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Community Development

We work to organize and empower the West Humboldt Park community by developing block clubs, maximizing opportunities for employment and entrepreneurialism, and by supporting healthy living. 

Block Clubs

Block Club Development is a way to empower residents so that they might realize their potential when it comes to their effect on the character of their neighborhood.  In January 2004, the idea of creating a network of block clubs was realized.  The West Humboldt Park Block Club network (WHPBCN) was created as a way for individual block clubs to get to know one another, share ideas and success stories, and expand their resources and their range of focus. Today West Humboldt Park boasts over 3 dozen active block clubs.

These are some of the ways we assist the community through block clubs:

  • Facilitate the Block Club Network Work meetings that allow clubs to work together on shared goals, mission and purpose
  • Assist in the building and maintenance of neighborhood block clubs
  • Provide best practices training through the Block Club Manual of Best Practices and consultation
  • Provide technical assistance to block clubs
  • Plan and facilitate community driven events with block club leadership

The WHPBCN, a process of relationship building among block clubs, has begun to expand its focus from the block level to the community level.  It has allowed block clubs to link up and share resources so that they can take on larger challenges and accomplish bigger wins for the community as a whole.

The WHPBCN meets on the third Tuesday of every month. Each month community leaders facilitate or are presenters on the month’s topic agenda. The Network has been successful in building relationships and support networks among the block clubs in West Humboldt Park. They have combined to work as one body to address and directly affect the changes taking place in their community.

Employment & Entrepreneurialism

We promote employment and entrepreneurialism through our partnership with BEEP (Building Employment and Entrepreneurial Partnerships).  Our shared mission is to ensure that community residents participate in, and profit from the construction, hiring, and development that occurs in the community

  • Collaboration with BEEP Program (Building Employment and Entrepreneurial Partnerships) – a holistic employment program that focuses on local employment for local residents
  • With the institution of a Community Benefits Agreement and point system, BEEP has developed strong relationships with construction companies to improve placements on local construction site
  • Entrepreneurial training through BEEP’s Annual Entrepreneurial Expo each April in conjunction with Money Smart Week

Community Benefits Agreements (CBA) are the outcome of a negotiation between BEEP and a developer or business.  A CBA is designed and implemented independently from government regulatory bodies.  The goal of a CBA is to tie economic development to local opportunities for training and employment for local residents.

The idea to form BEEP came as a result of discussions sparked at Chicago Avenue Revitalization Task Force meetings. Task Force meetings are monthly meetings which provide updates from various community organizations on issues, events, and proposed developments.  There was a need for a local hiring strategy to keep track of projects that pledged to hire locally.  Promises by developers to hire locally were often not followed through.  By June 2006, discussions at Task Force meetings led to the formation of a committee which began seeking to negotiate Community Benefits Agreements.

Alderman Burnett of the City of Chicago’s 27th Ward, recognizes the West Humboldt Park BEEP Committee as the liaison between the West Humboldt Park community and those seeking to do business and development in the area. BEEP is a coalition of residents and local organizations formed through the West Humboldt Park Family & Community Development Council, a local 501c3 community organization.

Healthy Communities

A healthy community is one that embraces the belief that health is more than merely an absence of disease; a healthy community includes those elements that enable people to maintain a high quality of life and productivity.  For example:

  • A healthy community offers access to health care services that focus on both treatment and prevention for all members of the community
  • A healthy community is safe
  • A healthy community has roads, schools, playgrounds and other services to meet the needs of the people in the community.
  • A healthy community has a healthy and safe environment.

--- Adapted from Healthy People 2010

Read the WHP Healthy Community Plan.

TIF (Tax Incremental Financing) Advisory Panel

The TIF Advisory Panel meets regularly to shape a spending plan, provide community input for how public dollars should be spent, and what types of projects should be a priority for the Chicago-Central Park TIF.  The Panel organizes an annual “TIF Town Hall Meeting” to provide an overview of the previous year’s Annual Report and funded projects, provide an update on the current year’s projects, and to give the community an opportunity to ask City staff questions about the Chicago-Central Park TIF district.  The Panel strives for an inclusive panel that represents the community.  If you would like to be involved please contact our office.

Mission: To Ensure the active participation of local residents, business owners, and not-for-profit organizations in the reviewing, advising, and monitoring of land uses and funding proposals associated with the Chicago/Central Park TIF