Leadership
Leadership
Announcement
Resident organizing is a critical component the success of long-term community development and resilience.
Local community members are best able toaddress issues that impact residents' quality of life, helping to improve housing affordability and stability, reduce retailatory violence, increase local business development and employment, and support economic recovery. Community members have a vested interest in making Garfield Park aplace where all neighbors enjoy the freedom to walk, shop, and feel safe in their homes and community, something taken for granted in other Chicago neighborhoods.
Resident leadership and engagement is one of the most powerful tools for neighborhood development.
GPCC works to build local leaders by hosting an annual organizing training and involving community members as they assume leadership roles in community planning and revitalization efforts. Since 2014, more than 100 residents have participated in leadership, organizing, advocacy, and campaign strategy planning to date through the GPCC and its partners.
Incorporating resident leadership into GPCC’s direct programming ensures that the organization’s work is planned and implemented in response to residents’ seen and felt needs. GPCC will continue to provide training and support to community members as they develop the expertise to organize and advocate for change on a block-by-block level.
Leadership and Organizing Training
GPCC's annual community organizing training series aims to help local residents learn about the qualities and importance of leadership and the process of identifying community priorities and developing community advocacy campaigns. Training educators have included veteran organizers in Chicago, including leaders at Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization, Metropolitan Tenants Organization, Target Area DevCorps, and Southwest Organizing Project.
GPCC works with training participants to conduct hyper-local collective action campaigns and engage community members in its outreach. Several trainees have gone on to lead local campaigns; one graduate now works for GPCC as a part-time Resident Organizer.
Local and City-wide Initiatives
As part of its goal to promote local leadership, GPCC supports ongoing resident-led projects and initiatives throughout Garfield Park and on the West Side, including the newly-formed Garfield Park Coalition for Housing and Stability and West Side Rising. GPCC also connects residents to city-wide initiatives advocating for policies that impact Garfield Park residents, including the Chicago Housing Justice League and One Chicago for All.
Leadership and Organizing Training
GPCC's annual community organizing training series aims to help local residents learn about the qualities and importance of leadership and the process of identifying community priorities and developing community advocacy campaigns. Training educators have included veteran organizers in Chicago, including leaders at Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization, Metropolitan Tenants Organization, Target Area DevCorps, and Southwest Organizing Project.
GPCC works with training participants to conduct hyper-local collective action campaigns and engage community members in its outreach. Several trainees have gone on to lead local campaigns; one graduate now works for GPCC as a part-time Resident Organizer.
Local and City-wide Initiatives
As part of its goal to promote local leadership, GPCC supports ongoing resident-led projects and initiatives throughout Garfield Park and on the West Side, including the newly-formed Garfield Park Coalition for Housing and Stability and West Side Rising. GPCC also connects residents to city-wide initiatives advocating for policies that impact Garfield Park residents, including the Chicago Housing Justice League and One Chicago for All.
