Woodlawn New Communities Program - Latest news

Parkway Gardens goes to the Chicago Children's Museum

9/9/2011, 9:48 AM

Friday, July 1, 2011

Ryan K. Priester

Saturday June 11^thwas a day of firsts.

For many of the children gathered together by Officer Jennifer Maddox, the day would be the first trip to downtown Chicago, the Chicago Children’s museum, or, perhaps most urgently, the first time many of the children had seen a bridge drawn to full mast.

“We are going to fall in!” was the excited cry of Parkway Gardens children as the van stopped on Lake Shore Drive just south of Navy Pier.

Officer Maddox seized the moment.

She allowed the children to get out of the stopped van to engage their imaginations and behold the site of road opening into the mist filled sky to allow boats pass beneath their feet.

This was another first.

NCP Woodlawn collaborated with the chair of the Early Childhood Committee of Woodlawn, Mrs. Joyce Nimocks, to arrange a trip for 25 children and 4 parents from the Parkway Gardens housing project to attend the Chicago Children’s’ Museum.

The Chicago Children’s Museum graciously provided tickets and a day of wonderful memories for the children of Parkway Gardens.

Children from Parkway Gardens enjoyed the hands on nature of the museum and made excellent use of the interactive play space at the museum.

The children were so filled with excitement and glee they were noticed by the musuem staff and selected to become active participants in the final show.

Parkway Children leapt at the chance to join and were all smiles as they stole the show at the museum.

Parkway Gardens Residents move toward GED

7/20/2011, 11:21 AM

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Candice Collins

On April 26, 2011 Parkway Gardens Apartment implemented its first GED (General Education Development) program through Literacy Chicago. Jennifer Maddox, the resident service coordinator in Parkway Gardens has been a driving force behind the program. She was responsible for recruiting residents to participate in the program. NCP Woodlawn was very instrumental with this project by securing the funding from Woodlawn Children's Promise Community for the site.

One ultimate goal is to improve literacy through exceptional learning opportunities, thereby allowing students to enhance their knowledge and understanding, which will allow students to achieve not only academic success, but personal success.

This class was offered as part of WCPC's continued efforts provide quality programming aimed at assisting parents in the Woodlawn community with personal development.

The program serviced fifteen dedicated and committed adults ages 18-45. Students attend class every Tuesday and Thursday from 1:00 to 4:00 pm.

Students are instructed in Reading, Writing, Math, Social Studies, Science, and the Constitution Test. Currently, 65% of the students have taken and passed the State Constitution Test after seven weeks of instruction. One of our goals for September 2011 is that all of our current students will return and 25% of them will take the GED Exam in December 2011.

Hyde Park Players Return to Experimental Station

5/17/2011, 2:58 PM

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Connie Spreen

It is time, once again, to join us at the Experimental Station for a civic act of cultural independence. Friday thru Sunday, May 20-22, the Hyde Park Community Players will be performing Picasso at the Lapin Agile, written by performer and comedian Steve Martin.

In Picasso, Martin imagines the possibilities of an evening where Pablo Picasso and Albert Einstein happen to show up at the same bar. These visionary figures show the rest of us—some of you already know—what it is like to be extraordinary amongst the ordinary.

Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin runs from May 20-22 at the following times:

Friday, May 20 at 7:30pm
Saturday, May 21 at 3:30pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, May 22 at 3:30pm.

Advance tickets are $10 and are available at 57th Street Bookstore and Chaturanga Fitness. Tickets at the door are $12, $10 for students and seniors. Experimental Station is located at 6100 S. Blackstone Avenue and is wheelchair accessible.

We look forward to seeing you there!

61st Market Opens for 2011 year

5/9/2011, 1:03 PM

Monday, May 9, 2011

Connie Spreen

Your 61st Street Farmers Market will be opening for its fourth season this Saturday, May 14, from 9am-2pm! We are very pleased to say that you will find the farmers and vendors that you have come to know and love, as well as some new ones. We do accept LINK and will continue to match LINK purchases up to $25 per card holder per market day, as long as funding lasts.

As always, the growth and success of the 61st Street Farmers Market will depend upon our much-appreciated and growing customer base. Not only do we want to ensure that you have the best meats, fruits, vegetables, bakery items, cheeses, etc. available in the region, we also need to ensure that our farmers and vendors have customers to purchase them, rain or shine. We ask you to tell your friends, family members, neighbors, colleagues, audiences, patients, students, employees—and anyone else you can think of—about all that the 61st Street Farmers Market has to offer them.

We look forward to another fun and food-filled season, and will be looking for you at the Market this Saturday and every Saturday until sometime late December!

Woodlawn Community Summit a Rousing Success

4/21/2011, 4:26 PM

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Arvin Strange

On Saturday March 26, 2011 the Woodlawn Neighbors Association, Kenwood Pointe Homeowners Association, and the South East Chicago Commission jointly sponsored the 2^nd annual Woodlawn Community Summit at the University of Chicago.

The meeting’s theme was “Building the Blueprint: One Block Club at a Time”.

The event drew a vibrant, diverse group of neighbors and proved to be an excellent venue to network, share ways of improving the community, while meeting and greeting neighbors.

The following roundtable topics relative to Woodlawn were discussed:

Education:

Chicago Public Schools and the Woodlawn Children’s Promise Community

Reducing Crime and Improving Safety in Your Community

Community Revitalization: Commercial and Residential Development

Urban Agriculture/Sustainability

Neighborhood Beautification

Faith-Based Community Support

Neighbors heard from the education community ways Woodlawn will substantially improve academic standards in the schools.

In the safety session neighbors heard plans and strategies to increase police presence in the community.

In the community revitalization breakout participants learned of new residential and commercial developments like Preservation of Affordable Housing development on Cottage Grove and their plans to build new mixed income housing.

In one session residents shared neighborhood beautification ideas while another session expounded on cutting edge urban agriculture ideas and techniques for the 21^st century.

In the faith-based community support session ministers and neighbors discussed how faith-based community partnerships will play an important role in the development of Woodlawn.

The event was an excellent opportunity for residents to express their views on a variety of issues.

Indeed the 2^nd Annual Woodlawn Summit was an inspiring display of neighborhood camaraderie.

Participants were pleasantly surprised at Woodlawn’s progress and strongly encouraged more planning and organizing efforts over the coming year.

To view clips from the event go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x_9NtE1HSw

Woodlawn's Blackstone Bikes Selected For Seattle's Best Brew-lanthropy Film

3/31/2011, 11:42 AM

Connie Spreen

We are very excited that Blackstone Bicycle Works, our bike shop and youth education program, was selected by Seattle's Best Coffee as the first recipient of its Brew-lanthropy initiative! What that means for us—besides drinking more coffee than we used to—is that three weeks ago, we spent the better part of a fun and fatiguing week with a crew of 8-40 filmmakers who filmed us at work and at play, and learned about what we do at Blackstone Bikes and about the neighborhood we live and work in. From that, director Matt Ogens and producer Kelly Christensen (Los Angeles) have created a beautiful and powerful 3.5 minute documentary film that was just released today. We invite you to take a look

here

Blackstone Bicycle Works is a youth education program of the Experimental Station. In the context of a full-service bike shop dedicated to promoting ecological practices and empowering youth, Blackstone teaches mechanical skills, job skills, and business literacy to boys and girls from the underserved Woodlawn neighborhood and Chicago's broader south side.

The Experimental Stationbelieves in creating programs, like Blackstone Bicycle Works, that are real and meaningful. We are also working hard to make our operation sustainable. We ask you to please consider donating to the Experimental Station. It is easy—just click on the

'Make A Donation' button on our website. Your

support truly makes a difference.

6l't St. farmers Market Expands Services and Education

2/28/2011, 3:22 PM

The 6I't Street Farmers Market is wrapping up its third year and has seen exciting new developments. Four new vendors, Tempel Farms Organics, Brown Sugar Bakery, and B'Gabs Goodies, joined the Market this year, expanding the variety of
local and healthy food available. The Market has also been busy bringing knowledge about healthyfoods to children and adults. As in the past, the Market
featured Chef Demos where area chefs cooked dishes using seasonal ingredients from the Market, and the Market School, which engaged kids and families in learning more about their food, where it comes from, and how to grow your own
food in a garden. Attendance and City Market LINK Pilot Program a Success
For the first time, LINK ("food stamps") beneficiaries are able to use their EBT cards at City-run farmers markets, and they shopped in record volumes.
The five markets that launched the service this summer brought in
nearly $30,000 in LINK sales, triple the total amount for the entire
state of lllinois in 2009. This pilot program, a partnership between the
Experimental Station and several City of Chicago departments, exceeded
expectations and was the most successful program of its kind in the
country.
The City of Chicago operates twenty farmers markets, but was not previously able to accept LINK cards. About 28 independent farmers markets also operate in the city, but sales also continued to grow this year. LINK card purchases are on target to reach $ 10,000 for the season, doubling from 2009. During the schoolyear, Market Manager Dennis Ryan travels to local schools with interactive games and activities to get students excited about eating healthy. This
year, the Healthy Farmers Market Eating Workshops visited hundreds
of children at Carnegie, Fiske, and Fermi Elementary Schools. High-schoolers can get involved with the South Shore Chef Apprenticeship Program, a partnership with the Careers. Through Culinary Arts Program. This semester, over 300 students applied for 30 positions in the ten week course. For three days per week, students meet after school for lectures and cooking practice. For adults looking to cook on a budget, the Experimental Station offers free cooking classes
that focus on local and seasonal produce and using the whole product to reduce waste. Weekly classes of 10 to 15 students allowed one-on-one learning from Chef Gabrielle Darvassy. The Market is also developing a program to foster healthy eating by working with local health professionals to prescribe fruits
and vegetables sold at our Market to patients with diet-related illnesses, drawing upon successful models piloted this past summer at two markets in Boston and Maine.

NCP Woodlawn Supporting Parkway Gardens

2/28/2011, 3:01 PM

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Ryan K. Priester

As Woodlawn grows in solidarity, NCP Woodlawn has increased its efforts to outreach families west of Cottage Grove Ave. Parkway Gardens, the largest section 8 project based housing in Woodlawn, has become a critical outreach point for NCP Woodlawn. Increasingly, NCP Woodlawn has become more involved with increasing the quality of life for Parkway Gardens’ residents. Initial outreach effort included addressing the needs of the residents during the increased financial strains caused by winter utility bills. Collaborating with the housing resource center at WECAN, CEDA/LIHEAP services were brought into the Parkway Gardens Community Room for three weeks.

Recently, NCP Woodlawn organizers coordinated with the Woodlawn Children’s Promise Community to transport Parkway Gardens youth from the complex to various cultural activities throughout the city. The latest venture was transportation to see a Black History Documentary entitled: “A War for Your Soul.” The documentary was held at Orr High School on Chicago’s West side. This video was created to inspire young at-risk African-Americans not to fall prey to some of the problems they face in society. The filmed gained fame on the internet for encapsulating in a tangible way the problems facing African-American youth. Officer Jennifer Maddox was able to gather almost 30 eight-grade students from Parkway Gardens to see the film.

NCP Woodlawn looks forward to continuing its support of the Parkway Gardens Community. An NCP sponsored nutrition class scheduled to start in Parkway Gardens on March 8, 2011. Completely free to residents, this program will offer 6 classes and cooking demonstrations in healthy eating, which upon completion will result in a certificate in Nutrition from the University of Illinois Extension that can be used for resume building and towards a food sanitation work. This program is collaboration between NCP Woodlawn, the University of Illinois Extension Program, and Lutheran Child and Family Services. The residents are provided free food from the food pantry at LCFS to create the meals that they have been taught in class.

For more information please contact NCP Woodlawn at 773-363-4300.

NCP Woodlawn rebuilding the Village, one neighbor at a time.

POAH honors Bishop Brazier at the opening of Woodlawn Park

2/28/2011, 12:29 PM

Monday, February 28, 2011

Maria Plati

Chicago community leaders and elected officials joined the leadership of the
national nonprofit, Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH,) to ‘raise-a-wall’ marking the construction of the first phase of Woodlawn Park, a development that will revitalize a long troubled neighborhood on the south side.

The project represents an innovative approach to urban revitalization that will create attractive housing for all income levels, a walkable streetscape, urban recreation opportunities for children and support services for residents including job training summer youth nutrition and safety programs.
Woodlawn Park also aligns with HUD Choice Neighborhoods initiative by linking housing improvements to appropriate services, schools, transit, stores and access to jobs. One block of the 504-unit Grove Parc Plaza development at 63rd and Cottage Grove Avenue has been demolished and construction has begun that will create 67 market rate and affordable transit oriented apartments along Cottage Grove Avenue. When complete, Woodlawn Park will include 420 residential units on the Grove Parc site and 65,000 square feet of retail and commercial space. The project will provide more than 100 full-time construction-related jobs during the four year development period, as well as creating permanent jobs in the neighborhood.
In addition, POAH will purchase and rehab approximately 300 existing apartments in the community as it reconfigures Grove Parc’s affordable housing, shifting the existing Section 8 subsidy in healthier configurations both on and off the current Grove Parc footprint. About 210 property based Section 8 units will be preserved on-site in addition to market rate and affordable units.
77 W. Washington Blvd., Suite 1005, Chicago, IL 60602, 312 283 0032, www.poah.org
“Today’s wall raising is a symbolic step towards the progress of this redevelopment,” said Amy Anthony, President of POAH. “There will be more phases to celebrate over the next few years which will ultimately produce a bustling community that embraces social and economic diversity for the entire neighborhood.”
There was a moment of reflection during the ceremony to honor the contributions of Bishop Arthur M. Brazier, who was critical to the planning and implementation of the project. Congressman Bobby L. Rush (1st CD), an ordained minister, delivered an invocation in memory of Bishop Brazier.
“There is no way that we can replace the gentle heart and boundless determination that Bishop Brazier brought to some of the most pressing challenges facing Chicago,” said Anthony. “With the passing of Bishop Brazier, this celebration takes on even greater meaning for us as he was an
early and consistent supporter of POAH’s efforts to revitalize Grove Parc Plaza Apartments.
“Our investment in Woodlawn Park is intended to create an environment that surrounds residents with the resources and support they need to maintain stable housing and to achieve their goals and aspirations,” said Anthony.
This neighborhood revitalization effort is made possible through key contributions from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA), and the City of Chicago.
Highlights of the first phase of Woodlawn Center South:
• 67 new affordable and market rental units in Phase 1 with an eventual total of 420 mixedincome
units and 80,000 square feet of retail, youth center and community space
• All phases will be green and LEED-certified; Phase 1 will be LEED Gold and will
include solar thermal hot water system, extensive stormwater retention and landscaping
to replace paved lots
• Innovative urban revitalization approach, deconcentrating poverty on-site while
achieving full preservation of affordable units through reinvestment in distressed housing
stock in surrounding neighborhood;
• Community benefits include local hiring commitments, community and youth recreation spaces, new retail amenities, and new resources for community-wide investments POAH is an Illinois-incorporated, mission-driven housing nonprofit with offices in Chicago and Boston that specializes in the preservation of at-risk subsidized multifamily housing. POAH owns and operates more than 6,600 affordable housing units in nine states and the District

Woodlawn Mourns the Passing Of Bishop Arthur M. Brazier

10/27/2010, 12:52 PM

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

L. Lane

Bishop Arthur M. Brazier laid his hands on the community of Woodlawn. You would be hard pressed to find one complete block in Woodlawn that has not been touched by Bishop Brazier. Whether it be affordable housing that he enabled, a block club that he met with, a church that he prayed with, or a school that has more hope, Bishop Brazier's lifetime of service to the Woodlawn community in unparalleled.

In addition to the members of his church, The Apostolic Church of God, Bishop Brazier loved no one more than the perennial youth of Woodlawn. Bishop's hope for the children of Woodlawn is that they grow up feeling safe and have the opportunity for a well-rounded education. In his pursuit of this vision, that these children would live in a community of choice, Bishop was persistent and focused. Bishop practiced place-based community development from the time he helped to found The Woodlawn Organization until he relinquished the chairmanship of the Woodlawn Children's Promise Community in mid-October. While TWO and its development arm WCDC would grow to serve the greater south side, Bishop kept creating entities that could focus on another aspect of Woodlawn's development.

Bishop created the Woodlawn Preservation and Investment Corporation to preserve the affordability of the Woodlawn Garden apartments and restart the building of market based homes in Woodlawn. The Fund for Community Redevelopment and Revitalization partnered on new home development and acquired vacant lots in Woodlawn for redevelopment. When one of his longstanding partners, the Local Initiative Support Corporation, developed its New Community Initiative as a new collaborative approach to community development, Bishop took stock of what had been achieved thus far and agreed to forge ahead with this new model of community change.

The New Communities Program-Woodlawn in its current formation is the beneficiary of Bishops thoughtful leadership. The Woodlawn community is highly organized and has strong, long-term leaders and could not move forward with just one lead organization as is the genesis of the NCP model. Bishop Brazier set a table where the long-term leaders and emerging leaders of Woodlawn could break bread every two weeks and develop strategies to address all of the emerging issues facing Woodlawn. Out of that fellowship has emerged a group of leaders who may disagree on approach, but have learned to work together for the common goals of the community. They (we) have learned to leverage resources and partnerships and the importance of relationships. Together they (we) have created some ground breaking initiatives, from the Music is MAGIC program to the Woodlawn Children's Promise Community.

The leaders of NCP-Woodlawn and the Woodlawn Children's Promise Community are committed to the vision that Bishop led us to see. They (we) understand why they (we) have been asked to a seat at this collective table. And they (we) are clear on what they (we) have been called to do. As their (our) humble leader and founder Bishop Arthur M. Brazier did for all of his life, serve the children and families of Woodlawn.

POAH, Alderman host meeting about neighborhood's future

10/20/2010, 3:54 PM

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) and 20th Ward Alderman Willie B. Cochran will host a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 21, 2010 at First Presbyterian Church, 6400 S. Kimbark Ave., to discuss how they, and the City of Chicago, are trying to direct federal Choice Neighborhoods funds to the Woodlawn neighborhood.

The Choice Neighborhoods Initiative is a new federal grant program in which neighborhoods will compete for funds to support revitalization through education programs, job training and the construction of affordable housing and community buildings. For more information, call 312-283-0030. Click here to see an event flyer.

1000 Man March A Success

8/9/2010, 5:28 PM

Laura Elberly

An estimated 2000 Woodlawn residents, including more than 750 African-American men, joined hands with Mayor Daley, local elected officials and community leaders on a hot July Saturday to showcase a coordinated push for linking together community services and residents in need in Woodlawn.

Post March Rally

The 1000-man March, organized by the New Communities Program's NCP Woodlawn affiliate and the Woodlawn Children's Promise Community, which is bringing comprehensive programs to 10

Woodlawn schools

, focused on spotlighting community agencies and services and connecting with residents in need of assistance. More than 40 agencies, churches and community groups participated in the march, according to Terrance Miller, co-organizer of the march along with Ryan Priester of NCP Woodlawn and Joe Brown (a Woodlawn community advocate)

Mayor Daley stressed, “That everything is not negative in Woodlawn.There are good families, good churches.There are wonderful students right here in Woodlawn.This is an inspiration.I hope the press asks the people why the people march and what they are saying”.

Arvin Strange (NCP Woodlawn Program Director) noted that “the march was a powerful demonstration by the community to improve its quality of life and highlighted not only the issue of safety but the need to organize the community, improve schools, preserve affordable housing, create jobs, and reduce healthcare disparities in Woodlawn.”

Whole Foods Supports 61st Street Market

6/9/2010, 1:02 PM

C. Spreen

We are very excited to announce that Whole Foods Markets, with which we had partnered last fall to bring our farmers market to their door, has identified Experimental Station as a recipient of a Whole Foods 5% Day! This means that Experimental Station will receive 5% of Whole Foods' sales from a single day at five of their Chicago locations. Our 5% day is Wednesday June 23. We are hoping that you will help support Experimental Station by encouraging friends, family, neighbors, colleagues, and anyone else who eats to do their store shopping at one or more of the following Whole Foods locations on Wednesday June 23:

Halsted and Waveland, 3640 N. Halsted
South Loop, 1101 S. Canal (Roosevelt)
Lincoln Park, 1550 N Kingsbury
Lakeview, 3300 N. Ashland
Gold Coast, 30 W. Huron.

If you are not a Whole Foods shopper and would like to support Experimental Station activities, or if you would like to support the Experimental Station more directly, you may donate by visiting our website and clicking on the 'Make A Donation' button. If you would like to make sure that we get every single penny that you donate, please send a check payable to Experimental Station, to 6100 S. Blackstone Avenue, Chicago IL 60637. Don't forget to send us your address, so that we may thank you.

Please find attached to this email our Spring newsletter describing some of our most recent events and activities. As you can see, much is happening. And we are glad to have you be a part of it!

NCP Woodlawn Welcomes New Housing Development

5/26/2010, 4:40 PM

Woodlawn Center South is a 67-unit affordable housing development for low and moderate income families and individuals and is the first phase of the larger redevelopment of the existing Grove Parc Plaza, a distressed 504-unit Section 8 complex being demolished and rebuilt as a mixed-income community named Woodlawn Park. The developer and sponsor is Preservation of Affordable Housing Inc. (POAH), a national affordable housing nonprofit with a local office in Chicago.

Woodlawn Park will be an environmentally sustainable, transit-oriented development. About 40% of the existing project-based Section 8 subsidized units will be preserved onsite within a mixed-income, mixed-use community providing approximately 65,000 ft. of commercial and retail space in later phases.

The first phase, Woodlawn Center South, is located at the terminus of the CTA Green Line el, and will be a sustainable, transit-oriented development. It will consist of two LEED-rated 33-unit and 34-unit 3-story walkup buildings constructed mainly of brick masonry veneer on opposite sides of Cottage Grove Avenue between 62nd and 63rd Streets. Amenities will include private rear yards for all three-bedroom family nits, a tot lot play area, and extensive green building enhancements. POAH has also obtained funding for solar thermal hot water.

The plan for the site begins with the demolition

of eight existing, “project”-style buildings, all of which are vacant. Demolition began in early April with construction scheduled to begin in June.

Funding partners for the project include Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) including tax credits, stimulus funding and a loan from the State Low Income Housing Trust Fund, an equity investment from JPMorgan Capital, construction financing from JP Morgan Chase Bank, HOME funding from the City of Chicago and bridge loan funding from The Preservation Loan Fund administered by LISC.

The project has received the strong support of Alderman Willie B. Cochran (20th Ward), State Senators Kwame Raoul, Mattie Hunter and Jacqueline Collins, and State Representatives Will Burns and Ken Dunkin.

NCP Housing/WECAN Opens Doors For Section 8 Lottery

5/21/2010, 5:20 PM

The CHA Family Wait List Lottery will begin on June 14 and will be open through July 9, 2010.

The registration process is free and is simple.It is made increasingly more so by the assistance of NCP Woodlawn Housing/WECAN.40,000 families will be added to the CHA Family Wait List. In an ongoing effort to maintain affordable housing options for the Woodlawn community, WECAN will be opening its doors to Woodlawn residents to provide computer access and assistance from the WECAN Housing Resource Center staff.For more information please visit CHAwaitlist.org or call 311.To reach WECAN directly please call 773-288-3000.

NCP Woodlawn Organizes A March Against Violence

5/21/2010, 5:13 PM

Terrance Miller (photos by Lonnie Richardson)

CAPS, NCP Members, and Commander Flectcher of 003rd District

Woodlawn’s March against Violence

On Saturday May 1, 2010 men women and children assembled at Apostolic Church of God to march against violence in Woodlawn.

The driving forces behind this event were members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the University of Chicago Office of Civic Engagement, CAPS (Ms. Faye Paterson) and the Woodlawn Public Safety Initiative (NCP Woodlawn).

The march kicked off with an inspirational prayer from Reverend Dr. Byron Brazier Pastor of Apostolic church. The prayer was followed by words of encouragement from Alderman Willie Cochran of the 20^th Ward,

Commander Fletcher of the 003 District Police Department and Mr. Rudy Nimocks of the University of Chicago’s Office of Civic-Engagement.

Jared White, a student at the University of Chicago made this a reality.

Jared rallied his Alpha brothers and they came out in big numbers to support this march.Marching to the cadence and chant of “stop the Violence save our children, stop the violence save our family” the marchers were the envy of neighborhood onlookers and supporters.The march was well organized and as the march proceeded many neighbors joined.The growing energy and camaraderie proved to be powerful and encouraging.

The marchers traveled west one block to 63^rd St^, and Kimbark, south to 62^nd,St.,and then proceeded west to Evans. At Evans the marchers went south to 63^rd and Evans. At 63^rd and Evans the marchers headed back east on 63^rd St.

In a surprise move the marchers stopped between Cottage Grove and Maryland a designated hot spot, where the marchers continued to chant, with a loud unified voice “stop the violence save our children, stop the violence save our family.”

The on lookers and local merchants stopped with amazement as the marchers showed a powerful show of support for peace in the community.The march concluded at Apostolic Church of God.

Woodlawn Youth Connect to Success: “Show Me Your Friends and I’ll show You Your future”

9/11/2009, 4:07 PM

Friday, September 11, 2009

On Friday, July 24, 2009 thirty boys from various parts of Woodlawn were temporarily escorted by Officer Charles O’Connor, Officer Smith and other police officers of the 3^rd district Police Department (not to jail) but to a part of Woodlawn that none of the boys had ever dreamed or considered— the University of Chicago campus.

The program known as the Chicago Youth Leadership Academy will encourage the young men to change their “mindset” with respect to their behavior.

The program was modeled after the Michigan Leadership Academy developed by Lieutenant Bowers. Several officers participated in this week long 24 hour program. The program is designed to establish a mentor relationship with each boy not just for the week but to establish a lifelong mentoring relationship.

For one week the Chicago Youth Leadership Academy provided a ratio of 6:1 boys to police officers. For that week the boys had no access to television, radio, cell phones, or beepers and could not make contact with anyone from their home or the “hood”.

For the first time many were exposed to an early 5:30 a.m. rise, daily calisthenics, fishing instruction, university gym facilities, a tour of the airport in Gary, Indiana with a Tuskegee Airman, as well as a surprise visit to Michael Jackson’s boyhood home in Gary, Indiana.

Slowly the young men not only adopted but understood the motto of the program, “show me your friends and I’ll show you your future”.. The University of Chicago provided regular dorms, fine food, great hospitality and an overall great summer experience.

A week later the graduation ceremony was held at New Beginnings Church with a host of dignitaries and sponsors from Preservation of Affordable Housing (P.O.A.H.), the University of Chicago, the Chicago Police Department, Woodlawn leaders and NCP Woodlawn.

Thirty young men were given certificates for completing the first Annual Chicago Youth Leadership Academy.More importantly, thirty young men emerged from this program confident, with new attitudes, a sense of accomplishment, and well equipped to be productive students and citizens.

NCP Woodlawn Education Committee Shares “Promise”

9/11/2009, 3:43 PM

Friday, September 11, 2009

Arvin Strange

On Saturday, August 15, 2009 the NCP Woodlawn Education committee hosted a breakfast meeting at the beautiful Grand Ballroom to share the concept of a “Woodlawn Children’s Promise Zone (WCPZ)” with 75 Woodlawn Local School Council members, principals and NCP Woodlawn members.

The following Area 15 schools were well represented: Emmitt Till, Fermi, Dulles, Dumas, Sexton, Wadsworth, Carnegie, Fiske and the Woodlawn Community School.

After a traditional breakfast Bishop Arthur M. Brazier gave a brief overview of historical efforts to improve academic performance levels in Woodlawn schools.

Bishop Brazier concluded by emphasizing the need for strong parental participation in the educational process.

As presenters Bishop Arthur M. Brazier introduced Dr. Charles Payne of the University of Chicago (School of Education) and Mrs. Cynthia Miller (Principal at Fiske Elementary School).

Dr. Payne shared some striking statistics relative to overall school successes and provided a detailed explanation outlining the positive long term attributes associated with implementing the Woodlawn Children’s Promise Zone.

Mrs. Miller (Principal at Fiske) described a vision as set forth by Woodlawn Instructional Leaders in conjunction with the Woodlawn Children’s Promise Zone.

All agreed parental participation is a key ingredient for this program to be successful.

Building a youth movement against HIV/AIDS, disease

7/28/2009, 4:12 PM

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Richard Muhammad

MAGIC’s National Teen Test Day is an example of the Woodlawn non-profit’s determination to grapple with serious issues and have young people save themselves when it comes to things that affect their lives. Teen Test Day, which is actually a year round program, hosts an annual major health and awareness fair devoted to testing and prevention of HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

Sakinah Muhammad, left, and MAGIC youth demonstrate oral quick swab HIV test.

Richard Muhammad

The group was founded almost two years ago by Vanessa Muhammad, Carlos Meyers and Kenneth Parker to address the problem of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted disease epidemics plaguing inner city youth.

The goal is a teen-led movement built on awareness, responsibility and healthy choices. The foundations of the movement are testing, partnerships and peer to peer contact to increase knowledge about HIV/AIDS and general health issues.

“We’re going to do our best to make sure that the complacency of youth is eliminated, because we’re going to be leaders for ending the spread of HIV and AIDS especially among young African Americans, 13-24, half of new cases are in that demographic,” said Allen Linton II, a 19-year-old college sophomore and MAGIC leader.

The disease impacts everyone, whether you have it or not, said Linton. It impacts how people interact with friends and family and impacts schools and workplaces, he said. Knowledge can slow down and end the disease, which can be acquired through one bad decision or one partner, Linton noted.

“IF you’re not going to help yourself, you can’t expect anyone else to help you,” he said.

Forging effective partnerships

A commitment to stopping the spread of the AIDS pandemic and other diseases has brought Teen Test Day and its young leaders to the attention of major partners. Talks are underway for a month-long focus on adolescents and HIV/AIDS in April through a partnership with Stroger Hospital and the Centers for Disease Control, said Muhammad.

Vanessa Muhammad, Teen Test Day co-founder

Richard Muhammad

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, observed Feb. 7, found MAGIC group members participating in the Black Life Is Worth Saving forum at Malcolm X College. The group’s namesake event, Teen Test Day, was held Jan. 3 at the South Shore Cultural Center and drew 2,000 people, according to organizers. The all-day affair included disease testing, a press conference and mayoral proclamation, a demonstration of the quick swab HIV test, games, a martial arts demonstration, a live radio broadcast from a hip hop station, food and 42 organizations delivering everything from asthma to vision screenings and offering tons of information. It closed with an evening hip hop concert, with tickets disbursed after taking an HIV/AIDS test, and a jazz concert.

Participants walked away with test results and University of Chicago Medical Hospital doctors and professionals were on hand to offer counseling, one year of free medical assistance and after care for anyone who tested positive, Muhammad said.

Carlos Meyers, co-founder Teen Test Day

Richard Muhammad

HIV/AIDS is not a death sentence, you don’t have to be a millionaire to get treatment while research, testing and awareness fairs are used to prevent infection, Linton said. “We have to take the steps to use all these resources and to maximize what we have now and improve what we have in the future. Helping out now sets us up for a better future,” said the second year University of Chicago student.

Chloe Rose Jackson, a 16-year-old, booked acts, planned activities, and met with representatives of radio stations, community groups and churches to connect with potential Teen Test Day partners. She also underwent six-weeks of training about HIV/AIDS.

“If we don’t know that’s just another body dying and for us to come speak to each other ourselves l think it’s more effective. We hear adults speaking about it all the time, every day, and it seems that it doesn’t connect to us. If you know about it, then you can change. If you don’t know life is going past in like seconds,” she said.

Jackson is motivated by compassion for peers who have suffered from pregnancy and contracted diseases but don’t have treatment. “A lot of people are not scared anymore to be tested. A lot of people last year we like, ‘Oh, I’m scared.’ Everything is confidential,” she said.

The story of Teen Test Day was covered by community and daily media, including the Associated Press, with stories picked up by the New York Times, BBC News, and publications in Canada and Africa, said Muhammad.

'The statistics are real'

“The impact of Teen Test Day is starting to resonate internationally as the rates of adolescent and young adult sexually transmitted infections and HIV infections continue to rise,” said co-founder Carlos Meyers, who is MAGIC’s director of adolescent and young adult health advocacy. “If the problems are not addressed with the urgency they deserve … our future is in dire jeopardy.”

Chloe Rose Jackson, MAGIC youth leader

Richard Muhammad

Teens from MAGIC will partner with the University of Chicago Medical Center March 7 for the “Our Daughters, Our Duty” conference at Kennedy-King College, said Muhammad. The conference will focus on prevention of the HPV virus and cervical cancer and teens will speak and distribute information, she said. The University of Chicago will train teens about the health issues Feb. 28 at MAGIC’s offices as part of the group’s leadership development mission.

“We need to know what it is ailing us,” said community epidemiologist Yaa Simpson, of The Association of Clinical Trial Services. She is also a MAGIC board member and specializes in HIV-AIDS. Black youth ages 13 to 24 are heavily impacted by STDS and HIV. Just seven percent of Chicago’s population, the age group accounts for 47 percent of nearly 34,000 STD and HIV cases, Simpson said, citing 2006 statistics from the city Dept. of Public Health.

“The statistics are real. The Black community is disproportionately impacted We have more numbers and we need to get that number to zero for everybody, but definitely for Blacks. How else are we going to get there, if we don’t get our young people involved and to be the leaders they need to be?” Simpson asked.

Entrepreneurs today — no wait for tomorrow

2/18/2009, 10:40 PM

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Richard Muhammad

Talk of product expenses, hourly price rates, industry competitors, customer service, marketing strategies, and business pitches might seem odd for teenagers. But young people at Sunshine Gospel Ministries recently tossed around business lingo readily.

Ashley Jones, with her mother, Chotsani Baylis, shows off her perfect attendance award. She did not miss one day in the 10-week entrepreneurship program.

Richard Muhammad

The youth were participants in the Small Business Expo held Dec. 11 at Sunshine’s Woodlawn headquarters on East 61st Street as part of a program sponsored by the National Foundation for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) and After School Matters.

The youth developed business proposals — and were paid to do so — as part of a technology curriculum at Sunshine Gospel Ministries, with After School Matters paying stipends based on program attendance.

From the PowerPoint presentations flashed via an electronic clicker on a flat screen TV to the natty business attire of some presenters, it was clear the young entrepreneurs were serious about their work – and nearly all put in extra time on their presentations, according to program staffers and parents.

Kiara Davis' business would teach older people, in particular retirees, how to use computers.

Richard Muhammad

The ideas were varied and innovative. They ranged from a talent agency, to a music studio for young people, a Caribbean restaurant, a mommy-friendly beauty salon, a computer instruction service for the elderly, and a resume prep service especially for people trying to switch careers in a bad economy.

Brittany Fisher won first prize and $100 for her Dynamic Resume service idea. With the downturn in the economy, the young entrepreneur's idea was to specialize in helping people who are trying to change careers and to specialize in helping people who were hard to employ — all at a reasonable price.

But as the judges from NFTE, After School Matters, and Sunshine Gospel Ministries observed, there were no losers here. The 10-week program pushed the youth to create businesses, said Lew Williams, a judge from Sunshine Gospel Ministries. Youth focused on their interests and talents, but they were told to think beyond just getting jobs in appealing areas — and to focus on making jobs for themselves.

Barbara Brown and daughter Cassandra Williams, who came dressed to business-impress for her presentation.

Richard Muhammad

“They need to know that they could operate without being dependent on someone to hire them in,” said Williams. “And at the same time, if the business becomes profitable, which we really hope it does, they can hire on other people and help the economy to start to thrive again.”

All of the participants did great and presented ideas they focused on for five weeks, he said. The presentations included business plans, long and short range personal goals, qualifications they possess to make the businesses successful now – and a social responsibility, or "give-back," component.

It was also a time to dream, learn business concepts and acquire skills such as being on time and operating Microsoft Office, PowerPoint and other software. “Not everybody wants to be an entrepreneur,” said Vince McCaskill, an expo judge and director of Sunshine’s community technology center. “But I think the main thing they all gain is that to be a good entrepreneur, you need to be a good employee. Those are the cross set of skills we’re trying to build in our youth.”

Ashley Jones shows off her concept, which combines food and fun.

Richard Muhammad

Maurice Moore, a 17-year-old, presented Class X-Muscle, which was his concept for a business that specializes in car art. “It seems like this is a growing business because everywhere I go, I see people with their names or favorite characters on their cars,” said Moore. “It felt good because I got to put my love of cars and art together.”

The competition involved two rounds of idea pitches before two sets of judges. Four winners in the first round went on to repeat their presentations for a second group of judges.

Barbara Brown, whose sharply dressed daughter Cassandra Williams won honorable mention in the competition’s first round for her catering business, looked forward to seeing the presentations become reality. What made her proud? “To see her in action and actually presenting her plan made me proud as a parent and educator,” said Brown. “To see and hear our children do something positive and to speak positively unlike we’re portrayed in the news most times.”

Youth had to include short- and long-term goals in their PowerPoint presentations.

Richard Muhammad

Chotsani Baylis watched daughter Ashley Jones present her Entre Tainment restaurant concept. The 10th grader envisioned a place to play, socialize and eat. Her competition is Dave & Busters, which provides food and arcade games. Baylis was proud of her daughter, who received an award for perfect attendance, came in during her day off, and arrived early to complete her PowerPoint.

“They all worked real hard,” Baylis said. She was impressed by the youths’ willingness to speak before the judges and audience – something she would have been nervous doing.

Students self-select for the entrepreneurship program and pass interviews to join, said Keri Teplitzky, NFTE program director. Eighteen youth were interns at Sunshine Gospel Ministries. Students in 40 city high schools participate in the NFTE program, which has served over 9,000 Chicago youngsters since 2003.

Joel Hamernick, executive director of Sunshine Gospel Ministries, offered to find mentors for youth ready to pursue their business dreams. Referrals may come from word of mouth or from teachers, counselors or others who know about the program, which is advertised in schools, or in Sunshine Gospel Ministries’ case, through its other programs.

Richard Muhammad

“Our biggest goal is that students have to create a business idea based on the skills and resources they have today so that they can do something even part time or after school,” said Teplitzky. “They can use their passion and their skills and their resources that they have and start making a business.”

In the spring, the youth will come back and build on their presentations, adding financial information and sales forecasting. There will be another competition to win a slot representing Sunshine Gospel Ministries in a May citywide competition.

Joel Harmernick, executive director of Sunshine Gospel Ministries and one of the judges for the four finalists, promised to find mentors if any youth wanted to pursue their business ideas.

It was exciting to see teens who see themselves “as people who will produce things much bigger than who they are,” he said. “The goal of our community technology center is access, training and entrepreneurialism, and this is a piece in the entrepreneurialism side."