New Communities Program GETTING IT DONE: NEW TOOLS FOR COMMUNITIES SUMMARY OF PROCEEDINGS

AT LISC/CHICAGO’S NEW COMMUNITIES PROGRAM CONFERENCE ON COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MARCH 26-27, 2008 CHICAGO, ILLINOIS “ The goal isn’t all that mysterious. What oftentimes is mysterious is how we get there … and stay there. That’s the purpose of our two days together, to find out from each other how we’re getting where we want to go.”

ANDREW J. MOONEY, executive director, LISC/Chicago

2 GETTING IT DONE AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER

This meeting was about the “how” of What’s so new about NCP? community development. For one thing, its core approach of The “why” was never an issue among neighborhood-led, comprehensive the neighborhood leaders and community development has never development professionals, foundation been attempted on so large a scale, executives and corporate funders who across so many diverse neighborhoods, gathered March 26-27, 2008 at the with so deep a variety of governmental, UIC Forum of the University of Illinois philanthropic and political support. at Chicago. “Grassroots” and “comprehensive” are not new ideas in the community They know all too well the stakes have development lexicon (a similar approach never been higher for America’s urban helped redevelop New York’s South neighborhoods. There is a new urgency, Bronx in the 1980s), but the what with “left behind” public schools empowerment of local groups to work and failed federal immigration policies, simultaneously on all aspects of a faltering national economy and, most neighborhood health — from schools to immediately, an epidemic of home shopping, from cultural arts to public foreclosures. safety — is only now being expansively tested and evaluated for potential use And so they came, 900 strong, from across urban America. dozens of Chicago neighborhoods and more than 50 cities across the nation, Folks came also to contribute their own seeking fresh approaches to familiar yet insights about what works and what vexing problems. They came, in doesn’t in places such as Duluth and particular, to learn about the new tools San Diego, Miami and Providence. being developed in the 16 Chicago Because while every city has its own neighborhoods of the New Communities context, the how-tos of community Program (NCP). Now in its sixth year, renewal — planning, leadership, NCP is coordinated by the Chicago communications, measurement — are office of the Local Initiatives Support universal. And fascinating, too, judging Corporation (LISC) and by non-profit by the high energy level sustained “lead agencies” in each neighborhood. across 17 hours of general sessions, Principal funding is by The John D. and workshops, roundtable discussions, bus Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation with tours … even “nightlife” forays to supplemental investments by more than special neighborhood places. 20 other sources. What follows are highlights and sidelights from “Getting It Done.”

3 GETTING IT STARTED PRACTITIONERS FROM NEAR AND FAR

The hallways of the UIC Forum were “ This is the first national gathering packed solid by 11 a.m. as the of comprehensive community conference opened with a “virtual tour” development professionals!” of the NCP neighborhoods. Each of the lead agencies had prepared their tables JESUS “CHUY” GARCIA, president to catch the attention of visitors, with of the Little Village Community Development everything from dioramas and pretend Corporation community gardens to a customized Monopoly board, balloons and hanging signs. But the real action was in the conversations as hundreds of “ We’ve got a lot of people here participants moved from table to table today … more than 900 to learn what others were doing and to registered from 56 cities across exchange business cards. The tables the country and at least 23 continued as a major attraction Chicago neighborhoods.” throughout the conference. But first, it

was time for the opening luncheon. ANGELA HURLOCK, executive director of Claretian Associates, NCP lead in the South Chicago neighborhood

ROLL CALL

NCP NEIGHBORHOODS

Auburn Gresham Little Village South Chicago Chicago Southwest Logan Square Washington Park East Garfield Park North Lawndale West Haven Englewood Pilsen Woodlawn Humboldt Park Quad Communities

4 “ Whether you’re from South “ The NCP process begins here. It Chicago or South Rhode Island, steps into the world as it is, with a you are all part of a new and vision of how it should or could exciting movement in our country be … How could a relatively to re-build our neighborhoods, to unknown Muslim man from New re-build our cities and, in the York come to Chicago’s long-run, to re-build our nation.” Southwest Side and help start a health clinic at 63rd and ANDREW MOONEY, executive director of LISC/Chicago and conference host California? There are many reasons, but it is the NCP process that made the connections, provided the resources, and now, “ This (NCP) is our best hope for lets an entity like ours become a economic and cultural partner in our community’s sustainability … to provide the redevelopment.” resources necessary to create and sustain communities of RAMI NASHASHIBI, executive director of the Inner-city Muslim Action Network (IMAN) choice. This is a dream no longer and founder of an NCP-backed community deferred. … Granted there is still health clinic a great deal of work to be done. The 2000 Census found that Woodlawn remains over 90 “ Most of our (LISC) cities percent African-American with a represented here are currently median family income of just implementing a strategic $21,000 … Yet we have now the approach to comprehensive tools to make Woodlawn a community development. It’s an community of choice. Can we do approach that we at national LISC this? Yes we can.” call ‘sustainable communities’ BISHOP ARTHUR BRAZIER, chair of NCP/ and it is based on Chicago’s Woodlawn, pastor of the Apostolic Church of New Communities model.” God and a 50-year veteran of community development work MICHAEL RUBINGER, president, national LISC

CITIES IN ATTENDANCE

St. Paul, Detroit, New York, Cincinnati, Bloomington (IL), Columbus, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Aurora (IL), Huntington (IN), Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Covington (KY), Washington (D.C.), Joliet (IL), Providence, Woonsocket, Minneapolis, Houston, West Palm Beach, San Diego, Brooklyn, Kalamazoo, Waukegan (IL), Des Moines, Richmond, Florence (KY), Vincennes (IN), San Francisco, Flint, Evanston (IL), Tamaqua (PA), Atlanta, Crown Point (IN), Normal (IL), Miami, Duluth, Rio Rancho (NM), Rockford (IL), Seattle, Batavia (OH), Oak Lawn (IL), Newark, Boston, Albuquerque (NM), Hartford, Pittsburgh, Wheaton (IL), Grand Rapids, Spokane, Little Canada (MN), Hazel Crest (IL), Uniontown (PA), Bethesda (MD)

5 KEYNOTE: lot. We know that energy must A MOMENT FULL OF PROMISE come from neighborhoods, not from Washington; that strong Jonathan Fanton is no stranger to community organizations are the the problems and complexities of critical drivers of change; and cities. A Yale-educated professor of that both public and private American history, he once led investment are necessary. institutional planning at the University We know that success requires of Chicago and later, for 17 years, work across all the issues in a served as president of the New School community — housing, health, of Social Research in New York City. jobs, public safety and all the rest. In 1999 he was named president of The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur “ Most of all, we have learned that Foundation, which soon thereafter neighborhoods, once described stepped up as the principal funder of as ‘blighted,’ are sources of NCP, committing more than $50 million untapped economic and human to the NCP neighborhoods over potential, ready to respond to 10 years. real opportunity. Together we can provide that opportunity … we can together take advantage of “ We meet at a moment in history this promising moment and help full of promise. I think we are on realize this nation’s highest the cusp of another era of aspirations of a just and humane domestic reform … A younger, society where everyone has an less cynical, more politically opportunity for a secure and engaged and optimistic decent life.” generation is forming. JONATHAN FANTON “ And I believe we are ready to move. Over the years and through NCP we have learned a

6 WORKSHOPS NEW TOOLS FOR COMMUNITIES

Much of the heavy lifting at this conference was done Wednesday afternoon at a battery of eight how-to workshops, all repeated so attendees could participate in at least two. Each workshop examined a community development “tool” used by NCP practitioners. Participants also received a 44-page “Toolkit” explaining each community-building device, along with real-life examples of how they are used.

Susana Vasquez, LISC/Chicago’s director of the New Communities Program, explained that neither the tools nor the communities of NCP are all that new.

“ These tools aren’t really new … “ For LISC/Chicago, this means What is new is how we got here. understanding the neighborhood LISC/Chicago’s decision in 1997 as a whole system. We try to to change the way it was doing build deep relationships, to be things when it became clear a responsive to local plans, to be bricks-and-mortar approach respectful of local leadership. … wasn’t enough. The commitment We value that $15,000 grant to by the MacArthur Foundation in launch a local basketball league 2002 to work through LISC to as much as the $1.5 million loan support 16 neighborhoods over to leverage a major commercial 10 years to create community development. change. And the willingness of “ As for our lead agencies, they’ve our 14 lead agencies and their learned to move their own partners to experiment with us on mission as well as a collective this approach that we now call vision. They’ve learned to be local NCP. intermediaries, reaching out to “ What is new, also, is that after friend and foe alike to build a big 11 years of learning while doing, tent, organize the resources, we are able to hold this connect the dots and get things conference. There are no outside done. And we’re seeing a lot of experts here! Every panel, every things get done!” workshop, every forum is led by SUSANA VASQUEZ Chicago’s very own cutting-edge leaders in comprehensive development.

7 WORKSHOP: ENGAGEMENT Organizing for Success

Premise: The work of building community — of achieving lasting personal commitments to neighborhood action — begins with old-fashioned organizing, sophisticated relationship-building and a diverse, big-tent approach.

KEY TAKE-AWAY: Because they had connected with PATIENT LISTENING MAY BE THE leaders who had strong networks, more MOST POWERFUL TOOL IN ANY people came than the room could hold. ORGANIZER’S TOOLKIT. Instead of telling people what the lead organizations thought the responses Panelist David McDowell of the showed, they asked attendees what Southwest Organizing Project they thought the findings meant, and a explained how Greater Southwest lively discussion ensued. This began its quality-of-life planning preparation brought an engaged and process by identifying 100 community energized group of residents to the leaders — people who had followers subsequent kickoff of the quality-of-life and/or systemic influence — and then planning process. interviewing them at their homes or offices about strengths, weaknesses, Explaining how Greater Southwest opportunities and threats they saw in used planning not so much to draw up the neighborhood. They then analyzed its plan as to draw in leaders and and grouped the responses and invited potential leaders from all over the the leaders to an event to discuss the neighborhood: findings. “ Never in this process did we tell people we were doing a planning process.”

DAVID MCDOWELL

8 KEY TAKE-AWAY: THE BEST PROGRAMS DEVELOP LEADERS AS WELL AS DELIVER SERVICES.

Susan Yanun and Shirley Reyes of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association explained that while their Parent Mentors program might look like it’s solely about involving parents in their children’s schools, leadership development is at its core. It attracts women (and some men) who may never have thought of themselves as leaders, encourages them to set goals for themselves and trains and supports them to achieve those goals. Many Parent Mentors go on to support LSNA’s organizing campaigns in all issue areas, not only in education.

“ In the beginning, I was just a housewife lady. I started to get depressed. This program [Parent Mentors] changed my life. Before … I couldn’t talk up here like this. Now I’m nervous, but actually I can talk… Most of the parents were in my same shoes. … It’s like a door opened for us.”

SHIRLEY REYES, a coordinator of Parent Mentors and Literacy Ambassadors for LSNA

“ It’s really about developing leaders … grassroots leaders, maybe people who never thought of themselves as leaders.”

SUSAN ADLER YANUN, NCP director at LSNA

9 WORKSHOP: DEAL MAKING Partnering for Results

Premise: No one player has the money or know-how to deliver all a community needs. But by reaching out and forming strategic partnerships, nothing is impossible. Deal-making begins with coalitions forged among members who bring knowledge and power to the task … and don’t take “no” for an answer.

Partnerships can range from formal KEY TAKE-AWAY: combinations that undertake large IN SEEKING GRANT MONEY, THINK commercial ventures to looser, LONG TERM ABOUT BUILDING YOUR community-minded coalitions out CAPACITY AND STRENGTHENING to provide a needed social service. YOUR ABILITY TO STRIKE FURTHER Two featured examples are Quad DEALS DOWN THE ROAD. Communities Development Corporation’s courtship and closing Explaining why his department was of a deal with Ohio-based Mahogany happy to pass along a 5-year, Ventures to build a residential-over- $1 million Weed & Seed grant to retail complex at 47th and Cottage Teamwork Englewood to help ex- Grove Avenue; and Teamwork offenders find jobs and provide Englewood’s successful effort to mentors to at-risk youth: win a federal “Weed & Seed” grant to help both at-risk youth and adult “ [My police colleagues] were all ex-offenders. very happy for us not to get this [federal Department of Justice] money (which went to a community partner instead). … There’s probably no better work we can do than to help [CDCs] bring resources into their communities.”

LARRY SACHS, Chicago police grants writer

10 KEY TAKE-AWAY: Result: A 136-unit condo-over retail BEFORE APPROACHING A project to anchor redevelopment of DEVELOPER WITH A PROPOSAL, Cottage Grove Avenue. DO YOUR HOMEWORK — BRING MARKET DATA, A PLAN FOR LAND Explaining a preference for developments ASSEMBLY AND CREDIBLE where two major streets intersect: PARTNERSHIPS INCLUDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ELECTED “ We developers like the concept OFFICIALS AND INTERESTED of main-on-main.” FUNDERS. FRANK PETRUZIELLO, managing partner, Commenting on how a delegation Mahogany Ventures from Quad Communities Development Corporation (QCDC) got their attention at the International Conference of Shopping Centers in Las Vegas: Explaining that the Mahogany Venture project and others aren’t about personal or organizational heroics, but “ They didn’t have an appointment. promises kept to community planners: They bum-rushed us, and they did it successfully. What got them “ This is a direct mandate from in the door is that they were deal- 18 months of meetings. It’s not ready. They came in with the about me. It’s not about the information.” organization. It’s about what we ADAM TROY, managing partner, Mahogany have to deliver back to the Ventures community.”

BERNITA JOHNSON-GABRIEL, QCDC executive director

11 WORKSHOP: COMMUNICATING Telling Your Story Far and Wide

Premise: Overly-stretched community organizations often feel communications is a luxury item. It isn’t. Communications can help attract members, volunteers and funders while expanding your pool of potential board members and political supporters. It can inspire more people to get involved, help change the image of a neighborhood, propel projects to completion and increase the mileage you get out of work that is already being done.

Moderator Thom Clark of the KEY TAKE-AWAY: Community Media Workshop led a TELLING YOUR STORY ISN’T AN question-and-answer session with ORGANIZATIONAL ADD-ON. NCP organizers Ernest Sanders (Auburn Gresham) and Yvette Kelly Building your own communication skills (Quad Communities), along with or hiring a professional can yield big Patrick Barry, head of the NCP dividends. New tools such as websites, communications team. e-newsletters, blogs and e-mail blasts make communication a lot less expensive yet still effective. Digital pictures and slide shows, even YouTube videos, are being put to use by community groups. But old-school tools, like working with reporters and editors, distributing flyers and newsletters and using word-of-mouth, are still good ways to get your word out. Use them all.

12 KEY TAKE-AWAY: DON’T LIKE THE NEWS COVERAGE OF YOUR COMMUNITY? CHANGE IT!

So you hated the headline, the pictures and the misrepresentation of your neighborhood? Don’t just gripe about it. Decide what the right story is and invite reporters and editors to tell the story as you see it. Help the media pros get it right by offering a neighborhood tour or interviews with parents, principals, business owners, volunteers and leaders who can offer a true picture of what your ’hood is like.

“ You can market your community the way you want your community marketed … We market what we believe to be our gems in the community … to show a different side of who we are and what we do.”

YVETTE KELLY, NCP organizer for Quad Communities Development Corporation

KEY TAKE-AWAY: DON’T WAIT FOR OTHERS TO TELL YOUR STORY TOMORROW WHEN YOU CAN TELL IT TODAY!

You don’t have to wait for some downtown editor to decide that you have a story worth telling. Capture your own events: take your own photos, write your own stories. Collect the hopes, dreams and struggles of the journey your neighborhood has embarked upon. Then share that story using digital tools that allow you to go directly to people without any filters or gatekeepers.

“ We use every tool we can, from web sites and e-mail to flyers and signs on the sides of CTA buses.”

ERNEST SANDERS, NCP organizer for Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corp.

13 WORKSHOP: LEVERAGING Resources to Build Communities

Premise: The idea is to be a catalyst, not a banker. The method is to invest early in good ideas — ideas that attract partners and investors so the effort grows to meaningful scale.

KEY TAKE-AWAY: KEY TAKE-AWAY: LEVERAGING RESOURCES MEANS FUNDERS HAVE MORE TO MORE THAN JUST MONEY. CONTRIBUTE THAN MONEY.

It’s equally important to leverage the They can help by making connections, commitment of a small group of people finding and using data, and reaching into an organizing strategy and, when the media. They can also put you in needed, a negotiating tool, as when touch with other grantees as potential Earnest Gates helped organize his partners. West Side community to fight the proposed Bears stadium and to win On the kind of leveraging funders like protections for the community when to see most: the United Center stadium was built. “ We really, really like it when Responding to a question about you collaborate with other how South Side communities should organizations we fund.” pursue jobs and development plans if Chicago wins its bid to host the 2016 MARIA HIBBS, executive director, Olympic Games: Partnership for New Communities

“ Get it, enforceable, in writing, on the front end. Otherwise, you’re dead in the water.”

EARNEST GATES, executive director, Near West Side Community Development Corp.

14 Relating the story of a bank that made loans to otherwise ineligible borrowers after a foundation agreed to guarantee them:

“ Find a friendly bank. Hundreds of people avoided payday loans.”

Moderator MARY LARAIA, formerly a vice-president at LaSalle Bank, now with the Aspen Institute

KEY TAKE-AWAY: QUALITY INFORMATION AND DATA CAN BE LEVERAGED INTO ACTION.

Describing how a Sinai Urban Health Institute study about asthma and other diseases in Humboldt Park led to an NCP seed grant for a Community of Wellness program:

“ Information is power. Use data and the community to leverage interest, involvement and money … We leveraged data into a community coalition around health.”

MIGUEL PALACIO, associate executive director of Association House of Chicago

The small start has leveraged $1.5 million in health-related projects.

15 WORKSHOP: PLANNING Coming Together to Make Something Happen

Premise: NCP neighborhoods began by writing a plan. Each delegation of citizen-planners was supported by a professional planner, a writer-scribe, graphic designers and other technical support worth over $100,000. But much more was produced than words on paper. The act of planning drew people together — even former adversaries — and focused them on what’s wrong and what needs to be done.

KEY TAKE-AWAY: On why community groups in Pilsen PLANNING BUILDS NEIGHBORHOOD stopped fighting … and started CONSENSUS BY HELPING planning with each other: STAKEHOLDERS FIND COMMON GROUND AROUND A VISION, “ We had two options: We could STRATEGIES AND PROJECTS. plan for ourselves, or we could have others plan for us. We took Commenting on the self-organizing option ‘A.’ … Our biggest asset nature of the community planning process: in this whole thing is not the money. It’s the relationships. It’s “ The first issues meeting, OK if I’m not getting the credit, everybody vents. The second as long as it’s getting done.”

issues meeting, everybody ÁLVARO OBREGÓN, NCP director for constructively organizes ideas.” The Resurrection Project

Moderator LES POLLOCK, principal planner, Camiros Ltd.

16 KEY TAKE-AWAY: KEY TAKE-AWAY: APPEAL TO PEOPLE’S SELF- “PLANNING WHILE DOING” MAKES IT INTEREST TO GET THEM INVOLVED. MORE REAL AND CREATES UPFRONT SATISFACTIONS. On the psychology of recruiting citizen- planners who have other things to do. On the galvanizing role of “early action More than 100 residents and local projects”: leaders put their names on the 38-page South Chicago plan: “ Try to identify a small catalyst project to help kick-start “ Understanding what the self- implementation.” interest is will help you to market. If I’m a single mom, why come MIKE TOMAS, NCP director at the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance to a 6 p.m. meeting if I have to feed my kids, help them do their homework, and get them to bed?”

ANGELA HURLOCK, executive director of Claretian Associates

17 WORKSHOP: LEADING Taking Your Organization to the Next Level

Premise: Good management and dynamic leadership don’t just happen. They have to be nurtured, cultivated and rewarded. Effective organizations are mission-driven, looking for results on the street … not another year of rote operation and internal expansion.

KEY TAKE-AWAY: “ When I come to the office every GOOD LEADERS HAVE PASSION. day, it is not a job. It is not work THEY SEEM TO HAVE A LOVE AFFAIR for me at all. This is a part of my WITH THEIR ORGANIZATIONS AND life.” THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THUS CAN ENDURE THE HIGHS AND CARLOS NELSON, executive director, LOWS. Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corp.

“ I love my neighborhood and never wanted to do anything KEY TAKE-AWAY: else. It’s worth getting up and SUCCESS DEPENDS ON THE working hard every day. My wife ABILITY TO HIRE, DEVELOP AND once told me she thought that PROMOTE TALENTED PEOPLE. our neighborhood was my IT’S ABOUT BENCH STRENGTH, mistress.” TOP TO BOTTOM.

JIM CAPRARO, executive director, Greater To senior staff whenever they head off Southwest Development Corporation to a meeting that could be a learning experience for others:

“ Take someone with you.”

JIM CAPRARO

18 KEY TAKE-AWAY: “ It’s not just your organization LEADERS UNDERSTAND THE NEED serving as lead agency. It’s really FOR INTENTIONAL ACTION AND about recognizing opportunities GOOD PLANNING, AND THAT ALL for partnerships with others, PARTS OF THE ORGANIZATION MUST WORK WELL. CONSTANT bringing other people to the TROUBLE-SHOOTING AND A table, recognizing what your WILLINGNESS TO CHANGE — AND limitations are and stepping aside TAKE RISKS — ALSO HELPS. A in order to let another group grow LEADER MOBILIZES OTHERS AND and blossom because it SUPPORTS TEAM MEMBERS. strengthens the community as a whole.” “ Accountability is extremely important.” KARIN NORINGTON-REAVES, chief of staff for Ald. Willie Cochran (20th), whose office JOY ARUGUETE, executive director, helps anchor Washington Park NCP Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation

19 WORKSHOP: PLAYING Building Community Spirit through Sports, Arts and Culture

Premise: Nothing builds community spirit like having fun together. A well-planned bit of fun can break down barriers … and put smiles on faces, whether it’s a summer basketball league or a recital for kids learning to play the violin.

Events like a basketball tournament KEY TAKE-AWAY: can serve larger purposes. “B-Ball on PLAY HAS THE POWER TO BUILD the Block,” a summer basketball BOTH INDIVIDUAL IDENTITY AND tournament in Little Village and North COMMUNITY SPIRIT. Lawndale, helped build relationships between youth from rival gang “ So instead of having these guys territories. The tournaments were out on the corner with their held on pre-selected, closed streets hoodies, they’re in their on Friday nights when violence tends basketball jerseys.” to spike.

CHRISTINE BRONSING, health projects coordinator, Little Village Community Development Corporation

20 KEY TAKE-AWAY: IT HELPS TO HAVE INSTRUCTORS AND COACHES WHO KNOW HOW TO KEEP IT POSITIVE.

“ Can you turn your bow this way? Very good. Not ‘You ain’t doing that right!’ ”

VANESSA MANAR, Metropolitan Area Group for Igniting Civilization, Inc. (MAGIC), which runs the String Instrument Program in Woodlawn

KEY TAKE-AWAY: SOMETIMES STARTING A PROGRAM REQUIRES FINDING AN ORGANIZATION WITH NEEDED EXPERTISE. TO LEAD ITS STRING INSTRUMENT PROGRAM IN WOODLAWN, MAGIC RECRUITED MUSIC INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTION.

“ Being open to communication can allow a lot of things to be accomplished with limited resources.”

KELLY SMITH, NCP organizer, Lawndale Christian Development Corporation

21 WORKSHOP: EVALUATING The Big “So What?”

Premise: How do we know if comprehensive community development is actually improving the quality of life in neighborhoods? There’s plenty of anecdotal evidence, but funders generally want numbers — of housing units built, jobs placements made, crime reduced.

NCP is mounting one of the most “ Measuring and evaluating what’s sophisticated measuring and evaluating working and what’s not is efforts ever attempted, led by New absolutely central to effective York-based consultant MDRC. Even so, community development practice. neighborhood causes and effects are very tricky to pin down. Evaluation generates insight; it leads to improvement; it creates

22 and strengthens influence; it She gave an example: makes obvious the path from intention to impact; it provides “ In Humboldt Park we had so the information that makes it many partners with so many possible to discuss, in concrete ideas that we had to have a terms, the value of effective system. So we developed, I think comprehensive community it was a seven-question proposal development.” that agencies were asked to respond to in 2-3 pages max. And SUSAN LLOYD, who helped launch NCP as a MacArthur Foundation program director and that actually became the first test now consults independently on evaluation of do you have a concept or do you have a project that’s ready to move forward? If you couldn’t put it down on paper, then it wasn’t KEY TAKE-AWAY: ready to go. Formalizing the MEASURING AND EVALUATING ARE NOT JUST AFTER-THE-FACT process helped us make sure we EXERCISES BUT REAL-TIME TOOLS had not just an eager staff TO GET BETTER HERE-AND-NOW person, but agency support. One RESULTS. of the questions asked how the project would leverage additional Dena Al Khatib, former NCP funds, and we asked for a manager at Bickerdike Redevelopment Corp., explained three ways she budget, so the staff person employed measuring and evaluating usually had to run things up the techniques: 1) external data was used chain of command a little more to set priorities for Humboldt Park’s formally.” quality-of-life plan and to leverage resources; 2) a measurement tool was implemented to prioritize which projects received funding; and 3) communications KEY TAKE-AWAY: tools were used to publicize progress COMMUNITY-BASED JOURNALISM externally and to help track gains CAN BE AN ENGAGING WAY TO internally. Said Khatib: DOCUMENT WHAT’S BEING ACCOMPLISHED, BUT THERE’S A “ These are not what you would TENDENCY TO REPORT ONLY THE traditionally think of as evaluation GOOD NEWS. tools… but by putting an emphasis on effective program “ Using journalism to document management and administration, and evaluate has benefits and you get the added benefit of flaws. The main benefit is that we creating systems that lead to scribes can tell stories of better evaluation.” neighborhood renewal in ways that are more evocative, more interesting, more understandable than any annual report to grant- makers … The main drawback

23 is that we only report the good [MDRC’s evaluation] is a three- news. We don’t provide a part analysis: truly balanced picture of what’s 1. What is the nature, extent and going on.” pace of change on a range of JOHN MCCARRON, a senior NCP “scribe” indicators over time? and in-house program critic 2. How do these change trajectories compare across different types of NCP KEY TAKE-AWAY: OVERALL IMPACTS ON communities … and relative to NEIGHBORHOOD WELL-BEING non-NCP communities? ARE VERY DIFFICULT TO MEASURE BECAUSE SO MANY OTHER 3. What strength of evidence FORCES ARE AT WORK. exists that NCP strategies played a role in these “ The evaluation challenges are neighborhood change both in trying to understand a trajectories?” community change initiative, CRAIG HOWARD, formerly of MDRC, now given all the competing influences director of community and economic on communities, while trying to development for the MacArthur Foundation gauge a complex, multi- dimensional initiative that is NCP and to do so in 16 communities.

24 COMMUNITY HEROES BUILDING HOPE AND PEACE

Wednesday evening kicked off with the “ These people were just trying to rhythmic West African beat of “Hooked be a good mom, a good coach, a on Drums,” a LISC-supported activity good influence, a good principal, from Kennicott Park in the Quad even a good (non-profit) CEO. Communities, that drew attendees from their workshops to the main hall … and Just plain old good citizens, and a celebration of Community Heroes. somewhere along the line, they became our community heroes. “Hooked” gets kids going on Djembe- These 28 individuals and groups style traditional music, allowing them to are getting it done in their explore African heritage while communities every day. They toil sharpening their minds on a complex musical idiom. in their communities, their churches, their schools for low or Earnest Gates, executive director of no pay. These are the people who the Near West Side Community don’t say no when duty calls … Development Corp., talked about the They just keep on doing right qualities that led to the heroes being because it’s the right thing to selected by NCP lead agencies and do … For all you do, this night’s partners: for you.”

EARNEST GATES

25 ROLL CALL OF THE HEROES FROM HUMBOLDT PARK – • Miguel Palacio, Association House The heroes were introduced by of Chicago Gregory Parrish of State Farm • B ill Howard, with the West Humboldt Insurance, LISC/Chicago’s largest Park Family and Community corporate sponsor. Development Council

FROM THE AUBURN GRESHAM FROM THE LITTLE VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD – NEIGHBORHOOD – • Granville and Juanita Love, • Jorge Roque, YMCA Street business owners and active leaders Intervention program • D eborah Moore, Neighborhood • Maria Velazquez, Telpochcalli Housing Services Community Education Project

FROM CHICAGO SOUTHWEST – FROM LOGAN SQUARE – • D r. Wayne Lerner, Holy Cross • Mayra Casasola, President, Hospital Lorington Tenants Association • R afi Peterson, Miguel Arcos, • D avid Pino, Principal, McAuliffe and Kenneth Baldwin, the Elementary School CeaseFire Team

IN EAST GARFIELD PARK – IN NORTH LAWNDALE – • Clifton Cooper, East Garfield Park • Gerald and Lorean Earls, Community Coalition community activist and founders of • B renetta Howell Barrett, Slum Busters Pathfinders Prevention Education • Pat Herrod, Lawndale Christian Fund Health Center

FROM ENGLEWOOD – FROM THE PILSEN COMMUNITY – • O rrin Williams, with Growing Home • O scar Torres, leader in St. Ann’s and Center for Urban Transformation Parish • R ev. James Dukes, Liberation • Martha Monrroy, Principal, Cooper Christian Center Dual Language Academy

ALDERMANIC SALUTE

Ald. Edward Burke (14th) and in Chicago’s neighborhoods and Ald. Willie Cochran (20th) took recognize the strength and the stage to offer salutes to the humanity of neighborhood heroes. Community Heroes. “ They have shaped the character Ald. Burke said: and liberty of our nation, and built the honor of Chicago street- “ Long ago the storyteller Aesop by-street and house-by-house. said: ‘It is easy to be brave from a This is what energizes our safe distance.’ Tonight we honor neighborhoods. This is what those whose courage knows no creates communities of hope safe distance. We celebrate the and peace.” wide landscape of courage here

26 FROM QUAD COMMUNITIES – • Monica Haslip, founder of Little Black Pearl • T he CleanSlate Team

FROM SOUTH CHICAGO – • A l Reyes, La Causa Community Committee • N eil Bosanko, South Chicago Chamber of Commerce

IN WASHINGTON PARK – • D ella Mitchell, Brand New Beginnings • Clif f Kelley, radio host on WVON–AM

FROM WEST HAVEN – • Cr ystal Palmer, Henry Horner West Haven Local Advisory Council • K eith Jackson, leader in Chicago Area Project and other groups

FROM WOODLAWN – • N . Jeane Clark, leader of the 6100 South Rhodes Block Club • B ryan Echols, MAGIC

Ald. Cochran, a former NCP organizer “ WHEREAS These community heroes in Woodlawn, added his own tribute: have taken on the task of building their community and valiantly work to “ A kiss on the cheek. A pair of sustain, preserve and encourage the cufflinks. A bouquet of flowers. positive growth of their neighborhoods; now therefore What do they have in common? They make you feel good. A “ BE IT RESOLVED That we, the Mayor Community Hero Award is a kiss and members of the Chicago City on the cheek, a pair of cufflinks, Council … do hereby salute each a bouquet of flowers. … you aforementioned Community Hero and make us look better.” extend our heartfelt thanks for their service to their neighborhoods and He also read a resolution by the our city.” Chicago City Council recognizing the heroes. The resolution stated in part:

27 NCP NIGHTLIFE AN EVENING IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS

It’s not all about leading and planning PUERTO RICAN DINNER AND and leveraging. Sometimes it’s SALSA DANCING AT THE necessary to kick back and have some HUMBOLDT PARK BOATHOUSE fun … though there was a method to PAVILION Wednesday night’s merrymaking. Healthy neighborhoods must have Snug on a cold night within this 1907 safe, nurturing places — some call landmark overlooking the Jens Jensen- them “third places” outside of home designed park lagoon, some 40 and work —where families can enjoy conference attendees and Humboldt themselves and get to know other Park residents feasted on a traditional families. Puerto Rican dinner, including lechón (roast pork), arroz con gandules (rice “We added the nightlife component with pigeon peas), vegetables, salad because it’s fun, because it celebrates and pan de agua, a light, crusty bread. the diverse talents of our neighborhoods and the historical gems they hold,” Enrique Salgado, Jr., director of the explained Keri Blackwell, the LISC Division Street Business Development program officer who made the Association, taught the visitors how to arrangements. “And it gave our pronounce “Paseo Boricua.” It’s the conference guests a chance to nearby commercial stretch of Division network on a different, more relaxed, Street between Western and California and personal level.” avenues over-arched at each end by a giant steel Puerto Rican flag. Conference attendees “got it done” at these special “third” places: Dance instructor Miguel Torres took the crowd through basic cha-cha-cha and salsa before a live band got everyone going. Joel Dabu from the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Corporation and a colleague tore up the floor with classic footwork and spins, but local NCP stalwarts Miguel

28 Palacio of Association House and RECEPTION AND DOCENT-LED Joy Aruguete of Bickerdike also TOUR OF GARFIELD PARK showed fine technique. CONSERVATORY

What better escape on a chilly evening COMMUNITY CAFÉ — AN EVENING than the tropics-under-glass paradise OF ENTERTAINMENT AT created in 1907 by famed Chicago WOODLAWN’S GRAND parks designer Jens Jensen? BALLROOM The Conservatory has been restored by the Chicago Park District with much Perhaps nothing symbolizes this programmatic support from the Garfield South Side neighborhood’s comeback Park Conservatory Alliance, the NCP so much as this historic ballroom-over- lead agency for East Garfield Park. stores gem at 63rd Street and Cottage Grove Avenue. Developer Andy It was an evening of conversation Schcolnik invested well over $1 million and relaxation, of smooth jazz by a restoring the room’s Jazz Era (1923) local band and of buffet treats in ambiance, complete with Art Deco Horticulture Hall. A professional docent plasterwork, crystal chandeliers and a led small groups of attendees through 60-foot oak bar. back-lit rooms filled with lush ferns and soaring palms, in-floor brooks Nearly 100 conference attendees and rocky waterfalls. enjoyed a homegrown talent show of rap singers, break dancers and video- makers. The marquee attraction was Woodlawn’s own childrens’ string ensemble displaying what they had learned at the Saturday morning String Instrument Program at nearby Andrew Carnegie School.

29 DAY TWO GETTING INTO THE NITTY GRITTY

BREAKFAST PANELS, ROUNDTABLES AND NEIGHBORHOOD TOURS

Bright and early Thursday morning, conference attendees returned to the UIC Forum for working breakfasts. There were small-group sessions for philanthropic funders and for LISC staff, plus a larger, open session at which City of Chicago officials gave their perspective on community development.

Later the crowd split up among 12 roundtable discussions and five neighborhood tours, where participants could get down to the details on how work gets done and what issues need solving.

30 BREAKFAST PANELS

FUNDERS BREAKFAST that is so embedded in the neighborhoods … on a Foundation and corporate grant-makers neighborhood basis, when you huddled to discuss the opportunities and divide it (MacArthur grant dollars) challenges of funding comprehensive community development … as opposed by 16, it’s really not that much … to funding more traditional civic and This approach let’s a funder say cultural activities. ‘I don’t have to create something, it’s already established.’ Julia Stasch, vice-president for human and community development “ The beauty of the LISC approach at the MacArthur Foundation, led off is that it is neither top-down nor the discussion by explaining why the bottom-up.” foundation elected to partner with LISC/Chicago. JULIA STASCH

“ We saw this (NCP) as a way to

scale up MacArthur’s investment Alice Walker Duff, program executive in neighborhoods. for The Atlantic Philanthropies, said that NCP provided Atlantic with a stable, “ We sought a partnership with up-and-running platform from which to someone (LISC) whose business bring to Chicago its enrichment program it is to bring about change in for middle schools called Integrated neighborhoods … We saw it as a Services in Schools. Said Duff: way to create coalitions and collaboratives … However much “ We made the investment because money we have to invest is not as we were building on such a important as the leveraging that strong foundation.” can be accomplished by a LISC

31 The conversation then turned to our problem. Small programs can evaluation and the funders’ need to die from the weight of evaluation document success or failure. expectations.”

“ The issue becomes attribution — CLAIR CHANG, The Saint Paul Foundation how can we be sure changes in neighborhoods are attributable to “ School outcomes are an our investments? … We do have exception. They can be to come to grips with causal measured. People look at those relationships. We have to be able to decide where to live.” to say, ‘This happened because of that.’” JOE HONEYCUTT, Habitat for Humanity, Atlanta ALICE WALKER DUFF, The Atlantic Philanthropies Andrew Mooney, who co-hosted the breakfast with Julia Stasch, summed “ I don’t think measuring change is up the discussion with his perspective possible … just so long as things as LISC/Chicago’s executive director: are headed in the right direction … it can get crazy (trying to “ New tools are beginning to emerge measure results) and I think we for measuring what we do. One have to ease up on that.” goal common to all our local partners is the desire to create GEETA PRADHAN, program director, The Boston Foundation stable but diverse neighborhoods. We’re beginning to develop tools to measure that, such as an “ We partner with people who are income diversity index.” already doing the work. We hire ANDREW MOONEY, executive director of the evaluators and we make that LISC/Chicago and conference host

32 LISC BREAKFAST “ Once you have shown you can get something done, the funders Speaking to LISC staffers from around and others come to you.” the country, this panel outlined the NCP method and the delicate but decisive It hasn’t been all smooth sailing, touch that helps guide the work of Vasquez admitted. Four of NCP’s neighborhood agencies. The discussion original 14 lead agencies had to be was led by LISC’s NCP director reorganized or replaced outright. Susana Vasquez, program officer Sandra Womack, and Jim Capraro, “ We don’t give up on a a LISC advisory board member and executive director of the Greater neighborhood, but if the CDC Southwest Development Corp. lead agency isn’t working, you Capraro related that NCP was developed have to find another one.” because the old ways — centered on housing development — were no longer SUSANA VASQUEZ working. But moving to a more comprehensive approach doesn’t mean any one CDC needs to do it all. Womack, a 13-year LISC veteran, said the program officer’s role has changed “ You’ll never be good at everything. dramatically. If you are screwing up day care “ We used to spend the day in because you’re not very good at the office … now we spend the it, that’s a dangerous place to be. majority of our time out in the “ Being a lead agency doesn’t mean neighborhoods.” you are leading the race and SANDRA WOMACK everyone else is losing. It’s like being an orchestra conductor, and to do that you have to have willing musicians to play the music.”

JIM CAPRARO

Vasquez said a major shift in thinking at LISC was from viewing the CDC as client (in the past) to today’s thinking that the neighborhood is the client.

“ The lead agency job is not for everyone. They aren’t getting all the money, but (they) have to do all the work (not directly, but by recruiting partners and getting it done.)

33 PUBLIC OFFICIALS BREAKFAST “ Our mayor is Mr. Neighborhoods. He knows the city better than Not much happens in Chicago anybody. … He knows that what neighborhoods or downtown without happens in our neighborhoods the cooperation of City Hall and, most importantly, the mayor’s office. defines our city. … Andy Fortunately for NCP, Mayor Richard M. (Mooney) can call him at the drop Daley is a supporter, as are the officials of a dime.” who led this discussion: Joseph Lopez of the city’s “311” Help Center; CHRISTINE RAGUSO, mayor’s office Christine Raguso, the NCP liaison in the mayor’s office; and James Wilson, a senior city planner. They “ I did not have a lot of respect in were joined by Jamie Dircksen, the beginning for small manager of health services for the community development Chicago Public Schools, on a panel agencies. That was my fault. (It moderated by Raul Raymundo of turns out that) they make my job The Resurrection Project. so much easier.” Lopez stressed the necessity of finding JAMES WILSON, Chicago Department of allies within city government who can Planning and Development help you keep projects moving. For example, he is currently coordinating among the city’s departments of “ Does other development drive buildings, zoning and health to keep public funding, or does public the five Integrated Services in Schools (ISS) health clinic build-outs moving funding drive development?” forward on a short (six-month) timeline ROBIN TOEWE of the Illinois Facilities Fund to completion. Finding the right people will get projects done quickly. With ISS, having allies meant a last-minute Raguso responded: zoning snag (clinics weren’t allowed in schools) could be solved by having an “ Both. It depends on the alderman introduce legislation to make neighborhood, the funding source the clinics properly zoned. and what’s available. For Dircksen urged groups to “do your example, in Englewood, the homework” before you approach the public renovation of Kennedy school system. Come in with a clear, King College is beginning to spur realistic goal and vision, plus the steps to completion, and identified private projects. Development deliverables. Have partners and a looks like it’s going to come to funding plan in place. fruition because of the public development first. But in other “ There are a lot of people with neighborhoods that have a great ideas coming to us as if stronger base of private we’re a bank while we don’t have investment, private development enough money to buy books for could come first.” our kids.”

JAMIE DIRCKSEN, Chicago Public Schools

34 NEIGHBORHOOD TOURS TAKING IT TO THE STREET

After breakfast, conference attendees PILSEN: had the option of attending one of five JOBS AND MORE community-led neighborhood tours. Instituto del Progreso Latino showed how comprehensive bilingual LOGAN SQUARE: programming can encompass adult SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY education and immigration services, as well as financial counseling and Logan Square Neighborhood Association employment services at its Center for demonstrated how it built a nationally- Working Families. recognized program of parent and community involvement at school- based community learning centers. QUAD COMMUNITIES: REBIRTH OF COMMERCIAL CORRIDORS WEST HAVEN: SERVING THE FORMERLY The Cottage Grove Revitalization INCARCERATED Initiative combines student-created artworks from the Little Black Pearl St. Leonard’s Ministries explained how Art & Design Center, CleanSlate the formerly incarcerated are helped to beautification crews, city investments re-enter the community through training, and aggressive retail recruitment. supportive housing and attention to And it’s getting results. basic needs. Visitors toured the food- service training kitchen at the Michael Barlow Center. LITTLE VILLAGE: PARTNERSHIP IN ACTION

Illinois State University, State Farm Insurance and local public schools are working with Little Village Community Development Corp. and NCP to develop a dormitory for student teachers as well as a new community center and park.

35 THE ROUNDTABLES GETTING DOWN TO SPECIFICS

Thursday morning also offered a chance our problem. How do we deal to drill down to finer details with smaller with this as a neighborhood? groups. There were 12 subject-specific, one-hour roundtables, all held in one MIKE REARDON, Neighborhood Housing large hall, all repeated once, all led by a Services, Gage Park/Chicago Lawn facilitator and all informed by three “resource” Chicagoans familiar with the issue. The roundtable on the foreclosure “ We need to deal with the crisis drew the most participants. Here psychology of foreclosure. People is a sampling: didn’t do anything wrong. People have been victimized and should allow themselves to be helped.” THE FORECLOSURE CRISIS

SEANNE THOMAS, East Side Neighborhood “ We’re doing one case after another, Development Company, St. Paul we really are overwhelmed. We need a lot more counselors. This is not going to stop. I see it going “ Instead of foreclosure prevention on at least two more years.” we’re finding ourselves doing foreclosure planning. What PETRA VILLAZANA, housing counselor, happens when the sheriff comes Greater Southwest Development Corp. to your door to put your furniture in the street? Where do you go? “ The idea of saving homes What about the kids?”

becomes more and more our ART RIVERA, LISC/San Diego focus. We’ve known about this (predatory lending) for years. No one from outside the neighborhood is going to solve

36 IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION ON any employer who hires test- COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT takers ... We don’t do that at our school. We’ve learned that you “ Let’s shed some light on the have to make it fun for the positive contributions of teacher so they’ll make it fun for immigrants. There’s this notion the students.” immigrants are a social cost or drag. It’s not true.” PAUL O’TOOLE, principal, Marquette Elementary School, Chicago RAUL RAYMUNDO, executive director, The Resurrection Project “ The ISS model is very comprehensive. The parents “ Immigrants have the lowest don’t do anything without the foreclosure rates, especially on teacher. The teachers don’t do ITIN [Individual Tax Identification anything without the principal.” Number] mortgages.” ERNEST SANDERS, NCP organizer, EMILIO CARRASQUILLO, Neighborhood Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corp., Housing Services, Back-of-the-Yards on the Integrated Services in Schools program newly announced by LISC, Chicago Public Schools and The Atlantic Philanthropies “ We also have to talk about U.S. policy and the economy of Mexico. People say ‘get in line’ “ One thing we’re dealing with is and come here legally. From a culture of teachers that say Mexico it takes 15 years to ‘This is my room and you can’t petition for immigration into the touch it.’ ” U.S. … So they come here anyway and earn that first dollar DANETTE TOWNSEND, New Mexico Community Foundation, which has been and then they open up a business piloting an Integrated Services in Schools and they buy a house and so on. program in that state How does our government learn to embrace this?”

LUIS GUTIERREZ, Latinos Progresando, CENTERS FOR WORKING FAMILIES Chicago “ I love the concept of bundling of services to build assets. People come to us voluntarily. It is USING SCHOOLS TO TRANSFORM COMMUNITIES outstanding to me that people keep coming through our doors. “ No child left behind is blaming It also says something about our teachers for society’s ills. We economy.” make them ‘teach the test’ SHARON STOKES, financial coach, instead of the complete child. St. Sabina Employment Resource Center Funny, because I don’t know of

37 “ We do very little marketing, and from society. Many come from we are swamped. We haven’t had dysfunctional families. Some have to recruit [clients] because of our never seen someone go to a job. strong ties in the community, with How many of us are mentoring other agencies. We have gone out these young brothers and sisters? and done presentations — but we “ You have to engage young people. get an influx of referrals right from We can’t be afraid of them, we them through word-of-mouth.” have to engage them.” LIVIA VILLAREAL, director of counseling services, Greater Southwest Development RAFI PETERSON, CeaseFire Corp.

“ What are the majority of people “ I think this idea really has legs. willing to organize around? What You’ve got to find a platform for are they willing to do? Where are it. We are not the CWF-makers. they willing to meet? You have to You are a CWF if you offer these meet people where they are.” services and combine them.” LAURA LANE, executive director, WPIC, RICKI LOWITZ, senior program officer, Woodlawn LISC/Chicago

“ You don’t want the issue to be your issue. It’s the people’s issue. If it’s their issue, they’ll be there SAFE STREETS, SAFE to support you.” NEIGHBORHOODS

DORIS JONES, Teamwork Englewood “ The greatest enemy in our community isn’t gangs, it isn’t drugs — it’s hopelessness. These young people feel totally isolated

38 CLOSING KEYNOTE TELLING OUR OWN STORY

Thursday’s closing luncheon ended “ In the (LISC roundtable) session I with a gracious “You’re welcome” from attended this morning, I found Robert Grossinger, vice-president of one of the best communications Bank of America, a major sponsor of programs I have ever seen. It the “Getting It Done” conference. gave notice not just to the “ I listened to some of your projects LISC is doing. It gave programs yesterday afternoon. voice to the community. It allowed And maybe I can’t inspire you, for the community to take but you sure have inspired me.” ownership of the voice that defines who they are. I think this ROBERT GROSSINGER is enormously important. …

“ Global connectivity is a miracle, Joy Aruguete from Bickerdike then but it does not tell you who is introduced the closing keynote speaker, running for the board of education Alberto Ibargüen, former publisher of the Miami Herald and now president that is going to educate your and CEO of the John S. and James L. child, or even who is running for Knight Foundation, a major funder of Congress in your district. Those community-focused communications people are still elected by (small) projects nationwide including the geography and we don’t know Knight News Challenge, which enough about them. … supports innovative use of digital tools to share information with people in “ Information is a core community communities. need, as essential as infrastructure, as schools, as jobs.” Ibargüen began by literally tearing up

his prepared remarks, saying he was ALBERTO IBARGÜEN, president and “blown away” by the LISC/NCP CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight communications effort, and that the Foundation usual speech would not do. Here are some highlights from Ibargüen’s impromptu but impassioned keynote:

“ In this world of the media today, the era of ‘I write and you read,’ or ‘I’ll produce a TV show and you’ll listen,’ is basically over … If you’re not digital, you are a second-class citizen. …

39 40 CALL TO ACTION “WE WILL!”

Three executive directors of NCP lead “ Ask yourselves these questions: agencies — Eunita Rushing, Jim What happened here? How does Capraro and Carlos Nelson — it make you feel? What does it took the stage in one final, rousing mean? What are you called to exhortation to “Get It Done” in our communities. Rushing spoke first: do? “ Ladies and gentlemen, I am here “ In a way, it is overwhelming. It to ask you if you will heed that seems everything is call. I am here to ask you if you connected — and that there is just are willing to commit. so much to do: We have to engage our communities, so that “ Ladies and gentlemen, if you are plans are by and for them … and prepared to take what we’ve we have to make deals with learned here and practice it at friends (and sometimes home say: ‘We will.’ (Crowd: enemies) — forming partnerships “We will!”) to leverage the resources to get projects done. … “ If you are committed to working hard to raise the quality of life in “ We have to be good leaders, the neighborhoods we serve say: managers and evaluators, ‘We will.’ (Crowd: “We will!”) measuring success for ourselves and our partners at every turn. “ If you are committed to But it is also about playing — preserving and strengthening the building the community spirit relationships we created here say: through sports, arts and culture, ‘We will.’ (Crowd: “We will!”) building relationships that tie a “ If you are equally committed to community together and create creating similar relationship where a strong force for effective you work say: ‘We will.’ (Crowd: change. … “We will!”)

“ Truly, we are changing the face of “ And last, if you are willing to our communities, in Chicago — come back together in the future and across the nation. We really to renew our relationships, are “Getting It Done.” replenish our spirit, reinvigorate our energy, reflect on our Joined by Nelson, Capraro led a final, practice, and redouble our efforts rousing call-and-response: say: ‘We will.’ ” (Crowd: “We will!”)

41 ADDENDUM HOW THE CONFERENCE CAME TO BE

The idea for a conference on the New identified others to serve as facilitators, Communities Program originated from and LISC worked with Valerie Denney the lead agencies themselves. After Communications to develop a two successful assemblies in April framework and process to help develop 2005 and November 2006, lead agency each workshop into a quality staff wanted not only to highlight the presentation. program’s accomplishments, but to lift up the NCP “tools of the trade” both to Workshop panelists were encouraged their own community partners and to to include a creative or interactive the many others who have expressed exercise as part of each session along interest in the approach. with plenty of time for Q & A. They were discouraged from using PowerPoint So LISC/Chicago set to work with the presentations and being “talking lead agencies to develop the content heads.” and structure of the two-day conference. This included debating and To prepare, each workshop team held deciding what the key tools are, how to conference calls, face-to-face meetings structure the workshops and what and a “dry run” in front of another issues would attract discussion among group of presenters, to get feedback on community development practitioners. what worked and what didn’t. After the grueling series of dry runs, many panels In addition to two “all lead agency” further refined their presentations until meetings to flesh out the core ideas, they were ready to shine at the monthly meetings were held over a six- conference. The three-month process month period to discuss and fine-tune paid off with workshops that were well- conference details and logistics. attended and even fun. One workshop included a short violin demonstration, A unique feature of the conference was another started with one-on-one the emphasis on local leadership. No discussions, and a third included a ball- outside experts were brought in. Every passing exercise and live blogging. workshop, roundtable and tour was led by local community leaders and staff. A central benefit of the conference was the professional growth of the Much time and energy went into community leaders as they presented developing the eight toolkit workshops their work to a national audience. This that formed the heart of the conference. was intentional, and by all accounts, Lead agencies discussed who among valuable to those on both sides of the their peers would be good presenters, information exchange. LISC reached out to confirm which groups would lead each workshop and

42 43 CREDITS

NEW COMMUNITIES PROGRAM LEAD AGENCIES

Bickerdike Redevelopment Corp. Joy Aruguete, Executive Director 773.278.5669 [email protected]

Claretian Associates Angela Hurlock, Executive Director 773.734.9181 [email protected]

Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance Eunita Rushing, Executive Director 773.638.1766 x 12 erushing@garfieldpark.org

Greater Auburn-Gresham The conference was organized by a Development Corp. large committee led by NCP director Carlos Nelson, Executive Director Susana Vasquez and the LISC/Chicago 773.483.3696 staff, with substantial participation from [email protected] leaders at the NCP lead agencies. Valerie Denney Communications Greater Southwest Development provided logistics and program support, Corp. and MK Communications provided Jim Capraro, Executive Director public relations services. 773.436.1000 x 111 [email protected] This report was written and compiled by senior NCP scribe John McCarron Lawndale Christian Development based on his own reporting and that Corp. of fellow NCP scribes Ed Finkel, Kim Jackson, Executive Director Elizabeth Duffrin, Maureen Kelleher, 773.762.8889 Richard Muhammad and chief scribe [email protected] Patrick Barry. Little Village Community Photography is by Eric Young Smith Development Corp. and John Booz. Conference materials, Jorge Cestou, Executive Director icons and signage were created 773.542.9233 by Kym Abrams Design. This [email protected] publication was designed by Tuan Do Graphic Design. Logan Square Neighborhood Association Nancy Aardema, Executive Director 773.384.4370 [email protected]

44 Near West Side Community LISC/CHICAGO STAFF Development Corp. Earnest Gates, Executive Director Andrew Mooney, Executive Director 312.738.2280 Barb Beck, Director of Finance [email protected] Keri Blackwell, Program Officer

Quad Communities Development Monita Blunt, Assistant Program Officer Corp. Joel Bookman, Director of Programs Bernita Johnson-Gabriel, Chris Brown, Director of Education Executive Director Programs 773.268.7232 [email protected] Caroline Goldstein, Director of Development & Public Relations The Resurrection Project Ricki Granetz Lowitz, Senior Program Raul Raymundo, Executive Director Officer CWF 312.666.1323 x 207 Amadi Jordan-Walker, Program Assistant [email protected] Jennifer McClain, Program Officer CWF Teamwork Englewood Susana Vasquez, Director of New Rev. Rodney Walker, Executive Director Communities Program 773.602.4508 Marva Williams, Senior Program Officer [email protected] Sandra Womack, Program Officer Washington Park NCP Lynda Jones, Program Manager 773.324.7592 [email protected]

NCP/Woodlawn Arvin Strange, NCP Director 773.256.4107 [email protected]

45 FOUNDATION AND CORPORATE SUPPORTERS Bank of America Chicago Bulls Chase Foundation James W. and Kay Mabie Living Cities Polk Bros. Foundation State Farm Insurance Companies Steans Family Foundation Louis R. Lurie Foundation The Annie E. Casey Foundation The Atlantic Philanthropies The Chicago Community Trust The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation The Partnership for New Communities The Joyce Foundation University of Chicago

46

New Communities Program

LISC/Chicago 1 North LaSalle Street, 12th Floor Chicago, Illinois 60602 312.360.0800 www.lisc-chicago.org www.newcommunities.org