New Communities Program

SWOP is a co-lead agency of the New Communities Program in Chicago Lawn with the Greater Southwest Development Corporation. The New Communities Program is a long-term initiative of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation/Chicago to support comprehensive community development in 16 Chicago neighborhoods. The five-year effort seeks to rejuvenate challenged communities, bolster those in danger of losing ground and preserve the diversity of areas in the path of gentrification.

As the co-lead agency, SWOP co-convened and led the organizing of the comprehensive planning process with the Greater Southwest Development Corporation. Organizing work initiated in May of 2003 culminated its first phase November 9, 2004 with a community-wide assembly where a comprehensive, community driven, quality of life plan was unveiled and endorsed by over 700 Southwest Side residents.

The shaping of the plan involved over 275 local participants reflective of the diversity of Chicago’s southwest side. A commissioned task force of 37 leaders met throughout the winter, spring, and summer of 2004 to identify issues, map community assets and create a preliminary list of 77 potential projects. They also identified lead organizations to take responsibility for completion of the projects. These meetings were complemented by three larger meetings of 175, 135, and 150 people, where findings were shared, the broad ideas of a vision were shaped, and preliminary sets of issue areas and projects were discussed.

The whole process was distinctive because of its deliberate emphasis on intentional relationship building as the context within which the plan was then shaped. The plan, which is viewed as a permanent working draft subject to ongoing revision, has resulted in the development of strategies related to the following issue areas: housing, commercial revitalization, leadership development, public safety, health care, opportunities for youth, access to employment, and education.