Chatham faces problems with crime, aging residents = Changing dynamics have hurt neighborliness - alderman

BUMP'D!!! this post was originally posted on August 20. Saw that people were still commenting on this post.

From a Sun Times article in their homes section, published yesterday

Even good neighborhoods can face tough times.

The middle-class, South Side neighborhood of Chatham has long been considered a strong and secure neighborhood. But more recently, residents have been challenged by an aging population and a generational divide, says Ald. Freddrenna Lyle (6th), not to mention a tragic increase in crime in recent months.

Alderman Lyle was extensively interviewed.

Almost all of her peers have moved to other neighborhoods or suburbs, she said,
but those who have come back don't seem to have time for neighborhood events.

"Their children have homework and dance lessons and karate lessons, and we haven't been able to get that group to understand the value of CAPS [Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy]," she said.

"And we have trouble getting our young back because the seniors didn't leave, and because of the schools. If you move back here, you might have to put your child in private school. You cannot have a vibrant community without the schools."

The alderman thinks that the proliferation of magnet schools has put neighborhoods
like Chatham at a disadvantage. When she was growing up, all the children on the block went to the same school, but now they are dispersed among many schools. That means their parents don't meet at school functions.

"We have to become involved in the schools in our community," she added. When she was growing up, she could walk to school, and so could everyone else. Everyone knew one another.

"If you were somewhere else and were threatened, even the bad kids would protect you because you were from their school," she said. "Now we have children on one block who go to five different schools."

Read the rest of the article here.

What Ald. Lyle says about schools could also be applied to churches. Even though there are 80 churches within 1 mile of 79th & King, how many people actually go to them?

What do 2nd Generation Chathamites think? Why have your friends left? What have you decided to stay? What's you favorite part of the neighborhood?

Chatham Food Legacy contnues -- outside of our neighborhood!

Illinois still has one African-American grocery store…

Unfortunately, it’s not in Chatham anymore. The former owners of Chatham Food, Leonard and Donna Harris, sold it because their children were not interested in continuing the family business. So at least for a short while, there were NO black-owned full line grocery stores in Illinois. (No, Moo and Oink don't count)

However, John and Maggie Anderson of the Ebony Experiment (where they are attempting to buy from only black-owned businesses) are going to Farmers Best Market.

Chatham Food Center in the news again

We wrote about Chatham Food Center already, with a customer review some time in the near future.

They are initially featured in today's Chicago SUn Times metro section under an article :Chicago Urban League: Getting down to business --
Urban League program offers the keys to success to black-owned companies

They have a more specific feature -- 'Aha' moments change Chatham Food owners

Here's that article:

BY FRANCINE KNOWLES
Leonard and Donna Harris, founders of Chatham Food Center have had some "aha" moments, since linking with the program.

"The primary 'aha' was that as a CPA and MBA from the University of Chicago, I'm thinking that I'm an entrepreneur. I came to the understanding that I wasn't," Leonard Harris said.

"I was a small-business operator No. 1. No. 2, I wasn't a growth business. I was a lifestyle business, but the third thing was as long as I was working in the business and wearing all these hats and not necessarily doing any of them really well, I was never going to grow the business."

The Harrises opted to hire a general manager to run things at the store, so they can fully take advantage of the program.

Since being in the program, they've examined research conducted by the Local Initiatives Support Corp./Chicago, which found that in 12 South Side communities, roughly $250 million is spent on groceries outside those communities because of the absence of stores.

That's opportunity, the couple said.

"Our goal is to come up with a new model, to open stores in a couple of different communities simultaneously," said Donna Harris.

They envision their stores as anchors in the development of new South Side shopping centers that include other businesses that meet the needs of inner-city communities. That way, dollars that are now leaving will stay.

"What this program is all about is jump-starting, revitalizing small businesses in the community for the purpose of economic development," Donna Harris said. "We're talking about employing people from the community, about wealth creation, about being a part of the revitalization of communities, so it's about more than just opening more grocery stores."

Mather's More Than a Cafe celebrates Black History month!

Straight from their offices...

See this link for our previous blog entry on Mather's More than A Cafe

Mather’s—More Than a Café Celebrates Black History Month
Programs Include Films, Skits, Musical Performances and Tributes

WHAT: Mather’s—More Than a Café will be hosting a wide variety of events to commemorate Black History Month. Our location in Chatham is in one of the city’s most vibrant neighborhoods and a perfect location to develop a story about Chicago’s connection to this important month. Scheduled events include:

A Look Back: Civil Rights
Friday, February 15, 2:00—4:30 p.m.
A special Civil Rights Movement film screening and a Prime Time Sister Circle II performance.

Soul Food and Mather’s Chorus Performance
A celebration including a special meal and chorus performance!
Monday, February 25, 4:00—7:00 p.m.
Meal cost: $15.00

A Tribute to Our Legends
Café customers and volunteers will portray prominent civil rights activists and legends in the arts, literary and political arenas. The program will be featured with a special tribute to Rev. Al Sharpton. Refreshments will be served.
Friday, February 29, 2:30—4:30 p.m.
Meal cost: $6.00

WHERE: Mather’s–More Than a Café
33 E. 83rd Street
Chicago, IL
(773) 488-2801

WHEN: Throughout the month of February

VISUALS: Music, movement, celebration and original performances by
older adults from the community surrounding the Café

WHO: Special guests and local celebrities
Mather’s–More Than a Café patrons

BACKGROUND:

Based in Evanston, Illinois, Mather LifeWays enhances the lives of older adults by creating Ways to Age Well.SM Founded in 1941 by entrepreneur and humanitarian Alonzo Mather, Mather LifeWays is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing a continuum of living and care; making neighborhoods better places for older adults to live, work, learn, contribute and play; and identifying, implementing and sharing best practices for wellness, workforce issues, memory care and empowering caregivers. To learn more about our senior living residences, Community Initiatives, Institute on Aging and how you can make a charitable contribution to advance our mission, please call (847) 492.7500 or find your Way to http://www.matherlifeways.com/.


CONTACT: Stuart Greenblatt
Mather LifeWays
(847) 492-7434
sgreenblatt@matherlifeways.com

"Souls of Black Folk" Oratory Contest

"Souls of Black Folk" Oratory Contest , as listed on Alderman Lyle's website:

"Souls of Black Folk" Oratory Contest : A contest designed to encourage writing and public speaking skills. Students in grades K through 12 are eligible to participate. More information coming soon.

Saturday, February 23, 2008 at John Marshall Harlan High School Auditorium beginning promptly at 12:00 noon


For further information about any of these events, call the 6th Ward Service Office at (773) 846-7006