Lathrop Homes Community Planning Project

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  The Chicago Housing Authority, along with Lathrop Community Partners, is beginning a community planning process for the revitalization of Lathrop Homes, an historic public housing development located on the Chicago River at Diversey and Clybourn.  Fifteen youth participated in the Youth Community Planning Project and were introduced to the different career paths represented in a development project by twelve visiting speakers.  The youth also learned about green and sustainable development and made their own solar panel.        

Westhaven Park’s Weekends at Westhaven Event Series

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Westhaven Park's Weekends at Westhaven Event Series (2010) Partner - Brinshore Michaels Development archi-treasures released a request for proposals in January for artists to develop a public art project with the goal of creating social bonds between Westhaven residents from different economic backgrounds. Pete Stam’s proposal to build 68 cedar boxes that could be used as outdoor furniture for community events intrigued the community. Over the course of the summer - as more boxes were being built and utilyzed in the events, we helped Westhaven host: movie night, a scrapbooking workshop, a talent show, a carnival and a community dinner. The final installation and grand finale was held on August 14 with a big crowd and ceremonial lighting.  

Legends South Bronzeville Tours

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Legends South Bronzeville Tours (2009) Partner - Brinshore Michaels This program complements archi-treasures summer programs at Legends South, which focus on designing and building creative enhancements to the physical spaces that are shared by residents. As an after-school program, The Bronzeville Tours Program focuses heavily on research, writing, and presentation skills, incorporating technology throughout. Youth participants will take field trips to the Chicago History Museum and the DuSable Museum and will experience a variety of tours. They will also meet several guest lecturers representing a range of institutions and disciplines. Bronzeville Tours is being facilitated by Meghan Brown, an architect, designer and dancer who teaches at Roosevelt University and has her own interior design business, Occupi Design. Meghan received her Master of Arts in the Humanities from the University of Chicago and her Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University. To see what youth in the program are learning, visit their Bronzeville Tours blog (created and maintained entirely by participants) at: bronzevilletours.blogspot.com.  

Humboldt Park Mural Research Project

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Humboldt Park Mural Research Project- A Component of MAP (2009) Partners- After School Matters, LISC Rumble Arts Center, 3413 W. North Avenue The Humboldt Park Mural Research Project (HPMRP) is employing a team of youth from all over Chicago who will investigate the richness and diversity of murals in Humboldt Park, designing and producing a mural guide and explanatory markers, thereby creating a tour for residents and visitors to Humboldt Park.    

Woodlawn Youth Solutions

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Woodlawn Youth Solutions (2008) Christ Way Baptist Church 1210 East 62nd Street There are currently 30 large concrete plant containers in a cul-de-sac near Fiske Elementary School (62nd and Ingleside) that have become neglected over the years. These containers are an eyesore and either stand barren or are overgrown with weeds. As a part of Alderman Willie Cochran's development plan for Woodlawn, the city will be removing these awkwardly placed containers in order to imporve the flow of pedestrians and motorized vehicles. The Woodlawn Youth Solutions summer project will use community mapping methods to identify appropriate locations for the containers. They will then research the specifics of the new planter locations and will design decorative enhancements to the containers that refer to their place within the community. The Woodlawn Youth Solutions group has created their own blog to track their progress, raise awareness, and garner support from their community. Click here to go to their blog.