) in partnership with the Illinois Department of ... more

New Muevete Schedule Now Available

The new Muevete schedule has been published! Muevete is an innovative program which provides free exercise opportunities to the Greater Humboldt Park community.

Muévete Classes Start Up in Humboldt Park

Muévete is a physical activity initiative of Community Organizing for Obesity Prevention (CO-OP) Humboldt Park. Muévete is free and promotes culturally relevant physical activities by any means, for women and the entire family. For more information, please contact Leony Calderon at: ... more

April 6: Mercy Home for Boys & Girls Presents: Intervention Strategies For Adolescents In Crisis

Presented by: Mark Sanders LCSW, CADC Date: Wednesday, April 6, 2011 Time: 9:00am-12:00 p.m. (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.) Location: 1140 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607 – Multi-Purpose Room Adolescents in crisis are vulnerable to truancy, academic problems, gang affiliation, su... more

March 26: "Tobacco in the Ranks"

This panel discussion will take place at the National Mexican Museum of Art, 1852 W. 19th Street, on Sunday, March 29 from 1-5 pm. It is sponsored by Vida Media and Radio Arte. More information can be found at www.radioarte.org.

May 12th: Caring for the Caregiver, A Compassion Fatigue Workshop for Professionals

Facilitated by Mary Andrus, ATR, LCPC and Kira Travis, MT-BC, this workshop will allow participants to explore the stressors that impact their work as well as use art making and music as opportunities to release the stress that could cause burn out. In completing this self-care workshop, partici... more

New Hoops in the Hood video

Monday, December 19, 2011 For the last several years, Tu Multimedia, through videos and audio slideshows, has been documenting Hoops in the Hood, the summer basketball program that LISC/Chicago supports in communities throughout the city. Heres the latest.....

Historic Gately Stadium Reopens
After Sweeping Renovation

Friday, November 11, 2011 Football players from eight public schools and South Side park districts that share decades-old Gately Stadium in Roseland gathered on Oct. 14 to celebrate a renovation that includes a new synthetic turf field, scoreboard, lighting and seating. They were joined just before ... more

Hoops in the Hood

Monday, December 19, 2011

Hoops in the Hood:
Profile of Volunteer Coach Darren Tillis

Friday, November 11, 2011 Community volunteers are an integral part of all successful neighborhood efforts – including Hoops in the Hood, a partnership of LISC/Chicago and organizations in 11 neighborhoods to offer summer sports programs focused on building youth engagement, leadership and co... more

From Learn and Earn to Slam and Jam

Friday, November 11, 2011 John McCarron “There’s no time to get in trouble.” If the Near North Unity Project needed a motto this summer, Shelby Tharpe surely nailed it. It was a sticky-hot Friday afternoon and the 13-year-old was conferring with his buddy, Leon Wilbut, near basketb... more

Twin Pillars of Education: Enlightenment and Freedom

An Interview with William Ayers William Ayers retired from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2011 where he was Distinguished Professor of Education. He lives in Hyde Park with his partner Bernardine Dohrn. He is the author of several books including FUGITIVE DAYS, a memoir, and the forthcom... more

Education is Indeed Life Itself: An Interview with William Ayers

William Ayers retired from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2011 where he was Distinguished Professor of Education. He lives in Hyde Park with his partner Bernardine Dohrn. He is the author of several books including FUGITIVE DAYS, a memoir, and the forthcoming PUBLIC ENEMY: Confessions of a... more

Bernardino y Panduro en Casa Michoacán

La Compañía de Teatro Itinerante La Dueños se encuentra en Chicago para presentar, en el marco de la Semana Michoacana, dos obras bien encajadas en lo que ha sido el teatro de carpa mexicano. Se trata de un estilo que exige un ritmo ágil y mucha versatilidad de parte de ... more

The Street Art Revolutionary: Jay Jasso

Walk down 18th street in Pilsen and the walls come to life. You’ll see murals and unique cutouts pasted to the exposed brick walls or on wooden boards keeping squatters out of foreclosed businesses. Look up and see a female face wearing black sunglasses and bunny ears. Glance across the stree... more

El Seguro Social anuncia su nuevo sitio de Internet para las personas que tienen teléfonos inteligen

La Sra. Carolyn W. Colvin, Comisionada Interina del Seguro Social, anunció que la agencia ofrecerá un nuevo sitio de Internet optimizado, cuyo objetivo específico son las personas que usan teléfonos inteligentes. Las personas que visitan el sitio de Internet de la agencia... more

New Website for Finding Your Next CAPS Beat Meeting

CAPS is the acronym for Community Alternative Policing Strategies. The purpose of CAPS is to make residents active partners in preventing and reducing crime in their neighborhoods. Each police district is divided into sectors and then beats. The CAPS meeting for a designated beat is called the "beat... more

Ald. Toni Foulkes sponsors neighborhood bike tour

Ald. Toni Foulkes from the 15th ward will showcase the positive aspects in the West Englewood and Chicago Lawn communities during a bike ride June 22, according to DNAinfo Chicago. This is not the first time Ald. Foulkes has put together a community bike ride. In years past she has centered the rid... more

GSDC hosts last Tech Thursdays class

GSDC will host its fifth and final Tech Tech Thursdays class this week on June 13. One of GSDCs main initiatives is to provide practical and affordable technology solutions to small businesses in the Chicago Lawn community. It can be a challenge to get a small business up to speed in the digital s... more

Chicago Lawn Portal looking for writers

The Chicago Lawn Portal is looking for writers--no need to be a professional, were looking for community residents!--to contribue news, photos, events or anything they like to the portal. Were hoping to grow the presence of the portal and see the site turn into a central hub for the community, wher... more

Social Security Announces New Mobile Site for Smartphone Users

Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, announced the agency is offering a new mobile optimized website, specifically aimed at smartphone users across the country. People visiting the agency’s website, www.socialsecurity.gov, via smartphone (Android, Blackberry, iPhone, and ... more

Can't Work Due To Disability? Maybe Social Security Can Help

Disability is something most people don’t like to think about. But if you’re not able to work because you have a disabling condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death, then it’s a subject you may not be able to avoid. You should apply for disability ben... more

Best Ways To Do Business With Social Security

Many people save time by going online to take care of everyday tasks. For example, they shop online to avoid going to crowded malls or stores. They pay bills and check their account balances online to save a trip to the bank. It’s true of Social Security business, too. You can save a lot of t... more

Health Fair "on the block" Auburn Gresham 2013

Come Out and Join Us at the: Auburn-Gresham Health Fair 2013 DATE: May 30, 2013 TIME: 10am - 2pm WHERE: Along the Block of 79th Street ... more

NeighborWorks 2013 Volunteers Needed!

Auburn-Gresham/Englewood Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) is looking for volunteers for the annual NeighborWorks event, on June 1st, from 9:00am to 1:00pm. Sign up and come join us! NeighborWorks works to provide decent homes and safe healthy communities for low- and moderate- income reside... more

Youth Organizations Rally For Peace in Chicago

The evening of May 21, 2013, at 5:00pm sharp, Auburn Gresham high school youth, including Perspectives Leadership Academy and High School of Technology, St. Leo, and Robinson (Englewood), were sited marching from their schools, carrying colorful and impactful signs. They were headed to the northwes... more

R.A.G.E. Kicks Off the So Fresh Saturdays Series in Englewood Parks!

The Resident Association of Greater Englewood aka R.A.G.E. is excited to kick off the So Fresh Saturdays series for the summer at Sherwood Park! So Fresh Saturdays is a community driven "edu-tainment" series that will showcase various artistic expressions and educational workshops that will focused ... more

Montessori School enrollment

The Montessori School of Englewood has enrollment. For more information see attached flyer

Englewood Youths’ Become Tech Savvy And Get A Piece of The Pi

The summer of 2013 will be unlike any summer for some Englewood youth. A selected group of young men and women will spend it learning new languages, playing in traffic and giving one lucky organization a make-over. Englewood Codes is a10-week Teamwork Englewood program that will teach students abo... more

Social Security Announces New Mobile Site for Smartphone Users

Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of Social Security, announced the agency is offering a new mobile optimized website, specifically aimed at smartphone users across the country. People visiting the agency’s website, www.socialsecurity.gov, via smartphone (Android, Blackberry, iPhone, and ... more

Englewood Codes!

Englewood Codes is a 10-week summer project where youth learn how to design, build and maintain their own multimedia websites. Through hands-on instruction, individual activities and group projects, students will learn how to code in HTML, CSS and JavaScript while appropriating skills needed for suc... more

Humboldt Park Students Taking the Lead!

Spring was a time for action for youth in Humbolt Park! Students participating in Mikva Challenge programs at Roberto Clemente Community Academy and Wells Community Academy High School took on the issues of bullying, lack of student voice, and suspension at their schools by creating products, train... more

ComEd Offers Customers Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences in “Coolest Summer Ever” Promotion

ComEd Offers Customers Once-in-a-Lifetime Experiences in “Coolest Summer Ever” Promotion Customers can feed a giraffe or throw out the first pitch through social media promotion offering unique prizes at iconic northern Illinois destinations With the official start to summer only a few... more

Walk with NFPN at the Greater Chicago Food Depository's 28th Annual Hunger Walk!

The Northwest Food Partners Network, (NFPN) a network of service providers, is actively seeking people to participate in the 2013 Greater Chicago Food Depository (GCFD) Hunger Walk on Saturday June 29 at Soldier Field. Registration begins at 7 a.m. and step-off is at 8:30 a.m and the event will su... more

New Healthy Resource Guide Available

The West Humboldt Park Healthy Community Resource Guide is now available. The purpose of the West Humboldt Park Healthy Community Resource Guide is to provide a listing of healthy living resources for West Humboldt Park community residents to access and live a healthier lifestyle. Resources include... more

The Medium is the Message: Puppets Show Kids How To Eat Healthy

There they were. Ten boys, five girls, all between the ages of 3 and 5, chomping at the bit for some fun and entertainment during their morning sojourn at A Mother’s Touch Daycare on North Pulaski Road in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood. Whether the glee was because they’d been pri... more

Three more portals for Smart Communities

The three Southwest neighborhoods in Chicagos Smart Communities program launched their portals yesterday, creating a wide new avenue for interaction among residents, businesses and organizations.They are works in progress, with some empty spaces yet to fill, but already the portals offer new stories... more

Peirce on Daley

Syndicated state and local government columnist Neal Peirces recent summary of Mayor Daleys legacy on the Citistates site will seem fawning to Daleys critics. There is only a brief mention at the end about patronage and corruption, and no mention at all about the privatization controversies that hav... more

Preview: Humboldt Park Launches Its Portal

Its still a work in progress, according to the team that made it happen, but the Humboldt Park Portal, a day after its "soft" launch, looks pretty good to me. It features a nice selection of stories from various contributors and organizations, a packed calendar (Movies in the Park, Jens Jensen birth... more

Take a Tour of Pilsen - by Video or Phone

Weve written here before about how neighborhoods are using multimedia tools to promote their work and their neighborhoods, but couldnt have imagined, even six months ago, how far the groups would come, and how fast.Audio slideshows are now available for 10 neighborhoods as part of the Chicago Commun... more

Front-Yard Signs Call Out Banks on Foreclosures

Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) is "naming names" of banks that are foreclosing on properties on Chicagos Southwest Side, where 7,300 foreclosures have been filed over two years in four area ZIP Codes. The bank names are prominently featured on yard signs that say "Deutsch Bank (or Citibank or J... more

Volunteers Dig In on NeighborWorks Day

A little rain didn’t stop about 500 volunteers from painting, planting and mowing on Saturday, June 1, when several of LISC Chicago’s local partners pitched in at the annual NeighborWorks Day. By the time it was over, theyd spiffed up 115 homes on 10 blocks, planted nine community garden... more

Health Disparities in Chicago: A Call to Action

Leaders from 11 New Communities Program (NCP) organizations and four partner agencies gathered at the LISC Chicago offices in early June for a frank conversation about health disparities in Chicago. Dr. Steve Whitman, the presenter and Director of the Sinai Urban Health Institute, emphasized the imp... more

The Medium is the Message: Puppets Show Kids How To Eat Healthy

There they were. Ten boys, five girls, all between the ages of 3 and 5, chomping at the bit for some fun and entertainment during their morning sojourn at A Mother’s Touch Daycare on North Pulaski Road in the West Humboldt Park neighborhood. Whether the glee was because they’d been pri... more

Note to Small Biz: Loans Are Available

There’s good news for Mom and Pop corner stores, auto repair shops and your neighborhood taqueria. More loan options are available for small businesses than most realize. At a recent Commercial Roundtable Lunch convened by LISC Chicago, lenders described the terms of loans as large as $2.5 ... more

LISC Partners Ready for NeighborWorks Day

There’ll be lots of painting, raking and mowing on Saturday, June 1, when several of LISC Chicago’s local partners turn out for the annual NeighborWorks Day. Then again, there also will be food, fun and friendship – the latter being, perhaps, the most important result when neighbo... more

South Shore Opera Company offers African Romances

The South Shore Opera Company marks its fifth anniversary with a free program featuring a one-act opera and a song cycle by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Paul Laurence Dunbar -- Saturday, June 8, at 7 p.m. at the South Shore Cultural Center.

‘Invest in Englewood’ campaign launching

Beautification of a gateway lot and a walking tour of historic and architecturally significant sites on Saturday will launch the Invest in Englewood campaign of the new Greater Englewood Community Development

Navigators USA offer ‘inclusive scouting’

With the Boy Scouts maintaining its policy of excluding gays from leadership, interest is growing in Navigators USA, an "intentionally inclusive scouting alternative," according to a leader of a new chapter in Palatine.

After the school closing vote

With the school board voting to close 50 neighborhood schools -- to nobodys surprise -- the movement that sprang up in opposition moves to a new phase.

Fracking opponents occupy governor’s office

With the State Senate set to vote on a bill regulating fracking tomorrow, opponents say theyll continue an occupation of Governor Quinns office into a third day, demanding he meet with residents of areas that would be affected and back a moratorium.

Have a Swinging Good Time at Jazz at the Met

Get ready for sizzling jazz and cool blues at Jazz at the Met, Saturday, June 22, from 3-7 p.m., at the Metropolitan Family Services Calumet Center, 235 East 103rd St., Chicago. WVON radio’s Cliff Kelley and Precious Witherspoon will be onsite to emcee the event as you enjoy the musical talents of L... more

Pilsen Artist creates Art from Recyclable materials

Leticia Rodarte started her art career and became an entrepreneur at age eight. It started during grammar school in Mexico, she drew maps for her friends and charged them a “torta for it, Rodarte said. “I started making my own money selling my drawings to friends from grammar school, Rodarte said. “... more

Police Keep Licensed Peddlers Moving on 18th Street

Pilsen peddlers say business complaints to police have stopped them from selling on 18th Street. Anastacia Cortez, a licensed peddler for 15 years, said Chicago Police Officers have told her to move numerous times while selling on 18th Street. “The cops tell me that my post is mobile, and I have to ... more

Community Relieved that Mahalia Jackson School Staying Open

Danzel Lucas remembers exactly where he was when he got the news a few weeks ago that his school, Mahalia Jackson Elementary, would remain open. “I was so excited when I found out, the sixth-grader said. “My mom kept telling me to calm down because I was running around the house yelling and screamin... more

Community Living Replacing Institutions for Developmentally Disabled, Lags Downstate

Close to 500 severely disabled Illinoisans are in danger of losing their homes because of last year’s budget cuts mandated by Gov. Pat Quinn. While the average American might not see how a state-run institution can be home, for close to 30,000 Americans, it is. As the state closes institutions one b... more

In the News: Lewis says she's not stepping down

Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, says she isn’t stepping down over an “inappropriate joke she made about Education Secretary Arne Duncan. While her remarks were insensitive, they were just 120 seconds of her 35-minute speech at a social justice event in Seattle last month, Lewi... more

CPS moves forward on principal prep program, single hs application

At a low-key board meeting, district officials told members they are formally looking for partners to better prepare principals. Also, board members approved a contract for the development of a singular application for high schools to take the place of the hodge podge of applications that parents mu... more

No time to waste on longer day

 Chicago’s children deserve better. The majority of the city’s public school students today are not being prepared for success in this increasingly competitive global economy. Without dramatic change, it is unlikely that Chicago students living in poverty today will even have the chance to live a mi... more

In the News: Groups ready to battle over closings

Community groups around Chicago have begun revving up for what likely will be a fierce battle to keep neighborhood schools open as CPS prepares to announce this years list of school closings and consolidations. (Tribune) All prospective Chicago Public Schools students would have to go through an ap... more

In the News: City schools face Common Core struggle

Some of the best Chicago public schools are struggling to measure up to the recently adopted tougher Common Core curriculum, according to the Tribune. Also, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and CPS CEO Jean-Claude Brizard announced Monday a new online tool that will allow the public to read school reports for ea... more

Dozens of schools meet closings criteria

About 140 schools, most on the South Side, meet all the key components of the district’s draft criteria to be eligible for closing. This week, the district is holding community forums on the proposed criteria. Sometime after Nov. 21, CEO Jean-Claude Brizard will issue final guidelines. A week and a... more

Spring Field Day at our Marseilles farm

  If you’ve never ventured out to our farm in Marseilles, IL – the Les Brown Memorial Farm – now is a great time to come and check it out. There will be lots to eat and see. Email us at info@growinghomeinc.org or call 773.549.1336 if you have any questions.

Mayor Emanuel visits Growing Home

We were honored to welcome Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to our Wood Street Urban Farm! He came out to see the great work we’re doing in Englewood, meet our staff and interns, and to check out the site for our new hoophouse, which will be bringing even more local produce and job training opportun... more

Growing Home Kickstarter selected to Seed Chicago!

Great news! Growing Home’s Kickstarter project – Harvesting Hope – has been selected to Seed Chicago, the city’s new curated Kickstarter page for projects specifically focusing on job creation and growth in Chicago’s neighborhoods. A major benefit to being selected to S... more

Wood Street Season Kick-off Open House Celebration

Growing Home’s Wood Street Urban Farm presents its: Season Kick-off Open House Celebration Wednesday, April 24th from 1pm – 4pm Soul Food Junkies starts at 4pm Including: An Organic Farm Stand Farm Tours Healthy Cooking Demonstrations Garden Workshops for Children and Adults Information ... more

Legislative action affecting former offenders – this Thursday

This Thursday, March 14, our state legislators in the Restorative Justice Committee will vote on HB 3061.  HB 3061 expands the number of convictions that are eligible for sealing.  Sealing is an effective legal remedy to reduce the long-term negative impact of a criminal record and enable individual... more

CTA financial statements reflect positive steps in efficiency and emissions

A push to lower emissions and some smart commodity buying led the CTA to a drastic reduction in operating costs.

A raw idea: Owners changing up pets' diets

Before dogs were domesticated, they ate what they killed -- and they certainly didnt cook it. Now, a new diet designed with that simple philosophy in mind is picking up steam in the pet industry. Some dog owners say it makes their pups healthier and happier, but others say its just not worth the... more

Cancer survivor’s difficult road to hit smooth pavement across America

Evan Bartlett’s life began with a huge challenge. At four months old, he was diagnosed with a life-threatening form of cancer and given a 65 percent chance of surviving.

Color Jam brings back vinyl

Have you noticed the pop of color in Chicagos Loop? You may have touched it and not even realized. Color Jam, an art installation by multimedia artist Jessica Stockholder, blankets the corner of State and Adams.

Last chance to see Venus phenomenon, in this lifetime

Last chance to see Venus phenomenon, in this lifetime venuschicago Venus Transit Venussplash Transit of Venus dazzles thousands at Adler Planetarium Venus trek across the sun tracked by thousands at the Adler

Note to Small Biz: Loans Are Available

There’s good news for Mom and Pop corner stores, auto repair shops and your neighborhood taqueria. More loan options are available for small businesses than most realize. At a recent Commercial Roundtable Lunch convened by LISC Chicago, lenders described the terms of loans as large as $2.5 m... more

Community Kickstart in Chicago

A camp for inner-city kids to learn computer coding. A bee-keeping venture for Bhutanese refugees. An organic garden where ex-offenders get job training for a second chance. All these projects have been launched on Kickstarter, the popular "crowdfunding" website as part of Seed Chicago, a project ... more

Improved KC communities improve resident health

The connection between vacant lots in your neighborhood and your blood pressure may not seem obvious at first. But according to a new report released last month by Greater Kansas City LISC, a neighborhoods quality of life is correlated with improved physical and mental health. Dr. Richard Suminski ... more

"The tactical thing wasn't working"

When Sam DeMaio, a 25-year law enforcement veteran, was tapped to be Newark’s Police Director in 2011, he was hailed by the New Jersey Star-Ledger as the “the toughest cop in America.” He needed to be. The year before, deep budget cuts forced the department to lay off 162 officers... more

Fishtown on the rise

East Girard Avenue, a commercial corridor in Philadelphia’s Fishtown community, is part of LISC MetroEdge’s Corridors of Retail Excellence program. To read more about how a model block and other projects will have an impact on East Girard, click here. Catherine Jennings recently opened... more

In Logan Square and Hermosa, home buyers on the hunt

Vanessa Valentin and James Rudyk aren’t exactly salesmen – they’re respectively a community organizer and executive director for the Northwest Side Housing Center – but they recently demonstrated the art of persuasion while leading a trolley-full of potential home buyers thro... more

NSP: Where it's been, where it's going

Katie Ludwig discussing the Neighborhood Stabilization Program at a public meeting on Chicagos South Side. Gordon Walek Writer Bill Healy recently spoke with Katie Ludwig, an assistant commissioner dealing with foreclosure mitigation in the Chicago’s Department of Housing and Economic Deve... more

Mayor hails first fruit of foreclosure fight

Alicia Ivy is fed up with the foreclosure blight dragging down her block in West Humboldt Park and was only too happy, on the sunny first Friday of 2012, to give Mayor Rahm Emanuel a walking tour of the lowlights. “This is what we’re up against,” Ivy said, waving at a boarded-up, g... more

Chicago NSP helps fill demand for affordable rental housing

When Chicago first applied for Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds to help stabilize neighborhoods hit hard by foreclosures in 2008, it imagined that most of that money would go toward buying and rehabbing foreclosed single-family houses and getting them into the hands of homeowners. City offic... more

Moving Forward Together

The one-two punch of the foreclosure epidemic and Great Recession is teaching community development practitioners to build more effective partnerships, get closer to local conditions … and maybe even redefine what’s possible. There’s a new reality out there and its lessons are c... more

Last 8th graduation held at May Elementary

A closing ceremony will be held Tuesday, June 18th at the school, one of four in Austin being shuttered by CPS this month. The post Last 8th graduation held at May Elementary appeared first on AustinTalks.

Learn your HIV status

The Austin Planned Parenthood office, at 5937 W. Chicago Ave., is offering free testing. The post Learn your HIV status appeared first on AustinTalks.

Juneteenth festival aims to unite community

The three-day event starts June 14 and runs through June 16. The post Juneteenth festival aims to unite community appeared first on AustinTalks.

West Side residents get loose at Sankofa

The free event is held the first Thursday of the month in Austin. The post West Side residents get loose at Sankofa appeared first on AustinTalks.

Metalworking changes course of West Side student’s life

Austin Polytechnical Academy students success helps to dispel the misperceptions about manufacturing jobs. The post Metalworking changes course of West Side student’s life appeared first on AustinTalks.

Measuring an Era

Demond Drummer wasn’t at all shocked to get such a heartfelt endorsement of the impact of what he teaches as the tech organizer at Teamwork Englewood. But how it was delivered was a bit of a surprise. One afternoon, while walking down the street in Englewood, one of his former students from a... more

Job Search 2.0

A hard-working student at Kennedy-King College in Englewood, Gabrielle Thompkins has turned to the Smart Communities program in a lot of ways. Help finding a job is just the most recent example. Thompkins is one of thousands of residents in the five Smart Communities who’ve taken computer tra... more

Report: Web Use Way Up in Smart Communities

Residents participating in LISC Chicagos Smart Communities program are using high-speed Internet more frequently, but greater access to affordable broadband at home remains an issue for at-risk communities, according to new research released by Broadband Illinois. The "Measuring Change in Internet ... more

Small, Smart and Ready

At Reciclarte Studio, Leticia Rodarte’s art gallery on Ashland Avenue, almost everything for sale is made from recycled materials, much of it by Rodarte herself. It’s a fun, funky kind of store—the type of place that brings in visitors from across Chicago to Pilsen. But Rodarte k... more

Lessons for Life

It’s yet another mercilessly hot July day in Chicago—the temperature hovers at 94 degrees outside—yet class is in session. More than a dozen local residents are sitting at computer workstations in Englewood’s FamilyNet Center at Kennedy-King College for a free, 90-minute co... more