Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation - Latest news

The Burnham Plan Centennial: Showcasing Auburn Gresham

11/9/2009, 7:49 PM

Patrick Reardon

Recently a group from The Burnham Plan Centennial toured Auburn Gresham under the guidance of Carlos Nelson, Executive Director for the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation.

Read more about this tour from Patrick Reardon's perspective: a life long Chicagoan, renowned reporter, and blogger for The Burnham Plan Centennial.

LISC Community Showcase Tours

11/9/2009, 5:23 PM

LISC Community Showcase is an online festival that promotes the diverse cultural and commercial attractions in Chicago neighborhoods through multimedia projects researched and created by neighborhood leaders.

Learn more about Auburn Gresham today.

Smart Communities Initiative Launched in City of Chicago

11/9/2009, 3:36 PM

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Ernest Sanders

Mayor Richard M. Daley announces Smart Communities Initiatives. Remarks also given back Carlos Nelson, Executive Director, The Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation.

Fall Family Festival Reaches Out to Youth and Seniors

11/2/2009, 10:30 AM

Terra London and Linda Johnson

GADC's Aurora Cruz (L) and Linda Johnson (R) pose with pre-schoolers from local daycare centers Building Blocks Learning Academy, Alpha Learning Center, Kids R First Learning Center, and Tina’s Treasure Child Care with performing artists Danzas Ceremoniales de Mexico (C).

Terra London

The Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC) hosted its Bi-annual Fall Family Festival at the Thurgood Marshall Library on two crisp fall days this past October.

These days may not have offered much sunshine or warmth in the air, but once you entered the inside of the Library’s auditorium, a different story was told. The energy in the room was electrifying and contagious.

On their respective day, nearly 100 children and senior citizens smiled and laughed, dance, clapped and sang to live performances by renowned performing and musical artists.

Washington Park resident, Rick Singleton holds an African cloth with his 4 of his nephews as a 5th nephew admires sitting with Mama Kimosha, Artistic Director of Alyo Children’s Dance Theatre.

Terra London

On the first day, Danzas Ceremoniales de Mexico (national performing artists referred by arts icon, Urban Gateways), entertained pre-schoolers from local daycare centers with historical teachings of the Mexican–Indian Culture using hand-made musical instruments, traditional feathered headdress, song and dance.

These daycare centers included Building Blocks Learning Academy, Alpha Learning Center, Kids R First Learning Center, and Tina’s Treasure Child Care.

After seeing the flyer posted in his building, Washington Park resident, Rick Singleton, brought five of his seven nephews with him to the library. Although he is not a local resident, Mr. Singleton says, “It is extremely important to expose all of my nephews to cultural events in other communities.”

Mama Kimosha, Artistic Director of Alyo Children’s Dance Theatre, also introduced the pre-schoolers to African storytelling, traditional dance, and handmade instruments. Her talented use of the shekere and vibrant, interactive story about the “Dancing Hippo” encouraged lots of laughter by the children. Join us next year for this fun-filled event!

Two seniors dance and sing to the sounds of Johnny Drummer and the Starliters.

Ernest Sanders

On the second day of the Fall Festival over ninety of the finest senior citizens attended the popular bi-annual Senior Blues and Breakfast event.

With a hot n’ hearty breakfast catered by Ah’ La Romelle’s Catering, seniors were served and feasted on scrambled eggs, hash browns, grits, biscuits, bacon and sausage, pastries, orange juice and coffee.

While dining, seniors rocked to the smooth sounds of live blues performed by Johnny Drummer and the Starliters. Drummer of course was not a disappointment to the seniors as he entertained everyone with hit songs like, 'Shake a Hand, Make a Friend', ‘If You Going to Walk on My Love, Please Take Off My Shoes’, ‘I'm Gonna Sell My Cadillac and Buy Myself a Mule’, and ‘Rockin in the Juke Joint’.

Seniors arrived from all over; as close as Auburn Gresham and Englewood and as far away as south suburban Markham.

Mrs. Betty Basora from San Juan, Puerto Rico was in Chicago visiting family and was invited to attend. “It’s hard to believe that something this exciting and entertaining is happening at a library! Library’s are usually quiet, but today it’s vibrant and I am having a fantastic time!” One senior mentioned how this was a great end to the week and a good start to the rainy day.

Virginia Thomas (L) and her colleagues from Best Home Health Services, LLC, administer FREE professional healthcare screenings to seniors at the Family Fall Festival.

Ernest Sanders

The GADC staff, along with dedicated volunteers, continually displayed appreciation to the seniors by serving them the entire time, hand and foot. Some of our staff members even danced and ‘cut the rug’ with them.

Several t-shirts were given away in a free raffle, with a special give-away to the oldest senior in attendance, 85 year old Albert Garth. Returning sketch artist, Dan Montrel, provided free sketchings and Best Home Health Services, LLC provided free blood pressure and blood sugar screenings for everyone in attendance.

After hours of dancing and singing, seniors left with smiles on their faces and full tummies, looking forward to the next event scheduled for February 2010.

GADC's Vision Newsletter - Fall 2009

10/30/2009, 10:27 PM

Ernest Sanders, Editor

Fall 2009 Newsletter_Final

Seniors Breakfast-n-Blues Festival 2007

10/30/2009, 8:50 PM

Friday, February 23, 2007

Ernest Sanders

Johnny Drummer and the Starlighters perform one of their famous hits, "If You Going to Walk on My Love, Please Take Off Your Shoes."

Ernest Sanders

As the seniors entered the Thurgood Marshall Library, they greeted each other with such love and compassion, that the winter elements outside were insignificant to the anticipated good time to take place today. A hot breakfast, live band performance by Johnny Drummer and the Starlighters, and portraits by Sketch Artist, Dan Montrell, were the featured events GADC lined-up for the seniors.

Nodisha Echols of OES Adah Chapter 637 graciously serves a senior hot breakfast.

Ernest Sanders

As more seniors entered and settled, a word of prayer was offered as the aroma of breakfast foods filled the room. Prepared and served by OES Adah Chapter 637 volunteers, seniors feasted on a delicious hot meal to include white rice, hash browns, scrambled eggs, turkey bacon & sausage, biscuits and pastries. Also hot coffee, cranberry & orange juice was served as the beverages. “This meal and music are really good,” said senior Mrs. Juanita Love.

Once their stomachs were full, seniors had a choice of listening to the music of Johnny Drummer and the Starlighters, having their portraits sketched by Dan Montrell, or just sitting back and allowing their food to digest. But sitting was rather difficult as Drummer and his group performed such favorites as 'Shake a Hand, Make a Friend', ‘If You Going to Walk on My Love, Please Take Off My Shoes’, ‘I'm Gonna Sell My Cadillac and Buy Myself a Mule’, and ‘Rockin in the Juke Joint’.

Even at ninety-seven years old, Ms. Otonie Griffin can still groove to the sound of Johnny Drummer and the Starlighters.

Ernest Sanders

Some seniors were more actively engaged in the music as a group of them from a nearby senior home began to “line dance.” The line dancing and music was especially entertaining and grabbed the attention of everyone including ninety-seven year old Otonie Griffin (a long time Englewood resident), Ms Willie Mae Williams (a fourth time returning senior who is said to have moves similar to those performers on “Dancing with the Stars), and a host of others.

Some seniors took time away from dancing and decided to vote early for the city of Chicago mayoral, aldermanic, city clerk, and treasurer candidate of their choice. The process was fairly simple and enabled voters to electronically select their candidates.

Line dancing was one of the many activities seniors enjoyed at GADC's 4th Senior Breakfast-n-Blues Festival.

Ernest Sanders

According to senior Ms.Vernice Ross, “The best part about voting early here at the library is the easy use of these machines, the convenience for us seniors, and the amount of time it took for me to vote.” Ms. Ross’ statement was no surprise as many seniors said it took them just a few minutes.

In fact, Linda Johnson (GADC Business & Project Manager) and I followed their examples and found our experiences to be similar. We completed our ballots in less than one minute.

A few seniors take advantage of the early voting opportunities at the library.

Ernest Sanders

GADC’s NCP Director, Cheryl Johnson, reminded seniors of several initiatives GADC has engaged itself on their behalf. They included GADC’s plans to purchase and rehab a building to include many energy efficient technologies for commercial and residential use. The purchase of this building was also intended to revitalize the economic viability of Auburn Gresham.

Additionally, Linda Johnson informed seniors of the new Senior Suites of Auburn Gresham apartment homes to be completed this fall. GADC board member and senior, Betty Swanson, also took time to encourage the seniors about the great things happening in Auburn Gresham.

City of Chicago’s Department of Aging, Michael Johnson informed the seniors of many programs available to them through his office and presented each senior with a complementary gift – a letter opener. CAPS Cora Hudik told seniors about CAPS initiatives to make the 6^th District and surrounding communities safer and a great place for seniors to reside.

Librarian Jan Brooks gives instruction to one of his team members on how to assist GADC with the Senior Breakfast-n-Blues Festival.

Ernest Sanders

By the end of the event, over 35 seniors decided to participate in the early voting and many continued to rave about the delicious breakfast. Several even asked about the line dancing and where to take lessons. Thurgood Marshall Librarian, Jan Brooks offered the seniors to return to the library and watch an instruction video of line dancing he has on file in the library.

Whatever the seniors choice of activity, this remarkable day would not have been successful without the help of so many volunteers and participants. They include the Chicago Public Library (Thurgood Marshall Branch), City of Chicago Board of Elections, City of Chicago Department of Aging, approximately 15 members of OES – Adah Chapter 637, Novella Morris (Hirsh High School Student), and Rudelle Stanley Lesley (RSL Landscaping/Snow Removal and Transportation Services).

OES Adah Chapter 637 takes a picture with GADC and other volunteers.

Ernest Sanders

Auburn Gresham Deters Billions from Leaving Southside Communities: An Interview with Carlos Nelson and Julie Welborn

9/1/2009, 7:58 PM

Ernest Sanders

Chicago Public Radio's Natalie Moore interviewed Carlos Nelson, Executive Director of the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC) and Julie Welborn, C0-Owner of Perfect Peace Cafe & Bakery in Auburn Gresham about their efforts to keep a fact-based picture of the commercial development along the 79th Street business corridor and the opportunity to attract large number of consumers to retail locations in this community.

Click here to hear more of Nelson and Welborn's interview with Moore.

GADC's Vision Newsletter - Summer 2009 (Special Edition)

8/19/2009, 8:26 PM

Ernest Sanders, Editor

Summer 2009 Newsletter_Final

Urban Renewal Brings National and International Attention to Auburn Gresham

6/26/2009, 10:45 AM

Ernest Sanders

Nobuko Nishina, a graduate student from Hosei University Graduate School in Japan, and her professor, Miki Yasui, Ph.D speak with Carlos Nelson regarding Auburn Gresham.

Ernest Sanders

Over the past seven years, the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC) has partnered with several public and private best practitioners regarding many aspects community development. Because of their unyielding push to turn a once blighted and crime infested community into a national and globally recognized one, several other communities and institutions have now taken notice of Auburn Gresham’s accomplishments.

Nobuko Nishina, a graduate student from Hosei University Graduate School of Well-being Studies in Japan, and her professor, Miki Yasui, Ph.D visited Auburn Gresham’s Carlos Nelson and Ernest Sanders to discuss and research community development corporations and their work with housing development and preservation and other programming at large.

Nelson discussed Auburn Gresham’s Quality of Life Plan and Foreclosure Prevention initiatives in partnership with Local Initiatives Support Corporation of Chicago (LISC/Chicago) and MacArthur Foundation.

Sanders gave a tour of Perspectives Calumet Middle School and the new school-based health center, managed by Access Community Health Network (ACCESS @ Perspectives) and spoke of their Elev8 partnership with Atlantic Philanthropies.

Nelson and Sanders both learned of Japan’s efforts to integrate community growth with housing initiatives.

Carlos Nelson [R] welcomes undergraduate students and administrators from Emory University in Atlanta, GA to Perspectives Calumet Middle School.

Justin Irving

As part of Atlanta-based Emory University's Community Building and Social Change Fellows Program, several undergraduate students and administrators visited Auburn Gresham to learn how to supplement their studies and grassroots efforts for building community in contemporary urban America.

Students enrolled in this fellowship program commit to spending two semesters learning the academics of community building and are getting full time experience working in communities in Atlanta. In order to broaden their perspectives and learning opportunities, the fellowship visits another U.S. city to understand how community building is happening outside of the Atlanta area.

Kate Grace, Emory’s Director of the Community Building and Social Change Fellows Program said, “This is such an integrating experience for our students and administrators. It is really amazing to see first hand the work we talk about and educate our students, especially in other communities outside of the metropolitan area of Atlanta.”

Nelson provided the Atlanta consortium a tour of Auburn Gresham to include Auburn Lagoons, St. Leo Catholic Church Bell Tower and Catholic Charities' Campus for Veterans, historic bungalows along Morgan Street, cutting edge elementary and high schools as Perspectives Charter Schools-Calumet Campus, the Faith Community of St. Sabina Church, the Martin Luther King Park & Family Entertainment Center, the first of its kind – SOS Children’s Village Illinois, and the City of Chicago Park District's and landscaping gem – Hamilton Park.

Recently, GADC partnered with LISC MetroEdge to conduct an assessment of the potential for retail development in the Auburn Gresham trade area including the 79th Street Corridor. Nelson discussed some of the goals of this current and potential retail development with students from Columbia College. There was also discussion around GADC's Litter Free Zone Initiative (LFZI) as a part of the City of Chicago's Climate Change Action Plan.

Carlos Nelson [C] speaks to several visitors who recently toured Auburn-Gresham as part of the Burnham Plan Centennial Community Showcase.

Justin Irving

Now part of The Burnham Plan Centennial Community Showcase Tours, with five other of Chicago neighborhoods: Albany Park, Pilsen, Quad Communities, South Chicago, and West Ridge, GADC looks to continue its sell of why Auburn Gresham is a great community to live, learn, work, shop and play.

As part of this tour, GADC showcases it main commercial corridor (79^th Street) with enhancements to the streetscape and storefront facades, highlights its most important assets – the residents, and informs tourists of iconic landmarks – many which have been mentioned earlier.

Since 2008 GADC has hosted other delegates from across the country to include states as Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Jersey, and New York.

GADC's Vision Newsletter - Spring 2009

6/15/2009, 12:28 PM

Ernest Sanders, Editor

Spring 2009 Newsletter_Final

GADC's Vision Newsletter - Winter 2008

6/15/2009, 12:26 PM

Ernest Sanders, Editor

Winter 2008 Newsletter_Final

3rd Annual 79th Street Renaissance Festival

5/13/2009, 3:03 PM

Linda Johnson & Ernest Sanders

The Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation is a small non-for-profit agency doing BIG things in the the Auburn Gresham, Englewood and West Chatham neighborhoods. As we continue to rebuild and revitalize these communities, we celebrate the transition that has been made thus far with a community festival on the 79th Street business district. This festival has proven to be an event that touches the hearts of residents young and old.

Click here to view an audio slideshow of the Festival in 2006. For more details, please visit the 79th Street Renaissance Festival blog at http://renaissancefest.blogspot.com/

History of Auburn Gresham

3/24/2009, 8:01 PM

White flight, redlining, gangs, and drugs were terms once use to describe the Auburn Gresham community. No longer a blighted community, Auburn Gresham now experiences a fast-paced urban renewal and actively demonstrates why they are Chicago's Best Kept Secret.

Click here to view reports and a video.

Stakeholders Assemble at Town Hall Meeting

2/20/2009, 3:56 PM

Ernest Sanders

Leonard Langston, Executive Director for the Ark of St. Sabina facilitates an open discussion at a town hall meeting sponsored by St. Sabina.

Ernest Sanders

Coordinated by Leonard Langston, the Executive Director of The Ark of St. Sabina, this highly engaged meeting acknowledged some gems of the community as the Salvation Army, St. Leo Veterans Campus, and organized block clubs, taking many questions from audience participants regarding guns, violence, and a lack of personal involvement for community stakeholders.

Guest panelists for this event included Father Michael L. Pfleger, Pastor of Saint Sabina Church, Minister Ishmael Muhammad of the Nation of Islam, Alderman Latasha Thomas of the 17th Ward, State Senator Jacqueline Collins of the Legislative 16th District, State Representative Mary Flowers of the Legislative 31st District, Kelwin Harris, Executive Director of The Beloved Community, Commander Eddie Johnson of the 006^th District Chicago Police Station, Carlos Nelson, Executive Director of The Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation, and Deborah Moore, Executive Director of Neighborhood Housing Services of Auburn Gresham and Englewood.

Each panelist had an opportunity to speak on the positives of their organization and integration into the Auburn Gresham community, and address other concerns.

“The Faith Community of St. Sabina, through our Social Services arm, feed more than 6000 people in the month of December 2008 along. This is twice the amount we have provided for the hungry all across the City of Chicago,” said Father Pfleger.

Kim Nelson, a resident of the 17th Ward expresses her concerns about the neighborhood, while simultaneously lifting up the efforts of her block club to reduce violence.

Ernest Sanders

Commander Johnson said, “The 006^th District Police Station has partnered with St. Sabina Church to pilot programs mimicked around the City of Chicago regarding curfew laws and worked with our Community Alternative Policing Strategies (C.A.P.S.) units and organizations as the Greater Auburn-Gresham Corporation regarding neighborhood and student safety.”

The Commander’s response solicited a question from a student in the audience who asked about more funding for education and the Police Department’s intent to prevent violence after school. He answered the student by informing her of the Chicago Police Department’s current efforts to develop a comprehensive plan for schools in the City of Chicago, especially during dismissals. “School dismissals are a critical aspect of our daily police operations. We are also providing seminars for our schools officers to help address these same issues,” said Commander Johnson.

State Senator Jacqueline Collins addressed the matter of more funding for education by sharing some of the recent obstacles she has faced as a legislator, but highlighted her continuous efforts along with the state legislator’s Black Caucus to improve the funding mechanisms and streams to provide our youth with the resources necessary for them to gain an honest education and remain competitive in the global market place.

Alderman Latasha Thomas said she is proud of the schools in the Mighty 17^th Ward and spoke of her leadership as the head of the Education committee for the City of Chicago. “Education has to be the #1 issue for our community. My husband and I are literally at our kid’s school daily. Parents must have the same commitment to be a part of their child’s upbringing.”

Minister Ishmael Muhammad of the Nation of Islam speaks words of love and encouragement to the town hall participants.

Ernest Sanders

State Representative Mary Flowers spoke of her commitment to improving the education funding through taxation. “Increasing taxes will provide hundreds of thousands of dollars that could fund our education shortfalls. Parents must ask themselves, where is your insult level? How much longer will you allow injustices to occur on behalf of our children? Your child is my child. We must encourage our youth to go to school.”

In the end, each panelist was given an opportunity to provide some closing comments. Each spoke with a sense of understanding and acknowledgement and seemed to sign-up for a call of justice in the community and citywide. What seemed especially rewarding was a renowned sense of love and respect for each other.

To see panelists closing comments, click here.

Auburn Gresham Hosts a THRILLER of a Street Festival

12/24/2008, 1:03 PM

Ernest Sanders

South Shore Drill Team performs on the main stage at the 79th Street Festival to the sounds of Michael Jackson's Thriller.

Aum Mu-Ra

Hosted by the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC), this festival brought on a perfectly picturesque sunny day and attracted many new and old faces at one of Chicago's largest "neighborhood celebration.”

The festival occupied a portion of 79th Street's main business corridor (Special Service Area #32) between Racine Avenue and Loomis Street and invited several thousand individuals to sample local eateries, learn about pertinent services, and purchase merchandise and other related accessories.

“We are truly blessed to be a part of this community and bring Perfect Peace to our residents,” said Julie Welborn, Co-owner of Perfect Peace Café & Bakery, located near the epicenter of the festival on West 79^th Street.

Several youth participate in the 1st Annual 79th Street Auburn Gresham Basketball Tournament.

Eunice Carson

Erica Foreman, Community/External Relations Coordinator for Volunteers of America-Illinois (VOA-IL) echoed similar sentiments. “What an amazing turnout! We are truly grateful to be able to participate is Auburn Gresham’s outreach to advocate and promote quality education for its youth.” VOA-IL distributed more than 1000 free educational books, book bags, and other related materials to Auburn Gresham youth.

Mike Robinson, CEO of In the Paint Basketball said he registered more than 250 youth to participate in an Auburn Gresham sponsored basketball tournament. The Resurrection Project, GADC’s sister agency, claimed the championship trophy for ages14-18. The Auburn Gresham team won the championship trophy for ages 9-13.

There are so many other noteworthy stories to tell about the 3^rd Annual 79^th Street Festival. Stories like Illinois Secretary of State, Jesse White’s incredible ability to stand on his head as his tumbling team made leap defying stunts over him, to a special guest appearance by Auburn Gresham native and one of the creators of House Music and original member of the Hot Mix 5 - internationally known, Farley Jackmaster Funk. Farley is also a graduate of the former Calumet High School, now Perspectives Charter Schools-Calumet Campus.

Farley Jackmaster Keith entertains the crowd with a selection of House Music at the 79th Street Renaissance Festival.

Aum Mu-Ra

There was even an ribbon cutting ceremony at Morganway Community Garden and Park of a mural that several Perspectives students designed and painted, and video recorded the entire process. This mural embarks on one of many neighborhood initiatives regarding Auburn Gresham's Quality of Life plan - "There Is No Unity Without Community." This mural project would not be possible without the leadership of several GADC parnters. They are:

78th & Morgan Block Club
Alderman Latasha Thomas Office (17^th Ward)
Chicago Public Arts Group (http://cpag.net/home/)
City of Chicago 6^th District Police Station Community Affairs (www. cityof chicago.org/police)

GADC’s Litter Free Zone Ambassadors/Summer Interns

GrandFamilies (www.grandfamilieschicago.org)
Morganway Homeowners and Residents Association

An Auburn Gresham youth gives water to a thristy pony.
Aum Mu-Ra
NeighborSpace (www.neighbor-space.org)
Perspectives Charter Schools-Calumet Campus (www.perspectivescs.org)
St. Leo Veteran’s Campus (www.stleoveterans.com)
Urban Gateways (www.urbangateways.org)

The entertainment was a smash and exceptionally plentiful for every age group. Entertainers included: Kendrick Memorial Baptist Choir, Ms. Antoinette Brown (gospel soloist), Mime Gospel Dancers, Mr. Who Say MagiMaster, Mom’s Maybe Impersonator, Perspectives Charter Schools: Calumet Media Lab, The Mike Dangerous Band, Wayne Taylor, Johnny Drummer & the Starliters Band, Spellbinder the Magician, K-Sera, Pathfinders & 80’s Baby’z Chicago Hip-Hop and Rap Artists, Jesse White Tumblers, Alyo-African Dance Group, South Shore Drill Team, Dino Jump, Haunted Trails, Roller Roo, Giggles & Grunt, Tower Hills Stables, Ms. Jane the Clown, Face Painting by Deborah, DJ Big John, In the Paint Basketball, Power 92 Radio, and Farley Jackmaster Funk.

Special guests who attended this history-making festival included 17^th Ward Alderman Latasha Thomas, 21^st Ward Alderman Howard Brookins Jr., State Senator Jacqueline Collins, 6^th District Police Commander Eddie Johnson, Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church, and former 17^th Ward Alderman Terry Peterson.

GADC would like to extend special thanks and appreciation to the following: 17^th Ward, 21st Ward, Aum Mu-Ra Photography, Brookfield Zoo, Chicago 21, Chicago Field Museum, Chicago Wilderness,

GADC interns feed their appetites before distributing information about foreclosure prevention.

Aum Mu-Ra

Citibank, Colgate, Cook County Assessor’s Office, Eunice Carson Photography, GADC Volunteers, Faith Community of St. Sabina, Fifth Third Bank, Global Care Consulting Services, LISC/Chicago, Marquette Bank, Neighborhood Housing Services, Northern Trust Bank, Quest Development Group, Soul Food Unlimited, Special Service Area #32, State Senator Jacqueline Collins, Steven Smith, Ujamaa Construction, Urban Gateways, Volunteers of America-Illinois, Walgreens, and Washington Mutual.

The planning has already begun for next year’s festival on Saturday, September 12, 2009. Don’t miss out on Chicago Best Kept Secret. See you there!

Lumity Technology Leadership Award

12/8/2008, 4:59 PM

Ernest Sanders

Click on the title reports below to access reports.

Visitors Overview: In general, traffic to the website is steadily increasing with an excellent rate of new visitors

Keywords (keywords from search engines): The GADC's profile on the world wide web is growing steadily and people are finding it more and more via all the popular search engines. Most visitors find our website by looking for specific information relating to an event or business showing that the wide array of events and listings in the calendar and directory are helping drive a lot of traffic to the site.

Refferers (longest time on our website, most pages per visit, and most referrals): As with keywords, our profile among other community-oriented websites is growing. 35% of the top 25 referrers are email programs indicating that the emails we sent, like The Vision e-Newsletter, are very effective at driving traffic to our website. Not only do they drive a large portion of the traffic but those who visit the website from an email spend the most time on the website and read more pages per visit than those from anywhere else.

Top content: Most popular pages are related to events and businesses listed in the directory, supporting the fact that those are most interesting and useful to visitors.

Top searches: Top searches shows what people are searching for on the GADC website using the search box. Most searches are for events and employment-related topics, which correspond to the current and ongoing economic challenges.

Maps (Illinois and National cities): These reports show where visitors are located that visit our website. As expected, most visitors are in Chicago but many are from surrounding cities and those throughout Illinois and the country. This is a likely indicator that the GADC is a model community development corporation and word has spread about it.

GADC's Vision Newsletter - Fall 2008

11/6/2008, 9:05 PM

Ernest Sanders, Editor

Fall 2008 Newsletter_Final

GADC Welcomes MacArthur Foundation to Auburn Gresham

10/24/2008, 4:08 PM

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Ernest Sanders

Jonathan Fanton, president of MacArthur Foundation, announces their organization's 5 year commitment to 14 NCP lead agencies. (Sitting from left to right: Andrew Mooney of LISC/Chicago, Mayor Richard M. Daley [sitting behind podium], Alderman Latasha Thomas [D-17], Carlos Nelson of GADC, and Father Michael Pfleger of St. Sabina Church.)

Ernest Sanders

As with many other press conferences held in the Auburn Gresham community, Reverend Michael Pfleger of the Faith Community of Saint Sabina Church led this historic event in prayer and acknowledged MacArthur Foundation’s support of helping Chicago maintain its status as a world-class city.

NCP lead agencies Greater Southwest Community Development Corp., Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance, Bikerdike Redevelopment Corp., and others clapped to Jonathan Fanton's announcement.

Ernest Sanders

Thereafter, Alderman Latasha Thomas welcomed everyone to the Mighty 17^th Ward. Her salutation was received especially well because the nice weather seemed to align itself with the anticipated great news of MacArthur Foundation’s financial commitment to the New Communities Program (NCP).

As Jonathan Fanton, president of MacArthur Foundation, took the podium and announced his organization’s commitment of $26 million to 14 NCP lead agencies (sponsored by Local Initiatives Support Corporation/Chicago - LISC/Chicago), over the next five years, hundreds of people either clapped, slapped each other high-fives, shouted words of praise, or performed a victory dance.

Fanton said that the pledge to NCP was the largest of its kind when supporting community and economic development, and that he was personally dedicated to see the Chicago model reproduce itself at the national level. He spoke of this model’s current adaptation in other cities to include Washington, D.C., Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Detroit.

Mayor Daley expresses his gratitude to MacArthur Foundation and LISC/Chicago.

Ernest Sanders

Mayor Richard M. Daley seemed especially touched by Fanton’s heart-felt announcement and commented on the MacArthur Foundation's support to the City of Chicago. The Mayor spoke highly of NCP and said, “LISC/NCP is a real success to the City of Chicago.”

The Mayor was even more decisive in his praise of MacArthur’s financial commitment to Chicago neighborhoods because he felt community revitalization was an objective to help reduce crime – especially when innocent youth become victims.

Andrew Mooney, senior program director for LISC/Chicago, reemphasized the importance of MacArthur Foundation’s support of NCP and expressed his thanks for helping thousands of Chicago residents maintain and stay in their communities.

Andrew Mooney, senior program director for LISC/Chicago gives thanks to Jonathan Fanton and Mayor Daley.

Ernest Sanders

Carlos Nelson, executive director for Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC), and host NCP lead agency of this event, shared a message of the importance of relationship building and engaging residents.

He also gave several examples to the esteemed panel and audience on how NCP has helped his organization and community to grow. He said, “Selfishly, NCP helped grow the GADC from a one man, small budget operation to a team of community-minded professionals with a budget more than six times greater than when it started.”

Nelson also identified several projects that GADC has completed or in the midst of completing with the help of NCP contributions. They include:

Carlos Nelson tells the audience about several NCP initiatives and successes in the Auburn Gresham community.

Ernest Sanders

Partnership with Center for Economic Progress and the St. Sabina Employment Resource Center to launch the Auburn Gresham Free Income Tax site.In just 4 years this partnership has grown from 650 returns to nearly 1,200 clients resulting in a whopping $1,725,124 in refunds.
Partnership with Cleanslate to launch a maintenance and beautification program that rivals any other program of its kind in the country.
Strong relationships with the City of Chicago Department of Housing (DOH), Historic Chicago Bungalow Association (HCBA), and Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of Chicago to completely renovate two Green, model bungalows in the 7700 block of South Throop. This project called the Between the Parks Model Blocks project included facade improvements, energy efficient repairs, and education to scores of residents totaling more than $1.5 million!
Acquisition and rehab of a long vacant commercial building on 79^th Street into a state-of-the-art “green” office building with affordable housing units.

Teamwork Englewood, Woodlawn Preservation and Investment Corp., Greater Southwest CDC, Center for Economic Progress, and Quad Communities Development Corp. representatives all listen attentively to distinguished panel of speakers.
Ernest Sanders
Partnership with the Beloved Community to launch the Auburn Gresham Center for Working Families site.
Encouraged new, and much needed special needs housing to the community (Senior Suites) going up at 79^th & Carpenter,a Supportive Living Facility with Pleasant Green M.B. Church near 76^th & Yale, and St. Leo’s Veterans Housing & Clinic st 78th & Emerald.
Established relationships to bring new African American owned businesses to the community like BJ’s Market & Bakery, Lagniappe Creole Cajun Restaurant (at 79^th & Justine), and Perfect Peace Café opening in June at 1255 West 79^th Street.
Participation in the development of a school-based health clinic at Perspectives Charter School – Calumet campus along with Access Community Health Network and University of Chicago Medical Center.
Developed a Special Service Area (SSA #32) to handle commercial corridor improvements along 79^th Street.

Other LISC representatives, Double "L" Community business owners, Chicago Digital Access Alliance, co-founder, and a host of others take note to GADC's accomplishments.
Ernest Sanders
Launched the annual Auburn Gresham 79^th Street Renaissance Festival with more than 3,000 attendees in 2006.

Nelson acknowledged that none of GADC’s efforts would be possible without the support of Mayor Richard M. Daley, the MacArthur Foundation, LISC senior management (especially Susana Vasquez), and a host of volunteers. He also paid special tribute to his team Linda Johnson, Cheryl Johnson, Saint Turner, and Ernest Sanders.

Those in attendance included Auburn Gresham residents and business owners, local day care providers (Eyas, Building Blocks, and Lots of Love) and their children, Perspectives Charter School and their students, city and state dignitaries, New Communities Program (NCP) lead agencies, LISC/Chicago staff and affiliates.

GADC's newest partner, Vocalo, was also in attendance interviewing local business owners and residents about this historic event and all the great things happening in Auburn Gresham and surrounding communities.

Vocalo's Brian Johnson interviews Michelle Redd, proprietor, of Building Blocks Learning Academy.

Ernest Sanders

MacArthur’s endowment is said to generate an estimated $500 million in new investment across

Chicago

. “If you want to see an example of current or future development in Auburn Gresham, just drive down

west 79^th Street

and take heed to the beautiful streetscape, facade improvements, and new construction,” said Nelson. “Come and visit

Chicago

’s Best Kept Secret!

GADC's Vision Newsletter - Spring 2008

10/3/2008, 4:22 PM

Ernest Sanders, Editor

Spring 2008 Newsletter_Final

GADC's Vision Newsletter - Summer 2008

10/3/2008, 4:18 PM

Ernest Sanders

Summer 2008 Newsletter_Final