Auburn Park, "The Metra Stops Here"

South Side station In "Politics helped fund new South Side station, Metra says; Auburn Park facility to cost $20 million, potentially serve 400 riders" (News, Nov. 17), long-time Metra Board member Jack Schaffer questioned the value of the proposed Auburn Park Metra station on Chicagos South Sid... more

Thankful for Green in the Community

The story of a community is not always written in black and while. The Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC) is thankful for the many colors of our community, including our very own Urban "Green" Team. The GADCs Urban Green Team (UGT) has been working very hard over the past year a... more

Historic Veterans Housing Groundbreaking

The downpour of rain may have effected the shovels going in the ground, but thanks to the presence of the armed forces, Mayor Emaunuel and Auburn Gresham community stakeholders looking on, the groundbreaking, for the new Veterans housing was in full salute, at the altar of New Pisgah Church.

GADC and PMA Hosts National Elev8 Convening Meeting with LISC Chicago

NATIONAL ELEV8 PARTNERS, WELCOME TO CHICAGO! Thank you Atlantic Philanthropies for your committed support! We have had five years of success: a best in class school based health center in our community, productive after school activities, as well as school and community social emotional supports f... more

New Employees Stamp of Approval on Email Training

The Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC) turned to Easter Seals to help solve a local organization problem, of not having a funded face-to-face office assistant and greeter to cover its very busy front desk. The GADC main office is located on 1159 West 79th Street. The office manag... more

Immigrants welcome chance to apply for new state temporary driver's licenses

Galindo Barrios, 33, wheels the family Chevy back to his apartment near a busy rail line on the far edge of the Logan Square neighborhood. Its about 8 p.m., almost bedtime. He and his wife, Laura, watch their pajama-clad children squeal and scurry across the units wooden floors. The living room is ... more

Meeting on Proposed Lathrop Homes Master Plan

Public meeting on the proposed Lathrop Homes Master Plan Who: Lathrop residents and Lathrop Alumni and their families, waiting list families, churches, schools, social service agencies, Logan Square Neighborhood Association and ONE Northside member groups, Chicago Housing Initiative member organi... more

Results are in! Military Coup at Ames even LESS popular than anticipated.

97% of Parents and 94% of Students Vote to Keep Ames as a Neighborhood School, not Military SchoolThe Results Are In! Maldonados Military Coup at Ames Even Less Popular than Anticipated Contact: Leticia Barrera, Logan Square Neighborhood Association Emma Segura, Ames parent and LSC member Deli... more

Ames outperforms Marine.

Food and Love Are a Magical Combination for Healing

Once a month at 2840 N. Milwaukee Avenue, home of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSA), a group of 12 breast cancer survivors come together to support each other. The LSNAs mission statement reads as follows: "Founded in 1962, LSNA is a nonprofit, multi-issue, grassroots community organ... 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

Q: How Do You Make Chicago Stronger? A: Invest in Chicago Neighborhoods

Warning that Chicago risks becoming a “tale of two cities” if its neighborhoods deteriorate as downtown thrives, Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday gave a full-throated endorsement to LISC Chicago’s Campaign for Stronger Neighborhoods, an ambitious effort to raise $40 million to support... more

Adopt A Station Project Now Underway

Quad Communities Development Corporation (QCDC), in partnership with Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC), Bronzeville Green (a subsidiary of The Renaissance Collaborative-TRC) and with support from Alderman Pat Dowell, broke ground on a garden to be located at the 47th Street Green Line Station, su... more

Prioritizing Culture: Bronzeville’s Approach to Commercial Development

When you think commercial development, installing art may not spring immediately to mind, yet the Bronzeville Alliance and its partner organizations have made art a priority in developing the 47th Street corridor and surrounding areas. Bronzeville has been a pillar of African-American culture and co... 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).

Voice of West Englewood Committee

All are welcomed to join in on voicing your concerns and opinions about your community and the improvements that are needed, every 2nd Monday of each month For more info see attached flyer

Health Care Reform in Illinois: The Affordable Care Act

"All Illinoisans should have access to affordable health care, but for too long the ability to secure quality care has been difficult for thousands of residents. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) provides Illinois with an opportunity to advance reforms that will ensure that we have a more efficient and ... more

Portal Training

Whats going on in Englewood? Looking to share a great story wiith your community, voice your concerns, promote your company......"Portal Training" is now available When: September 27th - October 25th 2013 from12:30 pm - 2:30 pm Where: Metropoltian Family Center (KKC) 6301 S. Halsted For more info... more

Parent University

All are welcome to come out and participate in this wonderful event "Parent University" Back-to-school and moving forward. Guest speakers will be in attendence. Continental breakfast and lunch will be offered. For more information, see attached flyer

Englewood Codes Recognized in Chicago Tech Plan

Teamwork Englewood launched Englewood Codes with the belief that the best way for Chicago to stay competitive in the new economy is to build a broad base of tech talent throughout the entire city. With the support of 178 project backers and program partners such as LISC/Chicago, After School Matte... more

WPC Announces Resignation of Executive Director

The Board of Directors for the Washington Park Consortium (WPC) announced today that executive director Brandon F. Johnson has resigned to pursue other opportunities. “I am tremendously proud of the strides Washington Park Consortium has made in support and technical assistance to Wa... 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

Woodlawn Health and Human Services Community Information Meeting

Tuesday, July 16, 2013 July 15, 2013 Please join the Network of Woodlawn, the Woodlawn Health and Human Services Consortium (WHHC) , and other Woodlawn health and human services providers for a discussion about Woodlawn’s health and human services. Secretary Michelle Saddler, Illinois De... more

UIC Seeks Breast Cancer Research Study Volunteers

Tuesday, July 16, 2013 Wesley Walker Breast Cancer Survivors Move Forward Moving forward — that’s what researchers at the Institute for Health Research and Policy want to help African American breast cancer survivors do. Moving Forward is also the name of a community-based weight loss ... 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

We're hiring - Community Health Information Specialist

We are hiring a Community Health Information Specialist, a new, full-time bilingual (Spanish/English) position that works closely with community partners to implement health outreach programs including Community Rx, South Chicago Food Network, 10th Ward Green Summit, among others. Click here for t... more

South Chicago featured at October's Chicago Artists Month

The 18th annual Chicago Artists Month celebrated artists "In the Neighborhood," with a focus on South Chicago and South Shore October 11-13 - and including events that run throughout the entire month. Starting September 27-29 and running through October, discover the work of hundreds of Chicago ar... more

Hurlock presents at Building Chicago Expo & African Festival of the Arts

Angela Hurlock, Executive Director, was pleased to represent Claretian Associates at the 24th annual African Festival of the Arts on September 1 and the BUILDINGChicago/Greening the Heartland Conference September 9. At the African Festival of the Arts, Angela presented as part of the Green Pavilio... more

Get In Chicago offers safe, summer fun

Safe, fun programs for youth grew in South Chicago this summer thanks to the Get In Chicago program supporting youth access to enrichment, education and mentoring opportunities. The program is part of our New Communities Program. Chicagos Public Safety Action Committee (PSAC) announced in June the... 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

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

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

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

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

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

De Buenos Aires a Montreal pasando por Pilsen

Han cruzado muchas fronteras y superado muchos obstáculos en su travesía terrestre y ahora, haciendo frente al frío, se preparan para terminar su viaje por el continente, en Montreal, Canadá. Se trata de Adrien Sánchez Valero, un joven francés pero, afirma,... more

Start a New Tradition With Social Security

The holiday season has arrived — a time of year that is steeped in tradition. Different families may have different holiday traditions, but most have roots in a society or culture and thus are observed by many people. Essentially, tradition is all about passing along certain beliefs and custom... more

MUSIC — Why the Latin Grammys Remain America's Biggest Anti-Mexican Sham

Over a decade ago, I wrote an op-ed piece for what was called Pacific News Service but is now New American Media bemoaning how pathetic the Latin Grammys were due to their lack of Mexican music. "The definers of Latin culture," I wrote then, "have decided that the most popular Latin music genre in t... more

OPERA — Parsifal: a Story of Love, Redemption, and Hope

Parsifal, Richard Wagner’s last opera, is based on the epic poem Parzival written by Wolfram von Eschenbach. A 13th century work that tells an Arthurian drama of a kingdom, a hero, and its quest for the Holy Grail. Wagner’s Parsifal, completed in the late 1800’s, uses the basic el... more

Holiday Kids Bike Sale - Venta De Bicicletas Para Niños

Para celebrar la navidad, Working Bikes estará vendiendo bicicletas para niños de 3 a 11 años de edad solamente $5-10 cada una! Las bicicletas son donaciones que hemos recibido, pero están en muy buena condición. Se requiere que los niños estén pre... more

Vice President, Mayor celebrate groundbreaking of new shelter

In May it was announced that a domestic violence shelter would call Chicago Lawn home. Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Vice President Joe Biden solidified that deal when they attended a ceremony Monday to launch the construction of the new facility. "In building this shelter, you are preventing so much by e... more

Perfect recipe for retirement

Succulent turkey. Savory stuffing. Green bean casserole. Sweet potato and pumpkin pie. Every family has its Thanksgiving dinner traditions. With a carefully followed recipe, everyone around the table can enjoy their favorite dishes. If you plan poorly and wait to throw the bird in the oven at the ... more

Start a new tradition with social security

The holiday season has arrived — a time of year that is steeped in tradition. Different families may have different holiday traditions, but most have roots in a society or culture and thus are observed by many people. Essentially, tradition is all about passing along certain beliefs and custom... more

Goldman Sachs small business program now accepting applications

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program may not have its first session until March 2014, but applications are now being accepted and will be due Friday, December 13. If youre ready to take your business to the next level and want to see your brand grow, you might want to consider this pr... more

Local business owner living his dream

The owner of Pepes Mexican Restaurant and Mexican-born entrepreneur Francisco Garcia is a man of few words, but he more than makes up for it with his fervor and drive. Garcia traveled to the United States from Mexico at the age of 17. Since his youth, he has always wanted to own his own business. A... more

Auburn Park, "The Metra Stops Here"

South Side station In "Politics helped fund new South Side station, Metra says; Auburn Park facility to cost $20 million, potentially serve 400 riders" (News, Nov. 17), long-time Metra Board member Jack Schaffer questioned the value of the proposed Auburn Park Metra station on Chicagos South Side.... more

Historic Veterans Housing Groundbreaking

The downpour of rain may have effected the shovels going in the ground, but thanks to technology, the presence of Mayor Emaunuel and Auburn Gresham community stake holders looking on, the groundbreaking, for the new Veterans housing was in full salute, at the altar of New Pisgah Church.

Start a New Tradition With Social Security

The holiday season has arrived — a time of year that is steeped in tradition. Different families may have different holiday traditions, but most have roots in a society or culture and thus are observed by many people. Essentially, tradition is all about passing along certain beliefs and custom... more

Perfect Recipe For Retirement

Succulent turkey. Savory stuffing. Green bean casserole. Sweet potato and pumpkin pie. Every family has its Thanksgiving dinner traditions. With a carefully followed recipe, everyone around the table can enjoy their favorite dishes. If you plan poorly and wait to throw the bird in the oven at the ... more

Daughter-Mother Team Complete and Compete

Nicole and Henrietta graduated from a recent class at Greater West Towns Shipping and Receiving Program. Not only were they classmates, and now co-alumnae, they are also mother and daughter. Henrietta, mother and former truck driver, sought training at GWTP during a stretch of unemployment. Ni... more

Party with R.A.G.E - 3rd Annual Holiday & Networking Celebration

The Resident Association of Greater Englewood (RAGE) cordially invites you to our 3rd Annual Holiday and Networking Event Wednesday, December 18th - 6pm-9pm at "The Loft 59" located at 5923 S. Wentworth Ave. (East side of the Dan Ryan) This joyous celebration will be a time to relax, network and c... more

FNC Computer Class Online Registration

Fill out my online form.

Lindblom Math & Science Academy Enrollment Now Open !

2014/2015 Lindblom High School and Academic Center Enrollment Now Open!!! Enrollment now open for the 2014-2015 School Year. Deadline: December 13th! The following provides an overview of the application, selection, and notification process for Selective Enrollment High Schools: •Parents o... more

Start a New Tradition With Social Security

The holiday season has arrived — a time of year that is steeped in tradition. Different families may have different holiday traditions, but most have roots in a society or culture and thus are observed by many people. Essentially, tradition is all about passing along certain beliefs and custom... more

British Deputy Ambassador to Visit Youth Technology Project in Englewood

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 20th 2013 CONTACT: Rashanah Baldwin rashanah@englewoodportal.org British... more

Chicago Bulls Star Jimmy Butler and Sun Life Financial Present $110,000 in Grants & Scholarships

The U.S. business group of Sun Life Financial Inc. announced the Chicago recipients of the Sun Life Rising Star Awards. The financial services organization awarded $110,000 in grants and scholarships to two nonprofit community organizations: OneGoal and Christopher House, as well as an exemplary stu... more

Job Club is coming to Humboldt Park Branch Library in December

Job Club is coming to Humboldt park Branch Library this December. This program is perfect for adults looking for support as they look for employment or get ready to enter the job market. Job Club will meet twice a monthly and will feature helpful and extremely relevant topics presented by the Garf... more

The Chicago Cuatro Orchestra Presents “Concierto Navideno”

After their great performance at the 2013 Puerto Rican Cuatro Festival, the Chicago Cuatro Orchestra cordially invites you to attend their annual fundraising event that will feature a family-friendly concert filled with plenty of Puerto Rican culture. The event will be held on Saturday December 14... more

NFPN's Holiday Food Drive: December 2013

This holiday season, NFPN is working with different community partners to ensure that everyone has access to one of our most essential needs: food. During this month of December, the Northwest Food Partners Network is holding a “Holiday” Food Drive, as a way to address food insecurity i... more

Redmoon Seeks Community-Based Organizations to Partner for the Great Chicago Fire Festival

CHICAGO (November 19, 2013) – Redmoon announces a citywide request for proposals (RFP) from Chicago community-based organizations interested in becoming one of 15 different Community Partner Organizations to anchor the Great Chicago Fire Festival. The inaugural Great Chicago Fire Festival will... 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

NCP Neighborhood Network Gears Up for 2014

It’s not a “program” anymore. It’s a proven way of doing business. And LISC’s method – engaging leaders on the issues and equipping them with the information and resources they need to create neighborhood change – is just getting started. So anyone expect... more

POAH opens The Grant at Woodlawn Park

Alderman Willie B. Cochran of the 20th Ward and LISC Chicago joined the Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) on November 21, 2013 to celebrate the grand opening of The Grant at Woodlawn Park. The 33-unit, mixed-income rental apartment building, at 6129 S. Cottage Grove Ave. is the second phase ... more

Youth Build Paths Away from Violence

Reducing violence in Chicago neighborhoods will require multiple strategies, but at least one element was strengthened this year in Auburn Gresham and other neighborhoods that provided expanded programming for youth. Get In Chicago, an outgrowth of the City of Chicago’s Public Safety Action ... more

For Stronger City, Begin Planning in Neighborhoods

The most valuable insight among many in the Chicago Tribune’s “New Plan of Chicago” series was in the October 6 kickoff editorial, when the Trib noted that Chicago’s challenges are “intertwined” and cannot be remedied one at a time. They cannot be solved without ... more

Bickerdike, Police Win National Safety Award

Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation and the Chicago Police Department were honored by MetLife Foundation for their extraordinary partnership to improve community safety on Wednesday, November 6, at a ceremony at the Harold Washington Unity Co-op, 649 N. Troy, in Humboldt Park. MetLife Managing Dire... more

The Obama tour

Marking the fifth anniversary of Barack Obamas election as president, Forgotten Chicago is offering a tour of the Chicago sites from Obamas life in Chicago on November 10.

Ames parent mobilize

Ames Middle School parents will canvas the neighborhood Saturday morning to spread the word about community meetings at the school Tuesday at 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Foreclosures and the black community

Author Laura Gottesdiener will discuss her new book, "A Dream Foreclosed: Black America and the Fight for a Place to Call Home," joined by activists from the Chicago Anti-Eviction Campaign and Residents Association of Greater Englewood, on Wednesday, October 30, 6 p.m., at the Center for the Study o... more

1963 school boycott

Tuesday is the 50th aniversary of the 1963 Chicago school boycott, and a commemoration at DuSable Museum features a panel discussion and a screening of highlights from Kartenquin Films’ documentary-in-progress, 63 Boycott.  The panel — on “Lessons from the 1963 Boycott – The ... more

Corporate taxes and the state’s fiscal crisis

A coalition of community, labor and religious groups will hold a press conference at 9 a.m., on Friday, September 27 at the Thompson Center press room and march over to the Bilandic Building, 160 N. LaSalle, to a House Revenue Committee hearing on the Illinois Corporate Responsibility and Tax Disclo... more

Close Calls of the Divvy Kind

Local biker extraordinaire, Steve Vance, has created a site where you can report Any Divvy near-misses. It will include a map and allows you to describe the circumstances of your near miss. The idea is to share our collective wisdom and get a lot smarter about duties and riding in the city. Columbia... more

Mariano’s Opening in South Loop on October 8th

Mariano’s grocery store is coming to the South Loop. It is scheduled to open on October 8. The post Mariano’s Opening in South Loop on October 8th appeared first on Chicagotalks.

The Next Great Journey: An Interview with Paul Salopek

Paul Salopek spoke via Skype from somewhere in Saudi Arabia to the summer 2013 class of Columbia Links teen journalists at Columbia College Chicago. Here is an edited transcript by Matthew Wettig, Links mentor and senior at Lane Tech High School. Wettig is the editor of “The Warrior”, th... more

Free Inspirational Concert in Evanston to Celebrate Birthday of Safe House Church Pastor & Platinum Hit Music Producer, Stephen Huff

Stephen Huff, Lead Pastor at Safe House Church and Platinum Hit Music Producer, will celebrate his birthday with an inspirational concert for the community of Evanston starting at 4 p.m. Sunday, September 29th. This free event will take place in the historical Grand Ballroom at the Hilton Orrington,... more

A Short Ride for You, A Million Miles for Divvy

In the three months its been up and running, riders have traveled more than 1 million miles to and from hundreds of stations all across the city, according to Divvy. Chicago’s Divvy is the second largest in the US, with about 9000 members. The Divvy folks are running a contest to collect the 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

Small city, big changes: Woonsocket's Commercial Corridor, Pt 2

When Steve Hoyle stopped into a local store in Woonsocket, RI, recently, his eyes were drawn to a story in the Woonsocket Call newspaper spread open on the counter. It announced Woonsockets first ever "storefront stroll," a Saturday open house when many commercial properties available to rent or b... more

Small city, big changes: Woonsocket's Commercial Corridor, Pt 1

When Woonsocket threw itself a 125th anniversary block party in August, thousands from around the region poured into the city to listen to a dozen stages full of live music, feast on a Taste of Woonsocket and admire a huge replica of the Arc De Triomphe, symbolizing the citys French heritage. What ... more

Community Safety: Planning

The Walnut Hills neighborhood includes one of Cincinnati’s main thoroughfares, and many residents from the city and suburbs form their opinion of the community as they drive to work or to visit downtown. Too often, what they’ve seen are graffiti, trash or guys loitering in front of vaca... more

Community Safety: Implementing

In 2009, Nuestra Comunidad Development Corporation in the Dudley Square neighborhood of Boston had a fresh plan for tackling high rates of crime and foreclosures along Blue Hill Avenue, the neighborhood’s main commercial strip, the result of a partnership with Boston Police Department District... more

Community Safety: Engaging

Community organizing has been a constant from the start of Washington Park Partners (WPP), the lead agency for the Building Sustainable Communities initiative in Milwaukee’s Washington Park neighborhood. The West Side community on has high rates of crime and poverty compared to the rest of th... more

New day dawns in Pullman

George Pullman had a couple of good reasons for building his railcar manufacturing plant and workers’ village on Chicago’s far South Side in 1881. One, land was cheaper there than near the city center. And, two, it was so far from downtown that his employees would be isolated from the &l... more

Homebuyer Fair Taps Instinct to Buy

They arrived, often two-by-two, like pilgrims to Mecca, drawn by the dream of homeownership to the soaring architecture of West Pullman’s Kroc Community Center on 119th Street. They came from Back of the Yards, Cicero, Chatham, Humboldt Park, and a handful of other neighborhoods, from one end ... 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

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