GADC Welcomes MacArthur Foundation to Auburn Gresham

Ernest Sanders
Published: May 22, 2007

As with many other press conferences held in the Auburn Gresham community, Reverend Michael Pfleger of the Faith Community of Saint Sabina Church led this historic event in prayer and acknowledged MacArthur Foundation’s support of helping Chicago maintain its status as a world-class city.

Thereafter, Alderman Latasha Thomas welcomed everyone to the Mighty 17^th Ward. Her salutation was received especially well because the nice weather seemed to align itself with the anticipated great news of MacArthur Foundation’s financial commitment to the New Communities Program (NCP).  

As Jonathan Fanton, president of MacArthur Foundation, took the podium and announced his organization’s commitment of $26 million to 14 NCP lead agencies (sponsored by Local Initiatives Support Corporation/Chicago - LISC/Chicago), over the next five years, hundreds of people either clapped, slapped each other high-fives, shouted words of praise, or performed a victory dance. 

Fanton said that the pledge to NCP was the largest of its kind when supporting community and economic development, and that he was personally dedicated to see the Chicago model reproduce itself at the national level. He spoke of this model’s current adaptation in other cities to include Washington, D.C., Indianapolis, Milwaukee, and Detroit.

Mayor Richard M. Daley seemed especially touched by Fanton’s heart-felt announcement and commented on the MacArthur Foundation's support to the City of Chicago. The Mayor spoke highly of NCP and said, “LISC/NCP is a real success to the City of Chicago.”  

The Mayor was even more decisive in his praise of MacArthur’s financial commitment to Chicago neighborhoods because he felt community revitalization was an objective to help reduce crime – especially when innocent youth become victims. 

Andrew Mooney, senior program director for LISC/Chicago, reemphasized the importance of MacArthur Foundation’s support of NCP and expressed his thanks for helping thousands of Chicago residents maintain and stay in their communities. 

Carlos Nelson, executive director for Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation (GADC), and host NCP lead agency of this event, shared a message of the importance of relationship building and engaging residents.

He also gave several examples to the esteemed panel and audience on how NCP has helped his organization and community to grow. He said, “Selfishly, NCP helped grow the GADC from a one man, small budget operation to a team of community-minded professionals with a budget more than six times greater than when it started.” 

Nelson also identified several projects that GADC has completed or in the midst of completing with the help of NCP contributions. They include: 

• Partnership with Center for Economic Progress and the St. Sabina Employment Resource Center to launch the Auburn Gresham Free Income Tax site.In just 4 years this partnership has grown from 650 returns to nearly 1,200 clients resulting in a whopping $1,725,124 in refunds. 
• Partnership with Cleanslate to launch a maintenance and beautification program that rivals any other program of its kind in the country.  
• Strong relationships with the City of Chicago Department of Housing (DOH), Historic Chicago Bungalow Association (HCBA), and Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of Chicago to completely renovate two Green, model bungalows in the 7700 block of South Throop. This project called the Between the Parks Model Blocks project included facade improvements, energy efficient repairs, and education to scores of residents totaling more than $1.5 million! 
• Acquisition and rehab of a long vacant commercial building on 79^th Street into a state-of-the-art “green” office building with affordable housing units.
  

  Teamwork Englewood, Woodlawn Preservation and Investment Corp., Greater Southwest CDC, Center for Economic Progress, and Quad Communities Development Corp. representatives all listen attentively to distinguished panel of speakers.

  Ernest Sanders

   
• Partnership with the Beloved Community to launch the Auburn Gresham Center for Working Families site. 
• Encouraged new, and much needed special needs housing to the community (Senior Suites) going up at 79^th & Carpenter,a Supportive Living Facility with Pleasant Green M.B. Church near 76^th & Yale, and St. Leo’s Veterans Housing & Clinic st 78th & Emerald. 
• Established relationships to bring new African American owned businesses to the community like BJ’s Market & Bakery, Lagniappe Creole Cajun Restaurant (at 79^th & Justine), and Perfect Peace Café opening in June at 1255 West 79^th Street. 
• Participation in the development of a school-based health clinic at Perspectives Charter School – Calumet campus along with Access Community Health Network and University of Chicago Medical Center. 
• Developed a Special Service Area (SSA #32) to handle commercial corridor improvements along 79^th Street. 
  

  Other LISC representatives, Double "L" Community business owners, Chicago Digital Access Alliance, co-founder, and a host of others take note to GADC's accomplishments.

  Ernest Sanders

• Launched the annual Auburn Gresham 79^th Street Renaissance Festival with more than 3,000 attendees in 2006. 

Nelson acknowledged that none of GADC’s efforts would be possible without the support of Mayor Richard M. Daley, the MacArthur Foundation, LISC senior management (especially Susana Vasquez), and a host of volunteers. He also paid special tribute to his team Linda Johnson, Cheryl Johnson, Saint Turner, and Ernest Sanders. 

Those in attendance included Auburn Gresham residents and business owners, local day care providers (Eyas, Building Blocks, and Lots of Love) and their children, Perspectives Charter School and their students, city and state dignitaries, New Communities Program (NCP) lead agencies, LISC/Chicago staff and affiliates.

GADC's newest partner, Vocalo, was also in attendance interviewing local business owners and residents about this historic event and all the great things happening in Auburn Gresham and surrounding communities.

MacArthur’s endowment is said to generate an estimated $500 million in new investment across

Chicago

. “If you want to see an example of current or future development in Auburn Gresham, just drive down

west 79^th Street

and take heed to the beautiful streetscape, facade improvements, and new construction,” said Nelson. “Come and visit

Chicago

’s Best Kept Secret!

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