Providing data-driven, grassroots advocacy on issues that affect our daily lives.

People Power

The Lawndale Alliance

Providing data-driven, grassroots advocacy on issues that affect our daily lives.

4111 West 21st Place Chicago, IL 60623

Contact: Valerie F. Leonard, Co-Founder 773-521-3137 valeriefleonard@msn.com

Who We Are
The Lawndale Alliance is a neighborhood association of local residents who come together on an ad hoc basis to address issues of concern to the community through grassroots community organizing, advocacy and community outreach. We hold annual town hall meetings series on a number of topics, including status reports on the financial and programmatic performance of every TIF that impacts North Lawndale; the performance of North Lawndale schools; the pros and cons of hosting Olympic venue in North Lawndale; Illinois redistricting; city budgets and a status report on the impact of the mortgage foreclosure crisis and the level of Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding the community received to put abandoned foreclosed properties back on the property tax rolls as affordable housing units. We are currently working with elected officials and community groups around the City of Chicago to advocate for and elected school board for the City of Chicago Public Schools. We use public information to gather data to drive policy changes from the grassroots level.

Accomplishments

Response Form
Name___________________________________ Organization______________________________ Address_________________________________ City, State, ZIP____________________________ E-Mail ___________________________________

The Lawndale Alliance participated in a press conference to advocate for a map that would maximize opportunities for minorities to elect candidates of their choice throughout the State of Illinois.

Phone___________________________________ We/I am interested in learning more about the Lawndale Allance. I am particularly interested in

Worked with local residents to persuade the City to revise the $100 million Ogden Pulaski TIF Redevelopment Plan and reduce the number of housing units potentially displaced from 317 to 24. Nearly 1,200 residents were impacted. Wrote a report, The Time for TIF Reform is Now; conducted TIF training for residents in North Lawndale, West Humboldt Park, and Washington Park

Networked with activists around Chicago to urge the City to hold a public hearing giving an accounting for $153 million in HUD Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds. Worked with elected officials to provide resident training on Census data and remapping. Fought Citys plans to demolish the Collins High School gym to build an Olympic Velodrome 3 years after the City and CPS committed $30 million from the Midwest TIF to renovate the school.

Education Arts and Culture Civic Engagement Housing Public Safety Economic Development Jobs Technology Community Development Other_____________________________________

Please mail the Response Form to: The Lawndale Alliance 4111 W. 21st Place Chicago, Illinois 60623 Attn: Valerie F. Leonard

The Lawndale Alliance and Progressive Action Coalition for Education (PACE) have recently joined the Chicago Community Coalition for an Elected School Board (CCC4ESB). Some of the members are shown above. Photo: Valencia Rias.