Resurrection, churches and the spirit of NYC

By PATRICK O’CONNOR and DAVID K. BRAWLEY | NEW YORK DAILY NEWS | APR 17, 2022 But we are reminded of the city in the 1980s and 1990s, when terms like “planned shrinkage” and “benign neglect” — policies of surrender and declarations of defeat — were considered reasonable and mature responses to the arson and crime that at times […]

Hydroponic greenhouse planned for Pullman

By Cheyanne M. Daniels  Dec 27, 2021, 7:41pm CST A $1 million grant has jump-started the development for a 63,000 square foot greenhouse expected to produce 560,000 pounds of produce each year. An empty lot near an affordable apartment complex in Pullman will soon be home to a new hydroponic farm. Plans for the 63,000-square-foot Vertical Greenhouse […]

One neighborhood reaches for resilience: A letter from Chicago

By Laurent Belsie Staff writer@lbelsie CHICAGO “Welcome to Pullman,” said Ciere Boatright. A neighborhood leader, she’s a prime mover in the revival of one of America’s most famous planned cities – a section of South Chicago named after railroad magnate George Pullman. Back in the 1980s, dominant colors in this part of the city were gray and brown. […]

ICJIA Announces $4.5 Million in Grants To Support Violence Prevention In Communities Across Illinois

CHICAGO—The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) today announced grant awards totaling $4.5 million in state fiscal year 2022 Community-Based Violence Prevention and Intervention Program (CBVIP) funds. A total of 31 organizations will receive grants to provide community engagement and support, prevention supports for children, youth, and families at risk for being harmed or harming […]

What can be done to stop Chicago’s Black exodus?

Chicago’s Black population has fallen for a generation — can anything be done to bring people back to Black neighborhoods like Englewood? Pat Nabong/Sun-Times Anthony Simpkins remembers when the Greater Englewood neighborhood was a thriving Black community with more than 100,000 residents and a commercial strip that rivaled downtown’s shopping district. “It was one of the […]

Reclaiming Chicago – Reclaiming Communities

United Power’s Reclaiming Communities initiative seeks to build or rehab 1000 homes on the South Side of Chicago and 1000 homes on the West Side of Chicago – strategically and at scale – entire blocks at a time – led by local leaders and proven local institutions and supported by allies from across the Chicago […]

WE NEED “ROOFTOPS,” NOT PROMISES, ON THE SOUTH AND WEST SIDES

To the CEOs of the nation’s banks, especially the “market leaders” in Chicago—Jamie Dimon (Chase), Greg Carmichael (Fifth Third), Stephen Steinour (Huntington), William Demchak (PNC), Andrew Cecere (US Bank), Brian Moynihan (Bank of America)—the organized peoples’ institutions of United Power for Action and Justice have one focused request: Invest in large-scale, affordable home construction in […]

Bankers: Put your money where your mouth is

Invest in large-scale, affordable home construction in distressed communities of Chicago. To the CEOs of the nation’s banks, especially the “market leaders” in Chicago—Jamie Dimon (Chase), Greg Carmichael (Fifth Third), Stephen Steinour (Huntington), William Demchak (PNC), Andrew Cecere (U.S. Bank) and Brian Moynihan (Bank of America)—the organized peoples’ institutions of United Power for Action & […]

DELIVERING ON KEY EQUITY GOAL, PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION AWARDS $31.5 MILLION IN FIRST EVER RESTORE, REINVEST, AND RENEW PROGRAM GRANTS TO ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE STATE

Historic R3 program awards grants to organizations in communities hit hardest by gun violence, unemployment, and criminal justice system overuse CHICAGO— Using revenue from adult-use cannabis sales, the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) today announced 80 grants totaling $31.5 million to organizations to help the communities hardest hit by the failed war on drugs. […]