Auburn Gresham for Its Quality-Of-Life Plan
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Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation | LISC Chicago New Communities Network QUALITY-OF-LIFE PLAN 2016 AUBURN GRESHAM: YOUR VOICE MATTERS STEERING COMMITTEE TASK FORCE Lashandra Eison Gene Linton James L. Pruitt BRAVE YOUTH MEMBERS DeAndre Estes Edward E. Lomax, Jr. Lisa Ramsey LEADERS TASK Cynthia Boyd, University of Illinois at Chicago Pamela Aldridge Wendy Evans Juanita Love Bobbie Rawls FORCE Diane Faust Anthony Lovelace Albert Reece Howard Brookins, 21st Ward Alderman Byam Alexander Kiera Avant Jason Feldman Martha Lowry Ruby Reed Rasheed Ansar Trevon Bosley Revin Fellows Mariah Mack Alicia Roberts Ronald Browne, North Beverly Civic Association Kiera Avant Timothy Boyd Shirley Fleming Alene Mason Felicia Roberts Jeff Baker Lashandra Eison Rodney Blissett, 6th Police District Commander Glenda Franklin Walter Matthews Sheenita Robinson Arlecta Beard Dana Griffin Domini Gamble Melvinia Mayo Norma Sanders Jacqueline Collins, State Senator Kham Beard Asante Hamilton Narineh Gharashor Jasmine McCalpin Mark Sciacca Robert Beck Amani Johnson Derrick Curtis, 18th Ward Alderman Kwadjo Glenn Nigel McClain Janece Simmons Brenda Bell Jessica Jones Nicole Grant Sharron McCoy Seye Simpkins Monique Dockery, Principal, Westcott Elementary Ta Benz Orland Lewis Dana Griffin Marc McLeod Augusta Smith Dale Bledsoe Anthony Lovelace Asante Hamilton Kalyssa McMillian Lillie Smith Robert Lee, Illinois State University Pam Bosley Mariah Mack Shelia Harmon Jah Ranu Menab Myshawn Smith Trevon Bosley Nigel McClain Winston McGill, 6th Ward Office Cecelia Harris Thomas Moes Stan Smith Leroy Bowers Camille Montgomery John Harris Camille Montgomery Toi Robertson-Smith David Moore, 17th Ward Alderman Cynthia Boyd Christopher Timothy Boyd Barbara Hart Christopher Wayne Smith Montgomery Montgomery Deborah Moore, Neighborhood Housing Services Pat Brakey Kimberly Henderson Ronald Spencer Amitri Moore Amitri Moore Alberta Brooks Michael Holmes Jlyah Springfield Kavonte Nalls Stanley Moore, Cook County Commissioner Cassandra Moorer Cheryl Brown Megan Hougard Debra Stanford Roushan Parham Larry Moorer Ronald Browne Monica Hughes Dawn Stockmo Myshawn Smith Carlos Nelson, Greater Auburn-Gresham Levern Murphy Shirley Bryant Christa Hunt Betty Swanson Jlyah Springfield Development Corporation Kavonte Nalls Dale M. Cain Tyeise Huntley Beverly Taylor- Raheem Tyler Bobby Nelson Williams Michael Pfleger,St. Sabina Church Iona Calhoun Amani Johnson Carlos Nelson Nakia Terry Dangelo Carter Cheryl Johnson Autry Phillips, Target Development Tanya Nelson Debra Thompson Julius Christian Dan Johnson Hubert Newkirk R. Ken Turner Becky Clark Dominique Johnson Lisa Ramsey, Employment Resource Center Amanda Norman Raheem Tyler Linda Clarke Donald Johnson Francine Johnson Randolph Dolphin Jaz Walker John Roberson, 17th Ward Office Betty Clayton Norris Lamar Johnson Barbara J. Robin Cline Tim Oates Washington Roderick Sawyer, 6th Ward Alderman Linda Johnson Ricky Collins Jennifer O'Malley Sally Wells Derrick Jones Janece Simmons, Neighborhood Housing Services Carol Collum Roushan Parham Nicole Wheatly Jessica Jones Felicia Cooksey Michelle Patterson Dereck White Tenisha Jones Ernest Spradley, 6th Police District Sergeant Aurora Cruz Willard Payton Johnny Wilborn John Kennedy Cassandra Davis Kirsten Peachey Dye Williams Chaquita Starks, 18th Ward Office Radie Kilpatrick Roland Davis Steve Perkins Wendy Young Alex Landberg Vernon Wiltz, 18th Ward Office Lester Dishman Babette Peyton Robert Lee Monique Dockery Autry Phillips Cynthia Levy Mirlene Dossous Isreal Pilerson Orlando Lewis James Drake, Sr. Coretta Pruitt TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 2 Our Community: 8 Welcome to Auburn Gresham Our Vision 10 Issue Areas Business, Economic Development 12 and Jobs Workplan of Strategies and Projects 18 Education and Youth Development 20 Workplan of Strategies and Projects 28 Health and Wellness 30 Workplan of Strategies and Projects 36 Housing 38 Workplan of Strategies and Projects 44 Safety, Security and Faith-Based 46 Institutions Workplan of Strategies and Projects 50 Seniors 52 Workplan of Strategies and Projects 56 The Planning Process 58 Data Sources & References 61 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY We are Auburn Gresham, a predominantly African-American We have challenges to overcome, but the energy of the community continues to create community, rich with history, culture and aspirations. We will achieve momentum towards the positive. the hopes and dreams of our community and support our families, This Quality-of-Life Plan is based on creating strategies responsive to resident needs and our youth and our elderly residents in their efforts to live high quality, desires for the community, by the community. richly-fulfilled lives. We will provide the community with necessary It builds on our first community-led Quality-of-Life Plan, published through the LISC Chicago New healthcare, housing, educational opportunities, business development Communities Program in 2005, both looking ahead resources, public safety support and other necessities of life to create further and bringing in new partners. More than 1,000 participants engaged in workshops, open a holistic and vibrant community. houses, task force groups and focused interviews during the eight month planning process. Community members gathered at the project We will work to address community weaknesses noted for our historic bungalow belt and our kick-off to determine the priority issue areas to and to overcome negative perceptions of our brick two-flats, the bustling corridors of 79th be investigated. Residents then self-selected community. This Quality-of-Life Plan called, "Your Street and 87th Street, and the network of strong into task force groups – business, economic Voice Matters," gives the community a platform to community based organizations and faith based development and jobs; education and youth move forward and shape decision making in our institutions. Less commonly known are the serene development; health and wellness; housing; safety, community. We will become a community where and picturesque lagoons of Auburn Park along security and faith-based institutions; and senior existing and future residents thrive. Winneconna Parkway and our strong group of services. This comprehensive neighborhood seniors that work hard to keep the community Auburn Gresham is located on Chicago’s south plan uncovered our community’s vision and clean and safe. These assets speak to our side and has a shared history with the neighboring goals, culminating in a set of strategies, ideas community’s commitment to a high quality of communities of Washington Heights, Chatham and programs that will define the future of life. We are a hard-working community dedicated and West Chatham, Greater Grand Crossing and Auburn Gresham. to improving our schools, housing and business Englewood, making up the heart of the city’s south environment while celebrating block clubs and side African-American community. We are most other resident initiatives. 2 | Auburn Gresham Quality-of-Life Plan Business, Economic Development and Jobs: Businesses in Auburn Gresham are committed to serving our community and each other. Additional resources and education will ensure growth of the local business community and will encourage new business development. In addition, our residents will be able to receive the training they need to secure living-wage employment. We will: • Strengthen relationships with business owners and cultivate entrepreneurs from the community • Create an attraction and retention strategy for desirable businesses in the community • Create services that address critical issues important to vulnerable populations including: returning citizens, veterans, students who leave high school before graduation, youth, wards of the state and grandparents raising grandkids • Enhance existing commercial corridors and Auburn Gresham has demand for additional business activity along existing commercial corridors, define community gateways through catalytic with more than $525 million in untapped purchasing power to support it – but we must also work with projects like a healthy living hub, connected to vulnerable populations to find viable work. the broader market Executive Summary | 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Education and Youth Development: The topic • Expand and maintain the innovative community Housing: We will provide adequate housing of education created very passionate dialogue school model throughout our schools that for our residents through both new construction amongst a large group of residents, stakeholders, supports social-emotional development and and rehabilitation of existing structures. We school administrators and community based encourages youth and family engagement in a respect the history of our historic buildings and practitioners. The common theme that repeatedly safe and nurturing learning environment will create opportunities for greater levels of surfaced is that the community should be a homeownership. We will promote the housing place for lifelong learners, from early childhood stock of our community and provide focused Health and Wellness: Our community is focused through high school, college, and continuing to support to renters. on becoming spiritually, mentally, emotionally adult education for returning citizens, seniors and physically healthy through increased access We will: or other adults. Our youth organized their own to nutritious foods, healthcare and rehabilitative • Increase the safety and security of our residential conversations