annual report 2011 KNOWLEDGE > ACTION > CHANGE TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 05 OUR PROGRAMS 06 KNOWLEDGE 08 ACTION 10 CHANGE 12 ACCOMPLISHMENTS 15 AWARDS 16 FINANCIALS 20 DONORS 24 STAFF AND BOARD MISSION COMMUNITY RENEWAL SOCIETY is an organization rooted in a faith-based tradition that empowers people to combat racism and the effects of poverty by providing tools such as objective investigative journalism, organizing and training to civic leaders, community activists, and congregations. LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men (sic.) do nothing.” --Edmund Burke In 1882 several “good” people of faith, were concerned and troubled by the social conditions in which some of their fellow Chicagoans lived. Determined to assist them in bettering their circumstances, they founded the Chicago Missionary Society, a predecessor of the Community Renewal Society. Since that time of urbanization and industrialization, which brought a massive influx of European immigrants to this city, Community Renewal has endeavored to ensure that the quality of life for all Chicagoans, regardless of their station, racial or ethnic identity, or their economic circumstance, was in keeping with God’s love for all, “especially the least of these.” Chicago still faces glaring inequalities and troubling disparities Honoring our historic legacy, we at Community among its people, including a widening gulf between rich and Renewal Society organize and train good people poor. In this, Community Renewal Society’s 129th Annual Report, to be self-empowering and self-determining. We you will be informed about the ways we have sought, with continue to inform good people, who use that data to your generous support, to address several of these ever- uncover inequities and other injustices heaped upon present challenges facing African-American nursing home poor and under-served people and their communities. residents, African-American male public school students, and And we advocate for our children—the children of the 90,000 children and youth of all races and backgrounds incarcerated parents, but also children involved in who have at least one parent who is incarcerated. In each of a public school system that suspends and expels its these situations, we find people left vulnerable, often times black male charges at rates double their population. ignored and forgotten by the larger society in which they We join them and other good people to assure that live. this society affords them every opportunity that their God-given creation deserves and requires. “...we at Community Renewal Thank you for standing with us! Society organize and train good people to be self-empowering and Go well, stay well, be encouraged and, also, empowered. I remain very appreciatively yours, self-determining.” Reverend Calvin S. Morris, Ph.D Executive Director 4 COMMUNITY RENEWAL SOCIETY OUR PROGRAMS The Chicago Reporter The Chicago Reporter is an investigative bimonthly print and online publication that identifies, analyzes, and reports on the social, economic, and political issues of metropolitan Chicago with a distinctive focus on race and poverty. The Chicago Reporter, founded in 1972 and published by the Community Renewal Society, works tirelessly to demonstrate how investigative journalism plays a vital role in combating institutionalized racism Civic Action Network and concentrated urban poverty in Chicago. Our investigations not only highlight racial inequality, Civic Action is a network of congregations but they provide very clear pictures of the impact working to overcome the barriers of poverty that inequality has on the lives of real people and and racism. Activists in member congregations communities. come together across racial, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic lines throughout the Chicago metropolitan region to shape public policies, practices and programs in order to Catalyst Chicago foster hope and create opportunity for all Illinois residents. Catalyst Chicago is an independent, award-winning news organization that documents, analyzes and supports school improvement efforts in the Chicago Public Schools. Launched in 1990, Catalyst serves all centers of school change through ongoing, authoritative reporting and analysis of both policy and practice. Catalyst serves as a watchdog and resource for school improvement in Chicago, in the belief that meeting the educational needs of our city’s children requires a well-informed public. COMMUNITY RENEWAL SOCIETY 5 KNOWLEDGE The Chicago Reporter’s September/October 2011 investigation into the Chicago Housing Authority’s “one-strike” eviction policy found a growing number of families face eviction based on low-level, misdemeanor charges. CHA EVICTIONS 6 COMMUNITY RENEWAL SOCIETY KNOWLEDGE CHICAGO HOUSING AUTHORITY EVICTIONS In September 2011, The Chicago Reporter’s investigation into the Chicago Housing Authority eviction policy revealed that hundreds of families were evicted for low- level misdemeanor crimes. THE RESULTS By the CHA’s standard, all arrests are subject to the one-strike eviction policy, even if the arrest occurred • In the wake of our reporting, the CHA Director issued on property not owned by CHA. As a result, families a public statement to the Reporter’s investigation have been separated, and tenants have lost their homes stating: “Although one may have missed the numbers in for nonviolent offences. Angela Caputo reported in Angela Caputo’s story “One and Done”, it is true that the cover story, “One and Done,” that when people the Chicago Housing Authority (CHA) has evicted 360 are arrested on CHA property, the leaseholder is lease holders over the past seven years on the basis automatically summoned to eviction court whether or of criminal activities associated with their household not they were directly involved with the crime. CHA has – whether that be by the leaseholders, their children, also chosen to evict leaseholders under the one-strike relatives or friends. While the number is small—a little policy for crimes committed by their guests, children and over 1% of the nearly 17,000 leaseholders residing in a anyone living in the unit, even if the crime occurred on public housing unit at any time—its publication allows property not owned by the CHA. a welcomed discussion of the role of public housing, the rights of public housing residents—and their THE STATISTICS responsibilities as well.” • Angela Caputo appeared on several public affairs • At the time of publication the CHA had opened 1,390 news shows to discuss the investigation and CHA’s one-strike cases during the past six years. Of these cases, response. 86 percent did not involve the primary leaseholder. • More than half of the evictions were based on allegations that were never proven in criminal court. • The largest number of those evictions occurred in gentrifying and mixed-income communities where public housing developments were being prepped for demolition. COMMUNITY RENEWAL SOCIETY 7 ACTION On May 10, 2011 nearly 200 leaders from Community Renewal’s Civic Action Network traveled to Springfield to advocate for: job opportunities for people with felony records, affordable and livable housing, and a fair tax system to adequately fund public education. FAITH IN ACTION DAY: SPRINGFIELD 8 COMMUNITY RENEWAL SOCIETY ACTION FAITH IN ACTION DAY On May 10, nearly 200 community leaders from Civic Action Network member congregations across the Chicago metropolitan area traveled to Springfield for the annual Day of Faith in Action. Leaders rallied outside the Capitol and then spent the day holding dozens of individual meetings with state legislators. The day concluded with a high spirited song and prayer vigil outside the office of Speaker of the House Michael Madigan. THE RESULTS CRS leaders succeeded in protecting crucial sections of the Department of Human Services Budget. As a • As a result $11.2 million was restored for the member of the steering committee of the Responsible comprehensive community based youth services Budget Coalition, we helped pass new revenues to program, which for the first time in Illinois history protect the most vulnerable people in Illinois from includes children of incarcerated parents. devastating cuts. •Meetings were held with more than 40 members of We fought to ensure that nursing homes across Illinois the Illinois General Assembly to discuss our campaigns. will provide care from Registered Nurses to all their residents, regardless of race, geography or income. •The Illinois General Assembly increased the state income tax rate from 3 to 5 percent, providing billions of additional dollars in funding for education, healthcare, human services and public safety. rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr STATISICS • 92 percent of experts and providers surveyed said children with an incarcerated parent should have counseling. • Illinois ranked 49th in the nation in the percentage of education funding that comes from the state. • Illinois had the lowest income tax rate of any state that uses an income tax. COMMUNITY RENEWAL SOCIETY 9 CHANGE The United States Department of Justice announced a settlent with Countrywide Financial. Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan credited a 2008 investigation by The Chicago Reporter for spurring the $355 million settlement over Countrywide’s discrimanatory lending practices. COUNTRYWIDE FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT 10 COMMUNITY RENEWAL SOCIETY CHANGE COUNTRYWIDE FINANCIAL SETTLEMENT In December, the United States Justice Department