Communities United

COMMUNITIES UNITED (F/K/A ALBANY PARK NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL) IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION THAT ENGAGES COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN EFFORTS TO PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF EDUCATION, INCREASE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, INCREASE POSITIVE INVESTMENT IN YOUNG PEOPLE, DISMANTLE THE SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE, AND ADVANCE IMMIGRANT RIGHTS.

HEALING THROUGH JUSTICE INITIATIVE: THE HEALING THROUGH JUSTICE (HTJ) MODEL IS A YOUTH LEADERSHIP APPROACH THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE PROCESS OF YOUNG PEOPLE ACTING ON THEIR VISION AND SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS ISSUES IMPACTING THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES CAN LEAD TO TRANSFORMATIVE HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES. THROUGH THIS INITIATIVE, CHICAGO YOUTH ARE LEADING A FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN COMMUNITIES UNITED AND ANN AND ROBERT H. LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO TO ADVANCE YOUTH-LED SOLUTIONS THAT PROMOTE COMMUNITY HEALING. COMMUNITIES UNITED WAS RECENTLY AWARDED $10 MILLION THROUGH THE W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION'S RACIAL EQUITY 2030 CHALLENGE WHICH WILL SUPPORT CU'S PARTNERSHIP WITH LURIE CHILDREN'S TO ADVANCE "HEALING THROUGH JUSTICE: A COMMUNITY-LED BREAKTHROUGH STRATEGY FOR HEALING CENTERED COMMUNITIES."

BIKES N' ROSES ("BNR"): BNR IS A YOUTH-LED BICYCLE COOPERATIVE THAT PROVIDES JOB TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUNG PEOPLE. BY USING BICYCLES AS A MEDIUM TO DRIVE SOCIAL CHANGE AND A FOUNDATION FROM WHICH YOUNG PEOPLE CAN LEARN AND PRACTICE SKILLS, BNR WORKS TO PROMOTE YOUTH LEADERSHIP, ENTREPRENEURSHIP, BIKE SAFETY, AND BIKE ADVOCACY.EL FOR THE CITY.

VOICES OF YOUTH IN CHICAGO EDUCATION ("VOYCE"): VOYCE IS A CITYWIDE YOUTH ORGANIZING ALLIANCE LED BY STUDENTS OF COLOR FROM ACROSS CHICAGO. THROUGH VOYCE, YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN LEADING A MOVEMENT TO TRANSFORM WHAT SAFETY MEANS IN SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES, ADVANCING A VISION FOR HEALING-CENTERED SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES. THROUGH ORGANIZING EFFORTS AND BY LIFTING UP THEIR NARRATIVES, VOYCE YOUTH LEADERS HAVE MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN SHIFTING THE NARRATIVE ON WHAT SAFETY SHOULD LOOK LIKE FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, MAKING SWEEPING CHANGES TO END ZERO-TOLERANCE PRACTICES AND EXPAND THE USE OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE, AND HELPED PAVED THE WAY TO THE REINVESTMENT OF OVER $3.2 MILLION FROM POLICE IN SCHOOLS INTO HOLISTIC APPROACHES TO SCHOOL SAFETY.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING: THROUGH RENTER'S ORGANIZING OURSELVES TO STAY (ROOTS), LOW-INCOME RENTERS HAVE DEVELOPED STRATEGIES TO BRING TENANTS, DEVELOPERS, AND CITY OFFICIALS TO COMBINE RESOURCES TO CREATE AND PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, SUCCESSFULLY PUTTING OVER 400 UNITS IN THE PRESERVATION PIPELINE TO BECOME LONG-TERM AFFORDABLE UNITS AND KEEP LOW-INCOME FAMILIES FROM BEING DISPLACED, DEVELOPING A SCALABLE MODEL FOR THE CITY.