Accomplishments

As the originating lead agency for the LISC Chicago New Communities Program, the Garfield Park Community Council works to increase local investment and economic opportunities while reducing the risk of displacement for long-term residents. Through our community engagement efforts, our team has successfully facilitated more than $50 million in neighborhood investments since 2005. We served as the community partner for The Hatchery, a $34 million food business incubator that opened at the corner of Lake and Kedzie in 2018. With resident input, GPCC led the development of a legally binding Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) with The Hatchery development team to ensure that community residents access opportunities at the development, including a space to prepare local produce and host the Garfield Park Neighborhood Market on site.

Major Accomplishments

• Launched the bimonthly Garfield Park Neighborhood Market, now located at The Hatchery, which offers local entrepreneurs a venue to sell products and brings locally-grown fresh produce and goods to the neighborhood.
• Organized the Garfield Park Garden Network, which has cultivated over 30 green spaces, 10 active community gardens, and year-round greenhouses for West Side resident-led garden groups in Garfield Park and beyond.
• Created the Youth Garden Corps to create paid summer internships for local teens to work in the Secured paid internships for more than 400 community teens through a year-round and summer jobs program supported by the City of Chicago.
• Served as the community lead for housing reinvestment programs in partnership with the City of Chicago and city-wide organizations since 2014, engaging residents and local developers to gain access to investment opportunities.
• Supported Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), a national affordable housing development organization, to bring online 43 units of affordable housing that is all electric and solar powered to the neighborhood at Fifth City Commons. GPCC is also working with POAH on the second phase of Fifth City Commons, which will develop a shared ownership housing co-op in the neighborhood.
• Led planning efforts and walkability studies on the Kedzie and Pulaski commercial corridors, with the City of Chicago Department of Transportation. 
• Trained more than 100 individuals through an annual community organizing and leadership development series, enhancing collaboration on the West Side through West Side Rising and other coalition-building efforts.

Other projects

We helped sponsor Inspiration Kitchens, an award-winning restaurant to East Garfield Park, and Safer Foundation’s landscaping program for returning citizens. GPCC also spearheaded the City of Chicago’s Neighborhood Stabilization program and started a walking club that logged 20,000 walking miles.

technical assistance and support

• Worked on the educational plan, construction bid and provided a grant to recruit the first class at the $50 million Westinghouse High School in 2009.
• Assisted residents and local non-profit organizations to utilize affordable and community solar programs that reduce costs and promote clean energy.
• Facilitated the creation and installation of five large and visible public murals by professional artists and local teens through grant support from the City's Department of Tourism and Cultural Affairs.