This page will lead you to sources that can help you find information about the following places:
- Buildings of Historic or Architectural Interest
- Churches, Synagogues, Masques, and Other Places of Worship
- Community Centers and Community Development Organizations
- Cultural Centers
- Libraries
- Parks and Recreation Centers
- Schools
Bach, Ira. Chicago On Foot An Architectural Walking
Tour. Chicago: Follett, 1969 F548.18.B3 
Chicago Architecture Foundation
Lane, George. Chicago Churches and Synagogues: an
Architectural Pilgrimage. Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1981.
NA5235.C4L3
Lowe, David. Chicago Interiors. Chicago: Contemporary
Books, 1979. NA735.C4L67
Siegel, Arthur S. Chicago’s Famous Buildings.
Chicago: U of C Press, 1965 NA735.C4S5
Behind
the Brick Walls. Contrasting the management of two high-rises, Lake Meadows and Stateway
Gardens, it is clear that the management of Stateway as well as of other Chicago
Housing Authority (CHA) units could lead only to demolition. More families will soon be displaced by CHA demolition plans. Stateway declined to the point of demolition due to the poor practices of the CHA. Unfortunately this is not an insolated incident. Demolition of three Robert Taylor housing units has already been completed. The plan to demolish Stateway is merely the early stage of a mass redevelopment
plan. Despite their history of negligence, CHA continues on as it ventures into yet another project. CHA continues to receive aid from government and city programs. While CHA is able to regroup from negligence, victims of CHA’s errors still scramble to survive homelessness.
Written by Dominica Giles, Fall 2001.
The
University of Chicago vs. The Community of Bronzeville in the Battle for the Checkerboard Lounge.
Chicago is known as the home of the Blues. So why are two communities in Chicago fighting for custody of one of the historic blues lounges located in this city? The University of Chicago and the community of Bronzeville have been debating back and forth over the location of a local blues club, the Checkerboard Lounge, which was originally located in the Bronzeville neighborhood. The Bronzeville community wants the Checkerboard to remain in their
community because it is a part of their history and culture. This lounge can also provide economic relief for the Bronzeville neighborhood.
The University of Chicago wants the Checkerboard in their neighborhood of Hyde Park in hopes of restoring blues/jazz to their community.
Written by Dameka Brown, Spring
2004.
The Chicago Tribune, Homes Section, web site gives information on places of worship by community.
Lane, George. Chicago Churches and Synagogues: an
Architectural Pilgrimage. Chicago: Loyola University Press, 1981.
NA5235.C4L3
|
St. Ailbe: How One Catholic Church Changed to Fit the Needs of the Community. In 1968-1973, St. Ailbe Parish changed from an Irish and Polish to an African American parish. In the next 15 years, the growth of the church stagnated because the traditional Catholic setting did not reflect the cultural identity of its congregants. However, in 1991, Father John Breslin took over the pastoral duties at St. Ailbe. Through his efforts and those of Sister Katherine, the principal of St. Ailbe, a once obsolete church and school have been turned into a spiritually fulfilling and distinctly Afrocentric Parish. Written by Pascale Pouponneau, Fall 1998.
Center for Community Development at the Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago Area Directory of Organizations
Elliott Donnelley Youth Center
Program on Human and Community Development through the Mac Arthur Foundation
There
are Programs to Help our Young, Minority, Disadvantaged Youth Get Ahead.
A student who started in the Office of
Special Programs - College Prep Program (OSP-CP) at the University of
Chicago when she was in seventh grade graduated from Hyde Park Academy
with a full academic scholarship to Florida A&M for scoring a 34 on
her ACT. Another student who
attended the program received a chance to go to the South Pole for two
weeks. She received a partial
scholarship to the University
of Chicago. I have worked with this
program over ten years and I have watched it change the lives of so many
disadvantaged young minorities. Through
jobs, cultural enrichment, parent participation, academic classes, high
school and college guidance, the students are improving their chances of
having a better life for themselves. Written by Tawana Dukes, Fall
2002.
|
The Mexican Community Committee Betters the South Chicago Community With Its Many Important Services. The Mexican Community Committee helps many South Chicago inhabitants with economic, health, and educational services. These services help pave a way toward a brighter future for the community residents, making this local community center a benefit to the community. Written by Julio Alvarez, Fall 1998.
Welfare
to Work, Will it Work in the Southeast Office?
The first thing you see when walking into the Public Aide Southeast Office is the line, a line of tired, frustrated, young women who have been waiting for hours. You can here the chatter of young girls asking why is it taking so long. Once you have made it through the line, you have to go into the waiting area. In the waiting area, you are over run with children young and old, infants yelling and crying. There is no place in the office to keep the children occupied while you wait. Some recipients are sitting in this discomfort for three to four hours just waiting to see their caseworker. The recipients know they may not get to see their caseworker, but they take the chance of waiting because they need their benefits. Delivering poor benefits to recipients is not the way to get them off of welfare.
Written by Deidra Murphy, Fall 2001.
The Chicago Coalition of Community Cultural Centers includes descriptions of many of the cultural centers in the city, including all of those in the list that follows.
Du Sable Museum of African American History
National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum
The City of Chicago includes a list of health clinics on its website.
The Chicago Tribune, Homes Section, web site gives the information on health care by community.
Chicago Public Libraries in the South District:
Altgeld, Avalon, Beverly, Brainerd, Chicago Lawn, Clearing, Bessie Coleman, Hegewisch, Jeffery Manor, Kelly, Thurgood Marshall, Mount Greenwood, Pullman, Scottsdale, South Chicago, South Shore, Southeast, Tuley Park, Vodak/East Side, Walker, West Lawn, Wrightwood-Ashburn, Whitney M. Young Jr.
The Chicago Tribune, Homes Section, web site gives the information on libraries by community.
Friends of the Parks -- a nonprofit, citizen's advocacy group.
The Chicago Tribune, Homes Section, web site gives the information on parks by community.
What
is so Special about the Festivals in Washington Park? People
attend these festivals to have a lot of fun, which is what they get. But
they always leave with a piece of history, more knowledge about Africa
and themselves. To be honest, I can go on and on about how good and
educational the festivals are. The only thing left for you to do is attend
one and you can judge for yourself. This is not a paper about an empty
lot; this is not a paper asking you to help save something. I’m just
telling you about the education, the fun, and the beauty of the African
Arts Festivals. Come on out and join the fun. Written by Renell Allen,
Fall 2002.
The Chicago Tribune, Homes Section, web site gives school information by community.
The Illinois State Board of Education publishes "school report cards," with test scores, online. School-data.com also has school profiles and test results.
Benefits Denied.
According to the Federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), schools that receive federal money must offer services to students who are in a special education
program as well as all special needs students. These schools receive federal money in order to service the individual needs of each student in the special education program. However, it has become apparent to Chicago Public Schools officials that all special need students were not obtaining these services. For example,
Libby Elementary School does not receive the same services that are provided to high-income area schools like
Burnside Elementary School. There may be multiple reasons these services are not present, nevertheless for schools that receive federal money there is not a valid excuse. It is against the law for schools to receive federal money to fund special education programs and not provide these services to special need students (Shin 3). Consequently, it is the responsibility of the schools, not the parents, to make sure funds are spent
appropriately. Written by Vivian Stewart, Spring
2004.
Failing
the Students of Chicago. In the Chicago Public Schools, there are regular neighborhood schools
like Percy Julian High School and there are charter and magnet schools
like Morgan Park High School. Charter and magnet schools tend to get the best of things, while regular schools get whatever is left. Basically, the Board of Education is failing the students of the Chicago Public School system by allowing certain schools to get better programs, curriculums, and teachers; while regular neighborhood schools are being left with few to no advanced programs, poorly constructed curriculums, and teachers who barley got their licenses. Anyone who takes a look at the schools’ yearly report card can tell that this is a serious problem plaguing the city of Chicago.
Written by Patrice Spivey, Fall 2001.
Looking for More Good Men.
There is something keeping the majority of the young men in our community from attempting to pursue higher education. But what is it? When interviewed specifically for this paper there was one fact that kept surfacing amongst the men who are attending college, and that was that the men in our community would rather risk jail for fast money instead of pursuing a higher education or career.
If we can get the young men in our community to change their economic focus from selling drugs to getting the best education and training possible in order to have a good career, then we will have found the answer to this problem. But, everyone must work together to achieve this.
Written by Leslie L. Hooks, Spring
2004.
Parent Involvement Makes A Difference.
In today’s society, children are deprived of getting a good education. Some parents say that children do not get the education they deserve, because teachers are not trained
properly. What about the parents? Parents also have to do their part to educate their children.
Parent involvement is important to a child, because "it is one way of demonstrating to your child that their education is important" (Sears, 73). There have been numerous studies, which prove that parent involvement is beneficial to their children’s education.
Parent involvement is an issue at Taylor School because it is located in a low-income community. Since a large number of the parents of this community work during the daytime, they have less chance to be able to attend their children’s school functions.
Written by Yolanda
Martinez, Spring
2004.
The Racism Never Ends.
"There isn’t any racism in Chicago H.S. For Agricultural Sciences
[CHSAS]" (Gilligan, principal). "There is racism in Mt. Greenwood and segregation in CHSAS"
(Saldanya, librarian). The principal does not believe that segregation in Chicago
H.S. For Ag Science exists, but the librarian at the school disagrees. The librarian is right, there is racism in this high school. The principal is in denial about the segregation because he
doesn’t see the students interacting at school like the librarian does. Segregation and racism are issues in Mt. Greenwood; therefore they are problems in
CHSAS.
Written by Morgan
Andrews, Spring
2004.
|
Single Sex Education: A Better Choice for Girls. There are no single sex public high schools in Chicago. Richards Career Academy should have remained an all girls school. Although studies show that girls get better grades than boys in school, girls do even better when they study away from the opposite sex. They also earn higher scores, have positive attitudes about careers, and higher self-esteem. Written by Aida Perez, Spring 2000.
There
are Programs to Help our Young, Minority, Disadvantaged Youth Get Ahead.
A student who started in the Office of
Special Programs - College Prep Program (OSP-CP) at the University of
Chicago when she was in seventh grade graduated from Hyde Park Academy
with a full academic scholarship to Florida A&M for scoring a 34 on
her ACT. Another student who
attended the program received a chance to go to the South Pole for two
weeks. She received a partial
scholarship to the University
of Chicago. I have worked with this
program over ten years and I have watched it change the lives of so many
disadvantaged young minorities. Through
jobs, cultural enrichment, parent participation, academic classes, high
school and college guidance, the students are improving their chances of
having a better life for themselves. Written by Tawana Dukes, Fall
2002.