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Download New Washington Park Quality-of-Life-Plan

6/2/2009, 12:12 PM

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Washington Park released its new Quality-of-Life Plan this past Saturday May 30, 2009 at the Washington Park Refectory. The Washington Park Consortium was announce as the lead agency in the execution of the plan. Download the Plan here.

End of planning, new era for Washington Park

4/2/2009, 1:14 PM

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Richard Muhammad

In Washington Park the effort to craft a Quality-of-Life Plan, or comprehensive road map to a revitalized neighborhood, started on a snowy December 2007 day at a south side restaurant. The planning moved into its final phase on a snowy Dec. 6 morning in a meeting room at St. Edmund’s Church at 61st St. and Michigan Avenue.

The snow didn’t dampen spirits and the room filled as Alderman Willie Cochran, whose 20th Ward Office has led the process, welcomed participants and thanked them for their sacrifices and contributions.

Karin Norington-Reaves talks about strategy areas.

Richard Muhammad

He invited the group to stay and enjoy some of his homemade beef or turkey chili at the conclusion of official business. This was the sixth Saturday and final Community Planning Workshop.

“We have continually worked to produce a good document, a document that involves people having input, talking about what they want their community to look like and the assets we want to bring into the community,” said Alderman Cochran.

The plan’s 10 strategy areas include Building Community Capacity, Wellness, Safety, Housing, History & Identity, Education, Youth, Jobs, Economic Development and Seniors.

Karen Norington-Reaves, the alderman’s chief of staff and lead staffer for the planning process, explained that the morning would be devoted to hearing some of the plan’s highlights. Then participants, or Task Force members, were to visit table displays in the back of the room to sign up for projects and areas of interest, she said. The plan’s success will ultimately rest on the ability of Washington Parkers and some outside partners to bring its wonderful ideas to life.

Some local political leaders, State Senator Mattie Hunter, State Representative Ken Dunkin and Third Ward Alderman Pat Dowell, joined and expressed support for the LISC-sponsored process.

It was also fitting that the revised planning effort concluded at St. Edmund’s, which led the first five years of the New Communities Program planning process. Additional sections of the plan, an expanded vision statement and portrait of the neighborhood, are still in development. The core of the plan, its strategies and initiatives, is essentially complete.

'Each of us have to participate'

Norington-Reaves walked the group through the highlights of the Wellness initiatives, which include five points of emphasis. Using a PowerPoint presentation, she clicked through slides that focused on the need to “increase wellness through sports, recreation, exercise, nutrition, social and education programs for various ages” and improve wellness through greater access to fresh food—especially through nearby farmers markets and increased awareness of healthier food options.

Slide highlights business aspect of Quality-of-Life Plan

Richard Muhammad

The Rev. Jesse Knox, of the Church of the Good Shepherd, shared points from the Housing portion of the plan. His slides focused on expanded home ownership and mixed income opportunities linked to housing education and assistance programs. In the draft plan, the housing section includes nine recommendations for action. A major point of concern is ensuring that longtime residents are able to stay in the neighborhood, he said.

The Youth and Education summary was presented by Cece Hunt, of St. Edmund’s Redevelopment Corp. She listed increased parent involvement in schools and life skills and values training as major points. “Each of us has to take part, each of us have to participate,” said Hunt. No role or group is too small to help and this is an exciting opportunity, she added.

“One strategy to create jobs is to start businesses,” said Gregg Brown, of the South Side Community Federal Credit Union, flashing a slide touting small business creation and an entrepreneurship center. The items were culled from the plan’s Jobs and Economic Development strategy areas. A business incubator would offer things like shared marketing, accounting and secretarial services until enterprises are strong enough to move into a local storefront, Brown explained.

The Washington Park Chamber of Commerce is a major local partner along with the University of Chicago and other groups, he said. Partnerships with trade groups and unions will be sought alongside jobs in the medical, rail freight and the green industry. “These ideas came from you,” Brown reminded the audience.

Washington Parkers pick up bulbs to be planted in the spring as a sign of the neighborhood's new beginning.

Richard Muhammad

Before the group broke up to view the displays, Alderman Cochran offered the participants a bulb to nurture at home over the winter. “When spring rolls out, we can plant flowers around the neighborhood to beautify the community, in your own yard or we can plant them in one location. Why? Because we will symbolize a new springing, a new flowering, a new era for Washington Park through the NCP program,” he said.

Participants studied the boards, signed up, moved back and forth talking with one another, exchanged business cards and had a helping or two of the chili.

Norington-Reaves noted that the process started with data collection and pulling together a leadership team and Steering Committee. They were recruited from local business, medical facilities, houses of worship, non-profits, youth agencies and ordinary residents. Their role was to bring more people into the process. Over 220 people participated in the workshops, which began with a visioning session and ended with clearly defined strategies. Some early action projects—including anti-foreclosure efforts by the South Side Federal Credit Union and a community technology center at the Washington Park Fieldhouse—are already underway. LISC also provided support for Friday Night Live, an evening social activity designed as a positive outlet for youth at the K.L.E.O. Community Center on Garfield Blvd.

The plan was revised no less than six times and, by January or mid-February, a final draft should be complete, Norington-Reaves said.

A new non-profit for the neighborhood

“When you’re going to implement the ideas that we’ve come up with for the plan, you’ve got to have an agency, an organization or an individual who is going to take ownership to actually make those things come into fruition,” Norington-Reaves observed.

A new non-profit organization, the Washington Park Consortium, is being developed to oversee the execution of the plan.

Draft maps showcased potential projects and development.

Richard Muhammad

A key plan element is a commitment to building community capacity, she said. That means helping expand the capacity of groups that want to take charge of projects but lack experience, money or staff, so that they can handle the plan’s workload, she said.

Draft maps with possible physical changes were on hand to offer thoughts, but not final ideas, on how the neighborhood could develop.

“I think this whole process was much needed and very beneficial. We put together some great strategies and plans. I really feel as if things will be coming together collectively as far as new programs to be offered for the community, for the youth, for the seniors. It’s something that we can build off of. It’s something that will be invested in to make the community greater. And I actually feel like it was well thought out,” said Latoya Mills, who lives in a St. Edmund’s housing development. She has lived in Washington Park for 10 years and saw her ideas reflected in the draft document.

“I plan to stay here. I like the idea of everyone coming together,” said the 32-year-old.

Building consensus, finding language for quality-of-life plan

4/2/2009, 1:16 PM

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Richard Muhammad

Cynthia Smith conducts housing discussion.

A “die hard, core group” met Oct. 18 at St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church for a morning of discussion and feedback on a draft Quality of Life Plan. Washington Parkers are building consensus and crafting language to illustrate their needs, hopes and vision for the neighborhood.

Following a prayer by Bishop Ed Peecher to open the seventh Community Planning Workshop, Karin Norington-Reaves, chief of staff for Alderman Willie Cochran, ran through the day’s agenda. Discussions would focus on the Wellness, Safety, Housing and Senior strategies outlined in the draft as well as maps and potential stakeholders to take charge of specific aspects of the plan, she said.

Participants were urged to fill out comment sheets to capture any new suggestions or input.

Gus Tucker, of the Chicago Urban League, made a presentation about services available to help promote economic development and entrepreneurship.

After a few comments about its vision statement, there was a brief back and forth on what happens after the plan is crafted. It was explained that in the LISC Quality of Life Planning process, a lead agency pushes the plan forward and works with neighborhood leaders, community-based organizations, faith-based groups and any needed outside supporters to make the goals and strategies become real. The 20^th Ward Aldermanic Office has served as the lead on the planning process, but a non-profit organization is in development.

The organization will include an executive director and an organizer that will coordinate with neighborhood stakeholders taking responsibility for different aspects of the plan. If anyone fails to take the lead on an item, the item will likely be dropped—unless the community feels there is such a great need that an outside organization would handle it. The potential name for the new group is the Washington Park Consortium, which implies people coming together, said Norington-Reaves.

The schedule calls for having the plan ready in early 2009, she added.

Part of the planning process includes mapping projects, getting commitments for future work and finding where the gaps are, Norington-Reaves said. She ran through the 10 strategies contained in the plan with some discussions and some questions from the audience.

The Ten Ways to Forge a Strong Future for Washington Park Strategies:

1. Build community capacity to ensure Washington Park benefits from future development plans including the 2016 Olympic Bid.

2. Support healthy lifestyles and better health care.

3. Create an environment where people feel safe and accountable.

4. Provide a range of housing choices that support existing residents and attract new residents.

5. Build on Washington Park’s proud past.

6. Support education for youth and adults in and outside of schools.

7. Provide more supervised activities to engage and inform young people.

8. Build partnerships to improve employment options.

9. Develop locations for large and small businesses and retail opportunities.

10. Offer more services and a better quality of life for senior citizens.

The language in each section comes out of Community Planning sessions and we don’t want to lose the meaning of what was offered, said Norington-Reaves. But, she added, the point is to discuss and react to what was presented.

A "die hard, core group" turned out for October session at St. Edmund's Church.

Richard Muhammad

As the participants reviewed each section, there were discussions about language and the tone of the draft plan. Some felt that the language should be more “positive,” stressing where the neighborhood wants to go as opposed to pointing out problems that need to be resolved. Others felt being “positive” didn’t mean ignoring real issues and naming challenges. “Accountability” was a word that elicited a great deal of discussion, in particular in the section devoted to Safety. Some felt using language like “building a vested interest” in the neighborhood might be better. The language should be inviting and inclusive, they argued. If residents feel invested in Washington Park, their behavior will reflect their feeling of connection to the community, some said. “We don’t need to move this with angry language, though that was the way it was expressed,” said one participant.

Others weren’t so sure about changing the language, noting it was not just for Washington Park residents. One of the reasons for the strong language was based on the need to hold non-residents responsible, observed Murray Johnson, of the Washington Park Neighborhood Association. Some absentee owners simply collect money from tenants and don’t control their property, he said. “I don’t want us to lose the essence of the accountability for those who don’t live here,” agreed Bishop Peecher. “There should be some strong language that deals with people who don’t have a vested interest here, who don’t have ownership—then they have accountability. You have to take care of this property here and we will hold you accountable,” he said.

“Being vested includes responsibility and taking care of yourself and your neighbor,” said another participant. One problem is that people have not felt connected and should be invited into this process, she said.

Cece Hunt, of St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church, felt it was appropriate to use language that stressed accountability and language that spoke about having a vested interest in neighborhood progress.

Wellness, housing, safety and senior strategies

Washington Parkers review draft at Community Planning Workshop.

Richard Muhammad

Lindy Wordlaw, of Teska Associates, led the group through the discussions of Wellness and the six strategies, which were: Assess physical and mental health needs of the community and improve access to health care services. Increase wellness through education programs on exercise, nutrition and healthy social interaction as well as through support for sports and recreation. Develop civic education campaigns to reinforce positive behavior. Take advantage of existing health-related resources in schools and nearby health care service providers. Increase number of activity centers, support youth sports programs and build productive partnerships with appropriate agencies.

Improve overall wellness by expanding access to fresh food and produce through nearby farmers markets and conducting outreach to make residents aware of healthier choices available. Information will also be provided to illustrate connections between nutrition and health and to explain how nutritional needs change over time.

Suggestions for revising the section included using existing health entities to acquire data, ensuring coordination between existing health-related and heath care providers, finding ways to ensure that financial constraints for residents who can’t afford health services are overcome, and adding intergenerational programs and activities. There was also a question about what role Provident Hospital should play in the community.

Wordlaw also led discussion of the Safety section of the plan. The Safety strategies included: Organize beautification and cleanup efforts. Support broader participation in CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy) activities. Involve youth in safety and beautification efforts by awarding service-learning hours. Enforce traffic laws, tow abandoned cars and enforce street-cleaning regulations. Stress personal accountability to improve safety. Increase parent participation on safety issues. Support creation of block clubs and incorporate the work of block clubs into safety strategies for the neighborhood.

Suggestions included looking at broadening one strategy to include enforcement of property standards and increasing parental participation in after school programs and recreational and youth activities. It was also noted that, particularly in the summer, visitors to Washington Park linger in the neighborhood after the park closes, sometimes on nearby vacant lots. These visitors often break the peace and litter and this is a problem that needs to be addressed, said Dr. Cheney.

Cynthia Smith led the discussion on Housing. The strategies included: Expand homeownership and mixed-income opportunities. Preserve quality rental housing. Invite community participation on all development proposals. Develop an up-to-date profile of the housing situation. Explore financial vehicles to support housing improvement. Develop or link to housing education and assistance programs. Embrace supportive housing as tool to help alleviate homelessness and dependency. Combat foreclosure to improve neighborhood stability.

It was noted that outreach to the community is needed along with greater incorporation of green housing, adding non-profits to support housing improvements, creating a housing assistance center, and playing a proactive role in community development—instead of reacting to plans offered by others.

Room to grow

Scott Goldstein, of Teska Associates, said the feedback was the reason for the session and needed to be heard. He also shared data compiled from the Cook County Assessor’s office by a Teska employee. Home ownership in Washington Park is low, 10-13 percent (as compared to the City of Chicago’s homeownership rate of approximately 33% and the national figure of 64%), an additional 5,100 units of housing can easily be supported, he noted.

Slide offers info on neighborhood housing.

Richard Muhammad

Washington Park has a great deal of available land so the challenge is building community capacity and finding money to support the neighborhood vision, said Goldstein. He asked participants to consider what would be a good number for increased housing for the community, including in-fill housing.

The housing would not take away from land needed for business or other development, he added. It assumes a range of density from single family homes, town houses, condos and apartment buildings, Goldstein added. The consensus of the housing group was to raise the ownership rate closer to the city rate, he said.

The Seniors session was led by Norington-Reaves and its strategies included: Create or engage a central agency or ombudsman to serve and advocate for senior citizens. Create a financial counseling and literacy programs for seniors. Use informal surveys and project mapping to identify existing programs and determine the needs and desires of senior citizens. Focus on overall improvements in safety and greater parental and community accountability for how youth and others deal with senior citizens. Conduct outreach to home-bound seniors and the residents of senior buildings, and create a volunteer group to check on seniors and distribute information on social events and services. Build senior-youth relationships. Improve nutrition through coordination with nearby farmer’s markets to offer seniors fresh food and produce and educate seniors about good nutrition and how nutritional needs change with age. Help seniors with housing needs related to foreclosure prevention, property maintenance, home improvements and weatherization. Create a door-to-door shuttle service and take advantage of CTA shuttle service for seniors.

The breakout group tried to respect the range of activity and interests among seniors, said Norington-Reaves. Some suggested additions to the section included acquainting Washington Park residents with senior landlord assistance programs and tax relief programs.

Gus Tucker, of the Chicago Urban League

Richard Muhammad

Gus Tucker, of the Chicago Urban League, closed the session by offering information about services offered by the 90-year-old civil rights organization. The Urban League offers assistance in the areas of human capital development, workforce development, entrepreneurship, real estate development, education and research. The Urban League Entrepreneurship Center offers a range of training sessions and programs from business planning to business development, one-on-one business tutoring and experts in finance, he said. Other programs help place people who have lost jobs and people who are working and want to progress, said Tucker. The Urban League has a foreclosure assistance program and works with high schools to provide entrepreneurship and business training, he said. These services are available to help meet your goals in Washington Park, said Tucker.

Click here for a copy of the draft plan reviewed during the Planning Workshop.

(Please contact Richard Muhammad at 773-616-5058, or e-mail straightwords@sbcglobal.net, if you have corrections or changes.)

Education, economic development take center stage

10/26/2008, 5:35 PM

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Richard Muhammad

Chinwe Onyeagoro, managing partner of O-H Community Partners, leads discussion of economic development as Alderman Cochran listens.

Richard Muhammad

The Church of the Good Shepherd played host to a July 26 Neighborhood Summit as residents and stakeholders in Washington Park added more detail to their fast-developing Quality of Life Plan. This Saturday meeting featured special sessions devoted to education and economic development which augmented regular sessions on senior and housing issues.

Alderman Willie Cochran, of the 20^th Ward, opened the day by stressing an emphasis on projects and how projects can move forward. After his opening, participants went straight to work.

Cecilia Hunt, of St. Edmund’s Church, led the discussion about education. She focused on improving area school performance. All schools serving Washington Park, including Burke, Beasley, Carter, Dulles and Ross elementary schools and Dyett High School, have completed 2006-2008 school improvement plans. The Chicago International Charter School had an incomplete plan on file with Chicago Public Schools.

All of the schools are facing challenges meeting state and federal achievement requirements. Some problems include sparse libraries, computer maintenance, teacher experience, retention, performance and training, discipline, high student turnover, and too few mentoring and youth leadership opportunities. Schools also had signs of things moving in the right direction, which included good or increasing parental involvement, a feeling of safety among students, partnerships with colleges and churches and other institutions, a Saturday academy, small class sizes, interesting extracurricular activities, and after school programs.

Student turnover is a major problem: For every 100 students that enter a grammar school in Washington Park, only 20 will graduate from the same school. A transient population makes it difficult to raise test scores with students entering and leaving schools at different times of the year and at different academic levels.

Cece Hunt makes a point during education discussion.

Richard Muhammad

“We’re shooting for the stars now, we still haven’t gotten down to the nitty gritty in terms of how this is going to be financed and how everything falls together. But if we had resources that were unlimited what types of ideas do you have to deal with some of the issues that they are having?” Hunt asked.

The responses came quickly. Suggested short term projects included developing a parent handbook; forming parent patrols (and taking a look at how the Woodlawn NCP program has utilized the approach); planning a community pageant or competition for youth and perhaps a Washington Park Cotillion; creating a homework helpline possibly staffed by honor students allowing youth to assist one another; exploring partnerships with organizations like CityYear, Public Allies and AmeriCorps; and establishing a center as a central place to learn about and offer guidance on higher education resources.

Ideas for helping schools that serve youth in grades K-12 included:

Increasing parental involvement in schools and making sure schools welcome parents, use parental support properly and note where schools can also help meet parent needs;
Introducing students to different disciplines and cultural experiences;
Linking library resources at schools;
Integrating GED programs and public schools (keeping parents involved/“ahead of game”);
Increasing career exploration, internships and real world experiences, including summer jobs tied to future career interests;
Finding ways to deal with transitional issues and student turnover to properly prepare students to move up to each grade;
Partnering with the Big Brother/Big Sister program to supplement parental roles in checking on student academic progress;
Inviting Boy Scouts or similar organizations to recruit students at schools for character building and life preparation activities;
Mandatory participation in after school programs with academic assistance (reading, math, science) for struggling students long before failure would result in summer school;
Collaborating with local colleges and forming partnerships to benefit students;
Looking into different enrollment figures for schools to determine reasons for range of student populations, such as whether physical structures or funding are having an impact;
Launching a “Special Services” program to help students with behavioral issues by integrating a culture of discipline, perhaps through “fancy drill,” teams, with leadership opportunities (for example promoting participants from “captain” on up) to improve behavior at school and in the home.

The group also asked if there was a way to bring the schools together, other than area meetings, to discuss problems and opportunities. Specialized programs, like Head Start for toddlers and gifted programs for older students were discussed.

More gifted programs are needed for advanced students and possible barriers to Head Start enrollment, like limited hours of operation, need to be looked at. Additional programs for students with learning disabilities are needed.

When it came to parental participation, questions were asked about whether there should be a meeting with CPS administration to set parental participation guidelines for area schools and whether a volunteer team could be assembled to check on school operations.

Schools also need to know what services are available for things like domestic violence to refer parents whose children may be struggling because of violence in the home or other problems. The Integrated Services in Schools Program, which includes schools in five NCP neighborhoods, might provide some ideas for how to bring student needs and services together to improve academic performance. The University of Chicago has a historic focus on studying the south side and students should be able to learn about such research to inspire future educational pursuits and careers, said participants. Washington Park students should learn about the research and how it can help the community, they added.

The bottom line is children need a solid foundation to build on, which includes parental support, access to services and resources, proper space/facilities, and up-to-date technology.

“I’m working with children who go to schools in the neighborhood. They can’t read. They can’t do math, they’re overcrowded,” said Stephany Price, who works with the Chicago Youth Program. She is a lifelong Washington Park resident. The weaknesses of schools have led her to make a tough decision. Though she supports improving the community, her three-year-old daughter won’t be attending school in Washington Park. The quality of education and lack of exposure for children have led her to seek a school in an adjoining community.

Consuello Rudder suggested a higher education resource center for students and parents.

Richard Muhammad

“If you’re not thinking about college in this day and age before you get to high school, it’s going to be a lot harder to think about when you are in high school,” observed Consuello Rudder, who works in the 20^th Ward public service office. She suggested a resource center that would provide information about programs and learning opportunities connected to colleges. The programs can range from visits and special academic sessions to summer programs for youth on college campuses.

“If we give them those opportunities and the teachers say ‘you can do this’ and ‘you can do that,’ it would be great,” said Rudder.

Senior issues session yields results

The Senior issues committee fashioned several ideas out of their discussions, which included near term projects like a shuttle service and a local directory for senior services. Suggested longer term projects include creation of a food co-op and development of community gardens as a food source. Participants also discussed when to consider someone a senior; the AARP uses 50, but some thought that was too young.

A session reviewed goals for improving the lives of senior citizens.

Richard Muhammad

Additional discussion topics included how to help diagnose the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease; creating an Adopt-a-Grandparent program, sponsoring intergenerational events and teaching young people how to deal with senior citizens. Programs should come from a trusted source, like local churches. There were also questions about identifying services and programs for residents and citywide agencies and other help outside the community. Existing networks should be linked to any new programs and initiatives.

The Senior discussion group considered health issues as well. Health resources could be available through the University of Chicago while the Woodlawn Farmer’s Market could provide healthier food choices alongside classes on healthy cooking and eating. Washington Park is part of a “food desert” with little access to fresh fruit and produce.

Short-term projects include creating two surveys: one which would assess existing programs and services available to seniors in the Washington Park area; and another which would be used to poll individual seniors to determine their needs and wants.

Another idea was a well-promoted and well-coordinated Senior Outreach Day. Outreach to seniors needs to include agencies and potential partners and a look at barriers. For example, how would Seniors hear about University of Chicago and other programs that might be of value? Widespread outreach to churches should be a part of any effort, participants said.

Walking housing survey tested

Responding to the lack of accurate information about the housing stock in Washington Park, stakeholders in the neighborhood’s planning process took to the streets July 26 to road-test a housing survey.

The survey was conducted by participants in the housing committee, which was facilitated by Rev. Jesse Knox III of the Church of the Good Shepherd.

It covered the 5700 block of Calumet Avenue and King Drive, just east of the church.

Scott Goldstein of the planning firm Teska Associates gave brief instructions on how to do a visual inspection of each building and fill in the survey forms, including whether the building appears occupied, its condition, number of units, evidence of recent improvements and whether the grounds are well-maintained.

Vacant lots were also recorded. The survey used in the initial run will be revised and additional walking trips to complete the survey were scheduled for Aug. 7 and Aug. 16. (A complete story about the housing survey is available.)

Economic development and creating opportunity

The session ended with Chinwe Onyeagoro, managing partner of O-H Community Partners, a strategy consulting firm that helps non-profits attract new investment and build community wealth. Over the last four years, the firm has raised $100 million in private sector financing, federal, state and city grants and foundation money for innovative programming in neighborhoods, she said.

Her group led redevelopment of the Cottage Grove corridor in Bronzeville.

Economic development can be defined as strategies used to increase income and wealth in a community, both individual wealth and community wealth, she explained.

It ranges from real estate development, or attracting new businesses to improving the neighborhood’s physical environment. Education can be an economic development strategy by preparing the future workforce or future business leaders, she added.

Oyeagoro walked the group through a list of several strategies, ranging from planning, clean-up, safety and corridor enhancement, community marketing, business development and retention, to workforce development and real estate development. The different strategies can be linked together and don’t have to be looked at as separate silos, she said.

The planning process is a chance to bring together stakeholders, look at what is happening and coming to the neighborhood and what groups can take on, she said. You are considering what land is available, what can be built, what gaps exist, infrastructure development and building neighborhood consensus, Oyeagoro said.

Projects can range from neighborhood festivals to increase income and market neighborhoods to streetscapes that beautify thoroughfares or a local business directory, she explained. Technical assistance that helps businesses deal with red tape, permit requirements and conversations about their needs can help retain businesses, she said.

Special service areas can be designated to promote and attract businesses and summer jobs can tap into existing programs or be start-up initiatives, Oyeagoro pointed out.

Marketing is an important part of economic development. Media stories and events that highlight good things can promote the community and tours can bring in new investors, she said.

Neighborhoods can be marketed through trade shows and brokers as local groups look for good matches. That might include a request for proposals with incentives for development based on the Quality-of-Life Plan and other plans, she said.

The city and other local entities also sponsor fairs for grocers and businesses to look at communities and opportunities, Oyeagoro said.

Please send any corrections of questions to LISC Scribe Richard Muhammad at straightwords@sbcglobal.net , or call 773-616-5058.

Project ideas emerge at May 17 Summit

10/8/2008, 4:22 PM

Friday, June 6, 2008

Patrick Barry

The outlines of a neighborhood plan began emerging at Washington Park’s first Strategy Summit on May 17, 2008 at St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church. More than 65 local stakeholders participated.

The Health and Safety group reviews its findings before reporting out.

Patrick Barry

The Strategy Summit opened with a prayer by Bishop Edward Peecher and a recap of earlier work by 20th Ward Alderman Willie Cochran, who convened the process in March with support from LISC/Chicago’s New Communities Program (NCP). The meeting included an hour of breakout-group discussions followed by reports from those groups and the debut presentation of the new Washington Park NCP web site.

“We had some very lively discussions about history, housing and planning, and one of the greatest things was that everyone was able to make the statements that they needed to make, to put their issues on the table,” said Alderman Cochran. “Sometimes it became challenging, but it was a refreshing process.”

Cochran said that the summit was intended to move forward from the general ideas developed at the first meetings to more specific projects. Bishop Peecher read through a summary of each breakout session from the April 26 workshop. “I’m encouraged by the process,” he said, referring to the sometimes-heated exchanges that characterized the early meetings. “I don’t think it is a bad thing for us to be here and share our opinions. I think it is a good thing so that we can find a new place to be. So let’s get ready to go forward.”

Scott Goldstein of the planning firm Teska Associates noted that the current task is simply to create ideas, and that further discussion will be needed to determine if they are feasible and appropriate. “We’re not going to choose projects today, or debate them. Every idea is fair game and should go up on the board.”

Draft strategy and project lists
The sections below provide preliminary language in each discussion area and a list of project concepts to date. The projects are numbered for ease of reference only; there is no ranking. None of this material is final or endorsed by the larger group.

1. WELLNESS: Support healthy lifestyles and better health care

Participants feel that health issues go beyond access to quality health care to include youth engagement, exercise, mental health, nutrition and civic engagement. The group found that health and wellness “are cross-cutting every issue from jobs and housing to education,” said facilitator Shaan Trotter. For instance, “we do know this: the more education a person has, the healthier they are.”

1.1 Assess physical and mental health needs of the community and improve access to health care services. Use community fairs, schools and other outreach to survey residents and inform them of available services.

1.2 Increase wellness through programs on exercise, nutrition and healthy social interaction. Create school programs for young children to build an understanding of personal health and nutrition. Create local walking and running programs that improve health while creating avenues for interaction among residents.

1.3 Develop civic education campaigns to reinforce positive behaviors and discourage anti-social activity. Youth and adults who lack social skills (such as politeness and respect for others) may also have a lack of pride and self-esteem, which contributes to poor health.

1.4 Take advantage of existing resources such as social workers in schools and nearby health care service providers. These health-oriented providers should be central to the neighborhood’s wellness strategies.

The wellness group recommended small, visible programs as a first step to recruiting more community partners. “When you build people up and publicize the good stuff they are doing, that makes them want to do even more of it,” said Denise Hughes. “And other people are drawn to that and want to do similar programs.”

2. SAFETY: Create an environment where people feel safe, accountable

Like wellness, safety is a cross-cutting issue that depends on changes across the community. Residents and visitors will feel safer if the streets and sidewalks are clean, if storefronts look good, if youth are engaged in positive activities and if there are fewer vacant lots and boarded-up buildings.

2.1 Organize beautification and cleanup efforts. Support and create group efforts to clean up and inventory vacant lots, develop new community gardens and do beautification projects. Provide community recognition such as trophies for the best efforts. Consider use of cleanup resources such as CleanSlate, a workforce-training program, the county’s manpower program, and groups of local students.

2.2 Support broader participation in CAPS (Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy) activities. In addition to building stronger working relationships at beat meetings, support efforts such as the planned cotillion for youth sponsored by CAPS and local businesses. Use outdoor roll calls and outdoor beat meetings to encourage more participation.

2.3 Require pet owners to be accountable for cleanup and keeping dogs on leashes.

2.4 Involve youth in safety and beautification efforts by awarding service-learning hours. Youth can meet their high school service requirements through beautification programs that engage youth in positive activities.

2.5 Enforce traffic laws, tow abandoned cars and enforce street-cleaning regulations.

2.6 Stress personal accountability to improve safety. All members of the community can contribute by taking a stand against bad behavior and unattractive environments, and by holding residents, youth and business owners accountable.

2.7 Increase parent participation on safety issues. Get parents involved in safety patrols, as aides in classrooms, on school buses, at CAPS meetings and at community events focused on youth.

3. HOUSING: Provide a range of housing choices and support existing residents

With many vacant or abandoned buildings and hundreds of vacant lots, the neighborhood needs new investment in housing for residents as well as newcomers. Participants want to see a range of rental and homeownership options with an emphasis on maintaining affordability.

3.1 Develop an accurate profile of the current housing situation. The community needs a database that provides information about the current mix of housing, its value and rent levels, and the number and size of lots available for potential development. Ownership information on properties is needed to keep building and land owners accountable.

3.2 Explore financial vehicles such as a TIF or NIF to support housing improvement. Develop an understanding of how Tax Increment Financing districts and Neighborhood Improvement Funds could be used to support creation or rehabilitation of affordable housing.

3.3 Develop or link to housing assistance programs. Many residents would benefit from programs that help them gain better housing, improve their homes, add energy-efficiency (“green”) improvements or control property taxes. Connect residents to existing programs and develop new programs if needed.

3.4 Invite community participation on all development proposals. Residents and stakeholders should be well-informed of development proposals and have an opportunity to comment on how they fit with local priorities.

As follow-up to this discussion, a future meeting will provide information about the housing situation and how Tax Increment Financing districts work.

4. HISTORY and IDENTITY: Build on Washington Park’s proud past

Participants shared their ideas on how to make the community stronger.

Patrick Barry

Washington Park has a proud history as part of Chicago’s “Black Belt,” the group of South Side neighborhoods where African-Americans of all income levels lived and worked in a highly segregated city. Many former residents have moved elsewhere, but the neighborhood should remember its past and use it to build a strong new community.

4.1 Recruit elders to recount the history of the neighborhood. Oral histories, presentations at schools and displays could help residents and newcomers understand Washington Park’s role as an African-American community in Chicago. Social programs could also reinforce the neighborhood’s cultural identity.

4.2. Preserve and rehabilitate historic buildings. The neighborhood includes many fine buildings from the late 19th or early 20th centuries, from greystone two-flats and terra-cotta commercial buildings to the Shultz Bakery, Raber House and 1892 train station on Garfield Blvd. This historic fabric should be retained alongside new development that fills vacant lots.

4.3 Become part of the proposed Black Metropolis District National Heritage Area. The proposed district, outlined in House Bill 5505, provides a vehicle for telling the story of Washington Park and other neighborhoods that were the historic base for African-American families and institutions.

This group also identified TIF and NIF programs as possible sources of funding, and asked for clarification of the boundaries of the Washington Park planning area and official community area.

5. EDUCATION: Support youth and adults in and outside of schools

Participants want to create a network of programs and supports for youth as well as adults to improve the quality of education, build employment skills and increase the earning power of residents. Program ideas include:

5.1 Develop Career and Education Fairs for youth and adults to expose them to opportunities in the work world and higher education. Partner with Kennedy King College, University of Chicago, Illinois Institute of Technology, and other City Colleges of Chicago to showcase learning paths that lead to careers.

5.2 Improve digital literacy through a network of computer centers that offer varied and useful programming. Reduce the digital divide by promoting usage and improving programming at local organizations that offer computer access (including the Washington Park Fieldhouse, St. Anselm’s and K.L.E.O. Community Center). Develop academic programming in coordination with local schools, such as ACT test-prep or math skills, and teach software and hardware skills to students, parents and other adults.

5.3 Attract a military-style drill program to a local school. The Veterans Neighborhood Builders Association has run a marching and close-order drill program for special education students at North Kenwood Charter School and could bring such a program to Washington Park. The program for 3rd to 6th graders teaches discipline and helps students burn off excess energy that can lead to disruption of classrooms; students enter through teacher recommendations.

5.4 Increase parent involvement in schools. An on-street parade of school faculty and staff or presentations by schools at community settings could improve engagement with parents and other family members.

5.5 Attract a new school through the Renaissance 2010 program. Chicago Public Schools is creating or building 100 new schools. Washington Park should research the feasibility of attracting a new school.

5.6 Develop programs to improve attendance and student achievement. Incentive programs, “surrogate” parents and more community interaction should be considered. Programs for 7th and 8th graders should help them understand their choices among high schools citywide.

5.7 Survey students and parents about what they want to improve their schools.

Facilitator Cecelia Hunt said that Washington Park can become a “wonderful place with world-class education.” She added that “we’re not putting blinders on in terms of where we are now, but that shouldn’t keep us from going where we want to be.”

6. YOUTH: Provide more supervised activities to engage and inform young people

This group built on its previous discussions focused on creating activities that provide a constructive outlet for young people who might otherwise be involved in unhealthy and unsupervised activities. The previous concept of an Open Mic competition on Friday nights was fleshed out into a summer-long program with responsibilities shared among local organizations.

6.1 Launch Open Mic competitions and “Corner Actions” each week. The K.L.E.O. Community Center hopes to sponsor the first Open Mic competition on June 6, building on an informal Friday evening gathering that attracted youth and families. The winner of the competition would gain status among his or her peers by leading the following session. Other organizations could sponsor similar gatherings and all partners would gather youth from their local corners and bring them to that week’s event. The Open Mic on Fridays would be for ages 15-20; on Saturdays for ages 21-25.

6.2 Sponsor “Tom Thumb weddings.” A local church is sponsoring this youth-oriented mock wedding to raise funds for a community garden while teaching children about values and the importance of marriage. Those who sell the most ads for a program book become the bride, groom and wedding party; others attend as “celebrities.”

6.3 Support students as they head back to school. Christ Unity Church has organized free haircuts for youth and seeks donations of bookbags and school supplies.

6.4 Link evening programs with life skills and religious training. Churches could organize fun programming for youth that includes Bible study or life-skills training as a condition of participation.

Torrey Barrett led the youth discussion.

Patrick Barry

6.5 Create residential school program. Washington Park could explore creation of a short-term residential program for at-risk youth such as the Casa Tepeyac program run by Boys Town Chicago in Back of the Yards.

6.6 Develop a Washington Park Peace Festival. This large-scale event in the park would be developed in partnership with the Family Federation for World Peace and include big-name attractions. A tentative date of July 19 has been discussed but full support of the community would be necessary to move forward.

“Our goal is to give the youth alternatives to street violence,” said K.L.E.O.’s Torrey Barrett, who facilitated the group. “Collectively, we probably have enough activities to keep the youth busy all summer long.”

7. JOBS: Build partnerships to improve employment options

The employment discussions have focused on helping residents build job skills and connect to the region’s large and diverse economy.

7.1 Support small businesses and entrepreneurs. Create or connect to a small business development center to promote available programs, provide marketing support , connect business owners with financial and technical resources, and develop networking among business owners. An incubator could provide low-cost office space and skills development.

7.2 Boost technical skills through training and certification. Work with local colleges, universities and technology centers to link residents to training programs in office software, computer hardware, health care and other marketable skills.

7.3 Create partnerships with trade unions. Build the earning power of residents by connecting with existing trade union apprenticeship programs that lead to well-paid construction and trade jobs.

7.4 Target specific industries for job growth. Research growing industries such as “green” environmental businesses, rail freight and medical services to bring such jobs to the neighborhood or connect residents to jobs in the region.

7.5 Publicize existing workforce development and job programs to residents.

8. RETAIL: Develop locations for large and small retail centers

Washington Park has several nodes of retail businesses as well as large tracts of vacant land that could be developed as shopping centers serving the larger South Side. The area also has excellent locations for retail on busy transportation corridors.

Lainyard Smith noted opportunities for clusters of small retailers as well as larger shopping centers.

Patrick Barry

8.1 Identify and promote locations for small, unique businesses. Clusters of businesses already exist on Garfield Boulevard, State Street, and 58th, 61st and 63rd Streets. Promote these locations for new small businesses such as a tailor, candle and gift shops, and sit-down restaurants.

8.2 Assemble parcels for large-scale retail development. Large plots of empty or near-empty land exist, mostly on the west end of the community near State Street. By assembling parcels and eliminating alleys, the land could be configured for “big-box” retailers such as Target, Linens N Things and grocery stores.

8.3 Create “transit-oriented development” near CTA transit centers. The neighborhood’s Green and Red Line stations at 55th and King, 63rd and King and 55th and the Dan Ryan serve a total of 6,100 passengers each weekday. This traffic plus other neighborhood residents and workers could support development of mixed-use facilities near the stations that include retail spaces, apartments or condominiums, and services such as a child care center or computer center.

8.4 Develop resources and partnerships to support retail. A Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district could generate funds to attract retailers and improve local infrastructure. Partnerships with the University of Chicago and others could help bring customers. Traffic on the Dan Ryan Expressway provides high visibility.

Presenting the new web site

After the reports by breakout groups, NCP Program Manager Lynda Jones presented the new Washington Park NCP web site, which can be viewed at www.washingtonparkncp.org.

Jones invited all stakeholders to submit calendar items, news and short profiles of their organization, business or church for use in the Washington Park directory, which already includes more than 150 listings. Information should be sent to Lynda Jones at dvooo2000@yahoo.com

The goal of the web site is to support communication about and within the neighborhood, promote networking among organizations, churches and residents, and generate attention for the Washington Park community.

Closing and next steps
The meeting closed with a short presentation by representatives of the new Amandla Charter School in Englewood and by Illinois Rep. Ken Dunkin (5th), who urged participants to think about how state resources can help in the implementation phase of the Washington Park quality-of-life plan. “Be sure to include individuals like us (on the Illinois Legislature) so that we can support your work,” he said.

The next Community Planning Workshop will be from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, at St. Edmund’s Church, 6105 S. Michigan Ave.

Send comments or corrections to Patrick Barry, NCP scribe, 773-973-2169, barry.patrick@comcast.net.

'People felt they were heard' - April 26 meeting

5/21/2008, 5:03 PM

Monday, May 5, 2008

Richard Muhammad

"Building on the rich history and culture of Washington Park, this community of choice offers world-class opportunities for youth, adults and senior citizens through quality education, a range of affordable housing, and a robust economy. This vibrant neighborhood, which shares its name with the immense Washington Park just to the east, is connected to the rest of Chicago with one of the best transit networks in the nation. Washington Park's economic revival attracts quality jobs, goods and services. It offers rich cultural opportunities, housing for all income levels, a safe environment, and is a place that people feel proud to call home."
— Working vision statement for NCP/Washington Park

From easy agreement on a mission statement to heated discussions about housing, community history, and social and political realities that have impacted residents, the second Community Planning Workshop for Washington Park at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 5700 S. Prairie, ignited the passion of neighborhood residents and pushed the quality-of-life planning process forward.

Cecelia Hunt of St. Edmund's Redevelopment Corporation presents the working vision statement.

The meeting began with a prayer and then a recap of the process and previous planning workshop from Alderman Cochran. Cecelia Hunt, of St. Edmund's Redevelopment Corp., presented a draft vision statement, which was accepted with a mention of seniors added to it. Next, workshop participants added new information to a working list of programs, events, happenings and other efforts to build the community. Then came the breakout sessions and a working lunch.

"Today was excellent. Our discussion was a little heated, but people actually felt that their voice was heard," said the Rev. Jesse Knox, whose church hosted the meeting. The buy-in from stakeholders, both new participants and a consistent core group of participants, were good signs, he said. Some 100 people attended the Saturday session.

"What was important is that some of the people weren't sure people would allow their voices to be heard. I allowed that, but at the same time we were going to respect each other. If you have something to say, you need to listen to what someone else has to say. And, then we decide what we are going to do," said the Rev. Knox, who facilitated the day's discussion of housing.

"I think people are actually excited about what's taking place," he added.

What took place April 26, under the sponsorship of the Washington Park New Communities Program, was a half-day of continued discussions where neighborhood events and projects were mapped out, a vision statement was approved, and break out sessions were devoted to youth and education, jobs and retail, housing and community identity/history and safety and wellness. The day yielded hopes for the future and uncovered some concerns about the past.

Goals and projects

By the end of the day, the group had developed a compilation of goals, points of interest and sometimes potential projects:

Jobs: Expand access to existing employment and related programs; create a financial literacy program; expand the reach for financial institutions; foster business creation and offer technical assistance to entrepreneurs; identify the skills of existing residents to match them with future employment opportunities.

Retail: Fully utilize access to and profile of the Dan Ryan Expressway to create regional opportunities for drawing and serving consumers; allow for multiple retail outlets in the community; create spaces and places that foster the entrepreneurial spirit; communicate with residents to find out what they want; and let community history drive retail choices.

Existing projects and programs are being identified and added to the planning map.
Eric Young Smith
Safety & Wellness: Have more men in the community take a stand against bad behavior and talk to youth; recruit for and make better use of CAPS meetings; publicize what CAPS has to offer; improve opportunity for physical activity among older adults, adults and youth; increase awareness of what services related to health and nutrition that already exist in Washington Park through marketing and saturating the neighborhood with information; create a better understanding of what health, fitness and wellness entail and how to meet these needs in a comprehensive way; use sports to fight obesity and to promote discipline and self-knowledge.

Community history/identity: Recognize the extremely rich history of Washington Park; create an information center which documents and preserves that history; become part of a south side historic preservation and tourism district that includes Bronzeville and other neighborhoods; preserve community landmarks.

Housing: Keep people in their homes by freezing taxes and providing other information and assistance; engage in historic preservation; encourage energy efficient and sustainable "green homes"; embrace senior supportive living and different models for homeownership, like coops, to help some renters into ownership and help stabilize housing the neighborhood environment; engage in simultaneous support of existing housing stock and creation of new housing.

Each breakout group began a list of issues and ideas for future projects.
Eric Young Smith
Youth: Provide alternatives to gang violence; provide a safe environment for youth activities; engage in listening sessions with youth; provide activities that prepare youth to help themselves and others; provide a first-class education for Washington Park students

Education: Most of the goals are centered around younger people, including a pageant or competition including oratory or debate contest that recruits participation of youth to represent schools, churches, etc., at a big event that includes trophies and recognition; increase opportunities for personal involvement of youth in community; organize trips outside the community to expose youth to the wider world; promote volunteer activities as avenues for career exploration, connections with other people and increased life experiences; engage in career information sessions for youth through partnerships with local universities and colleges; create adult education programs that begin with adults sharing what they know and how it can benefit the community, then expand into areas where more growth and greater skills are needed.

Local residents, faith leaders and stakeholders ran the breakout sessions with Jobs and Retail facilitated by Lanyaird Smith and Karin Norington-Reaves; Community Identity/History facilitated by Murray Johnson and Bishop Edward Peecher; Housing facilitated by Rev. Jesse Knox III; Safety and Wellness facilitated by Karin Norington-Reaves and NCP manager Lynda Jones; Youth facilitated by Torrey Barrett; and Education facilitated by Cecilia Hunt.

An example of the excitement and energy put into developing new ideas included support for K.L.E.O. Community Center plans for an Open Mic night for youth, with a June kick-off. The session would allow for youth expression, provide a chance for recognition and promotion of positive activity, with the winner receiving a small monetary prize and neighborhood bragging rights by hosting upcoming Open Mic sessions. It would also be an opportunity for youth to meet one another in a neutral setting with the chance to build relationships that could help curb violence.

The youth breakout group also responded well to the idea of a Peace Festival, though unsure of its size and scope. But it would be used to promote non-violence and use entertainment to draw troubled youth to a venue where they could hear appeals for peace and find out what programs exist to help them. The group ended its discussion by exchanging e-mail addresses and phone numbers to follow-up on ideas outside of the monthly Community Planning Workshop.

Strong opinions

Thirty-five people participated in an often-heated discussion about housing and community history, recounting their own connections to the neighborhood and some skepticism about the NCP planning process. The group suggested protecting and supporting existing residents while attracting newcomers, and agreed that new housing should be responsive to local income levels. But there was disagreement about the range of those incomes. Cecilia Butler of the Washington Park Advisory Council pointed out that 2000 Census data are no longer accurate; that the percentage of renters has dropped from the previous level of 89 percent; and that the $17,000 median family income has grown along with recent condo conversions and the demolition of Chicago Housing Authority units.

Edward "Doc" Chaney asked, "Is the desire not to have gentrification?" Rev. Knox responded that a range of incomes was desired but that $300,000 homes might be inappropriate.

There was talk of preserving local landmarks such as the Shulze Bakery building, the Raber House at 58th and Lafayette, and the unused 1892 train station on Garfield Blvd., which Cecilia Butler said could become a library, history museum and coffee shop with wireless internet service.

One way to capture Washington Park's history was suggested by Harold Lucas of the Black Metropolis Convention and Tourism Council. He said Washington Park and other areas of historic Bronzeville can become an international tourism destination through the proposed Black Metropolis District National Heritage Area, which was introduced in February as House Bill 5505 by Congressman Bobby L. Rush. The area would reflect the restrictive covenants map that once determined where Blacks could live. "We're flipping that map and saying, 'This is our national heritage area,' " Lucas said.

Della Mitchell, executive director of Brand New Beginnings, told about the group's building at 103-115 E. 58th Street, which used to be empty "and where rapes took place and drug dealing went on." Now it is affordable decent housing for families, she says, and there are jobs in the building as well. She would like to build more housing on the lot across the street.

The discussion several times shifted to discussion of the neighborhood today, how it used to be, and what it could become.

Monique Cook-Bey works for Chicago Youth Programs at 5350 S. Prairie and sees that "kids are rebelling and the elders have turned their backs on them." She remembers that when she was a child and her mother came to her school, "It wasn't to cuss out the teacher. I'd like to see the community of Washington Park come together as one, even if we disagree on some things."

The planning process

Cecilia Butler asked why the meetings of the Washington Park NCP steering committee aren't open to the public. "We've been ignored enough in Washington Park," she said. "It's insulting." Scott Goldstein of the planning firm Teska Associates responded that the steering committee does not make any decisions about the neighborhood, as its role is only to organize planning logistics. "The decisions about the neighborhood's future and its plan will be made at these community meetings," he said.

Cecilia Butler told the group about recent changes in the housing market.

Eric Young Smith

Edward Chaney also questioned the process. "The underlying feeling among the homeowners," he said, "is that the plan has already been written and we are invited to these meetings to provide documentation that there was community participation."

Bishop Edward Peecher, who led the discussion of community identity and history, responded. He shared his personal history as a Black Panther who "was fighting for community development when there was no community development. I'm not here playing games; I'm not here to be a front for someone else. I'm here because I believe we can make real changes."

Monique Cook-Bey was moved by the heartfelt stories and commitment of residents. "A lot of us have been so hurt and scarred by all the things that have happened for decades," she said. "We have to get past that and learn to trust each other."

"We're hitting our mark ladies and gentlemen," said Alderman Cochran, whose 20th Ward Office is acting as the lead agency for NCP/Washington Park, as the day came to a close. "This process is built on a coalition of people. We've got some outspoken people here who have hit points that are very, very important—about what has happened in the past and the damages that occurred, the theft and racism and all those other things. They are important to be heard. History is important. We should know that as we go forward," he said.

But, Alderman Cochran added, "The dynamics that have been put in place, the dynamics that we will be putting in place, will be positive for our community."

The next session was scheduled for May 17 at St. Edmund's Church.

Patrick Barry contributed to this report. Please send any corrections or questions to LISC Scribe Richard Muhammad at straightwords@sbcglobal.net, or call 773-616-5058.