26TH ANNUAL CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT AWARDS #CNDA26 INTRODUCTION Creating a Balanced City Last year’s Chicago Neighborhood Develop- healthcare, clean air, clean water, good ment Awards reflected on the paradigm shift housing and public spaces that support underway throughout our nation, with new, community vitality? young and diverse leaders being elected to Can we alter perceptions so that all recog- federal, state, county and city office. nize that every corner of this city is worth Nowhere is that more evident than in investing in to ensure people have access Chicago where Mayor Lightfoot was elected to the opportunity to create wealth and with a mandate for change. These are prosperity for themselves and their families? welcomed words for all Chicago, and for How do we reach the point when Chicago those who have dedicated their careers to neighborhoods on the South and West community development, we know the devil Sides are no longer the responsibility is in the complexity of the details. of only community development and As we have learned over the years, deci- when Chicago’s central business district sions about what to do, what to fund, what and North Side are no longer the main to set aside and what to lift up as a model priority for Chicago to stay viable as a major raise difficult questions for everyone, from metropolis and leading global city? local leaders to mayors everywhere. How do we all work together to serve the city as a whole and foster the growth that Power, voice, growth, preservation, race, is a fundamental condition for both greater class, equity, access and investment. What- equity and global competitiveness? ever you call it, in a city with wide economic and racial gaps in wealth, employment, In the pages ahead, you will find some education, healthcare, housing and more— answers. This year’s Chicago Neighborhood the question is how to weigh and balance Development Award winners remind us them all. that, when we strengthen one community— by creating integrative housing, improving Can we alter investment patterns to ensure healthcare or creating a new public space— that every neighborhood has the schools, we also strengthen the city as a whole. stores, amenities, public facilities and hous- ing it needs? For nearly 200 years, Chicago has survived and grown—fueled by the changing tapes- Can we assure that people do not have to try of its many neighborhoods, the diversity move out of neighborhoods they love in of its people, the broad base of industry order to obtain the opportunity they seek or and commerce, and an enviable unity of because others want to move in? #CNDA26 purpose. These are the qualities that will Can we assure that every neighborhood assure Chicago’s success in “Creating a @liscchicago provides access to the education, Balanced City.” @lisc_chicago facebook.com/liscchicago My Dear Friends and Neighbors, Dear Friends, I am more than delighted to be with you today for a cel- Welcome to the first-ever online Chicago Neighborhood ebration of community and the people and partnerships Development Awards. that make our neighborhoods, and the city, great. While many of us have learned to have “Zoom” book I have had the pleasure of attending the Chicago clubs, happy hours and meetings, it still feels strange to Neighborhood Development Awards in the past. Since be sending you this book and holding one of the city’s I moved to Chicago three decades ago, I have watched favorite networking events online. and marveled at the accomplishments that come about In such a short period of time there has been much as a result of the partnership of neighborhood vision and heartbreak for our friends, for our communities and for leadership and government, philanthropic and business our city. We at LISC are comforted, however, by the resources. bonds of friendship and the commitment to community This year the Awards have a special meaning for me— that have been evident these last few months—partic- and I believe for the city as a whole. As in years past, the ularly in communities where committed leaders have individuals and groups receiving the coveted awards worked for many years. represent the diversity of our city—its varied neighborhoods with their unique assets and The same boldness of vision, tenacity and caring that has gone into community development needs. It is in this variety of places and people, and their coming together to celebrate, that over the years and which propelled the particular projects and people we now honor springs we more fully understand that it is this binding together of diverse strands that gives Chicago from the same font as the innovation and effectiveness demonstrated during COVID-19. This its strength and resilience. same resiliency is demonstrated in each of the stories told tonight and will be in the stories Yes, we are the city that burned to the ground in the 1871. We also are the city that rebuilt to and projects we celebrate in years to come. become the national and global hub that we are today. Yes, we are a city that lost its steel Every tale you heard tonight is a tale of ingenuity, innovation and resilience. You’ll hear about and its meatpacking industry. Yet, we are the city with perhaps the most diverse economy of creative funding to combine public libraries with public housing and the transformation of any in the nation—open and welcoming to all. an abandoned and toxic stretch of land into a garden that nurtures plants and people. You’ll We can also be proud that, despite the loss of population from some parts of the city, our city learn about the blossoming of community residents into a cadre of healthcare advocates and has, in fact, has become the first choice of places to go to in the Midwest for young people about community parents growing into education advocates and classroom supports. It is this after high school or college, and the first choice in the entire nation for companies that are resilience—and knowing that all of you participating today are part of a resilient community— expanding or relocating. It is true that our unmatched cultural institutions and enviable geo- that instills us with confidence that we will move forward together to recover and rebuild. graphic location are a draw. So, too, is our city’s robust neighborhood life. A special thank you to our donors, partners, the LISC team and our consultants who worked It is the strength and resiliency of our people, our partnerships and our neighborhoods that tirelessly to make this special event happen. And while today’s event gave you a “taste of give me confidence that we will conquer the challenges we face and emerge stronger and what’s up in Chicago” be sure to learn more about this year’s winners and performers at more united than ever. www.lisc-cnda.org. Congratulations to all! Happy 26th CNDA, Chicago, Lori E. Lightfoot Meghan K. Harte Mayor Executive Director, LISC Chicago CNDA AWARDS & CELEBRATION May 6 May 7 WELCOME PRESENTATION OF AWARDS WELCOME PRESENTATION OF AWARDS Meghan Harte The Chicago Prize Meghan Harte The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Executive Director, LISC Chicago Bryan Traubert and Penny Pritzker, Executive Director, LISC Chicago Award for Architectural Samantha Chatman The Pritzker Traubert Foundation Val Warner Excellence in Community Design ABC7 Chicago ABC7 Chicago Presented by Richard Driehaus Polk Bros. Foundation and Anne Lazar, Affordable Rental Housing KEYNOTE PRESENTATION OF AWARDS The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award Mayor Lori Lightfoot Outstanding For-Profit First Place Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation Real Estate Project Award John Ronan Architects LLC for PRESENTATION OF AWARDS for West Town Preservation DL3 Realty and Terraco Real Estate Independence Library & Apartments The Chicago Community Trust Presented by Deborah Bennett Outstanding Community Plan Award and Gillian Darlow, for the Woodlawn Jewel-Osco Second Place Polk Bros. Foundation Presented by Maurice Jones, Austin Coming Together for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation JGMA for KLEO Art Residences Austin Quality-of-Life Plan ENTERTAINMENT The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Third Place Presented by Helene Gayle, Ida y Vuelta Illinois Healthy Community Award The Chicago Community Trust Landon Bone Baker Architects for PRESENTATION OF AWARDS La Casa Norte Foundation Center The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Enlace Chicago for Community Health Workers — Health Equity Initiative Award for Outstanding Non-Profit John D. and Catherine T. ENTERTAINMENT Neighborhood Real Estate Project MacArthur Foundation Presented by Harmony Harrington, Creative Placemaking Award Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois E’mon Lauren, Accion Chicago and Young Chicago Authors The Woods Fund Chicago the Industrial Council of Nearwest El Paseo Community Garden Power of Community Award PRESENTATION OF AWARDS Chicago for The Hatchery Presented by Tawa Mitchell, The John D. and Catherine T. CIBC Norman Bobins Presented by Samantha Chatman, Southwest Organizing Project MacArthur Foundation Emerging Leader Award ABC7 Chicago and Logan Square Neighborhood Richard M. Daley Friend of the Association for the Parent ENTERTAINMENT Deon Lucas Neighborhoods Award Engagement Institute Presented by Brant Ahrens, CIBC Toronzo Cannon Marca Bristo Presented by Michelle Morales, Woods Fund Chicago CLOSING REMARKS Presented by Gery Chico, Board Chair of LISC Meghan Harte ENTERTAINMENT Executive Director, LISC Chicago CLOSING REMARKS Reginald Robinson ENTERTAINMENT Meghan Harte Executive Director,