ANNOUNCES THE WINNERS OF THE 29TH ANNUAL CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT AWARDS RECOGNIZING TOP COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND ARCHITECTURE ACHIEVEMENTS

“Communities Lead, Communities Succeed,” Featured an Address by Mayor Brandon Johnson and Showcased the Creativity of those Shaping Chicago’s Neighborhoods CHICAGO—LISC Chicago announced the winners of the 29th annual Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards (CNDA) on June 22 in Chicago, where top community development projects, architectural achievements and individuals from across the city were honored. The ceremony started with Mayor Brandon Johnson’s keynote speech, followed by the awards ceremony where winners accepted their awards alongside a network of supporters. This year’s theme, “Communities Lead, Communities Succeed” reflects power that comes when communities across Chicago set their own neighborhood vision and lead on practices and investment to advance their shared goals.

“The CNDAs are centered around lifting up the essential role community, public, and private partnerships have in building communities in Chicago-area neighborhoods,” said Meghan Harte, Senior Executive Director of LISC Chicago. “This year’s CNDA theme recognizes that ‘when communities lead, communities succeed’ and if we stop and listen to the members of a community, we quickly realize that they are the experts. They have been dedicated to the work in their own communities for decades and have demonstrated that they’re there to stay. That’s why supporting local vision and community-led efforts is the best way to build wealth and resiliency in our neighborhoods. The award winners in each category tonight represent the leadership, vision, passion and dedication of so many partners. We are honored to celebrate them.”

The 29th Annual CNDA winners include:

The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Non-Profit Real Estate Development Award: Full Circle Communities for 5150 Northwest Highway Apartments

The For-Profit Real Estate Development Award: E.G. Woode L3C for E.G. Woode Alpha

The Chicago Community Trust Outstanding Community Plan Award: Palenque LSNA for the Here to Stay, Hermosa and Logan Square West Quality-of-Life Plan

The Polk Bros. Foundation Affordable Rental Housing Preservation Award: Preservation of Affordable Housing Inc. for South Chicago Salud Center and Senior Housing The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Healthy Community Award: New Life Centers for Chicagoland for Pan De Vida Fresh Market The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foun- dation Creative Places Award: National Museum of Mexican Art for Jardin Malinalli The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Award for Architectural Excellence in Community Design: First Place: MKB Architects for the Auburn Gresham Healthy Lifestyle Hub Second Place: LBBA for Lucy Gonzalez Parsons Apartments Third Place: JGMA for Richard J. Daley College’s Manufacturing, Technology & Engineering Center

The CIBC Emerging Leadership Award: Felicia Slaton-Young, Executive Director of the Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce

The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Community Design Impact Award: Katherine Darnstadt of Latent Design

Emmanuel Garcia of Wheeler Kearns

Architects Fabiola Yep of Weeler Kearns

Architects The Richard M. Daley Friend of the Neighborhood Award: George Wright, CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

The Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards were established in 1994 to show appreciation and acknowledge community developers and for-profit organizations behind Chicago’s communities and outstanding new developments. In its 29th year, CNDA is the largest and most venerated celebration of the creativity and accomplishments that transform neighborhoods across the city.

This year’s sponsors include Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen, Associated Bank, Bank of America, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, BMO Harris Bank, Brinshore Development, Chicago Architecture Center, Chicago Community Loan Fund, Chicago Community Trust, CIBC, Clayco, Community Investment Corporation, Cubs Charities, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago, Fifth Third, Illinois Housing Council, Illinois Housing Development Authority, JPMorgan Chase, LBBA, Miner, Barnhill & Galland, National Equity Fund, North Lawndale Employment Network, Old National Bank, Pierce Family Foundation, PNC Bank, Polk Bros Foundation, Preservation of Affordable Housing, RBC Community Investments, SB Friedman Development Advisors, SelfHelp Federal Credit Union, Site Design Group, Southwest Organizing Project, State Farm, STIFEL, Teska Associates, The Community Builders, The Habitat Company, The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, The Michaels Organization, The Pritzker Traubert Foundation, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, US Bank, Wight & Company.

Learn more about this year’s winners via the program guide at www. lisc-cnda.org.

The Biden-Harris Administration Takes Additional Actions to Address Mental Health Needs of Young People and Make Communities Safer from Gun Violence

The U.S. Department of Education (ED) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) took additional steps to advance the investments and efforts set forth by President Biden’s Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) -- the most significant bipartisan gun safety legislation in nearly 30 years. BSCA set forth crucial mental health investments and actions to prevent and respond to gun violence in communities, ensure that those experiencing grief and trauma resulting from gun violence have access to high-quality mental health services, and supports to make our schools safer and expand community violence interventions.

“It’s no secret that we are facing a mental health crisis in this country, and our children are hurting,” said U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra. “That is why this Administration is committed to addressing this crisis through continued efforts, investments, and more. The actions being announced today will make it easier for schools to receive payment for the mental health services they deliver to students impacted by gun violence. At HHS, we will continue working to ensure young people have more places to turn to for help.”

“Too many students have experienced gun violence in their schools and communities. The grief and trauma caused by gun violence undermines their ability to learn and thrive and has only heightened the national youth mental health crisis,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “The Department of Education is using every available resource to maximize the investments made through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act to help schools build an infrastructure of care and support for students. The Biden-Harris administration will continue working to break down silos between education and health care, raise the bar for our support of students’ mental health and wellbeing, and ensure our schools are safe havens for teaching and learning.”

To advance the mission of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, Secretaries Becerra and Cardona sent a joint letter to governors highlighting resources to help states, communities, and schools support students’ mental health and well-being, particularly students impacted by gun violence. The letter highlights ED’s investments and capacity-building efforts that will expand and improve school-based mental health services, address community violence, provide wraparound supports, and promote a safe and supportive school climate. The letter also outlines HHS’s efforts to support the development of school-based mental health supports; prepare and train school personnel, emergency first responders, law enforcement and others to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health impacts from gun violence; and increase treatment and support services for individuals and communities affected by trauma, including trauma caused by gun violence.

ED and HHS are working together on BSCA implementation because today’s young people are facing unprecedented challenges and disruptions in their school lives and communities, including increased disconnection and social isolation as well as increased gun violence. These challenges have had devastating effects on students’ mental health and well-being, which in turn have profound implications for their academic success and their overall life outcomes. These new actions help extend the impact of BSCA in keeping our communities safe, bringing new resources and protections to bear both in addressing the mental health challenges that young people face so that all students can learn freely and safely every day and curbing gun violence in our communities.

The Biden Administration has taken a multifaceted approach to BSCA implementation to deliver on crucial protections and resources to help prevent gun violence in schools and support the development of high-quality school-based mental health services.

At ED, this includes awarding $286 million to date across 264 grantees in 48 states and territories to boost the training, hiring, and diversification of mental health professionals in schools through its SchoolBased Mental Health and Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration grant programs (which will result in an estimated 14,000 additional mental health professionals in schools); distributing $1 billion in the Stronger Connections Grant program to help schools in high-need districts provide students with safe, welcoming, and supportive learning opportunities and environments that are critical for their success; and providing an additional $50 million to supplement before and after-school programming for young people through the Nita M. Lowey 21st Century Community Learning Centers, through evidence-based practices that increase attendance and engagement among middle- and high-school aged youth.

At HHS, nearly $245 million in funding has been awarded to support youth mental health, help the health care workforce address mental health needs, and fund other critical mental health supports; $70 million to help develop and support school-based mental health programs; almost $60 million to prepare and train school personnel, emergency first responders, law enforcement and others to recognize the signs and symptoms of mental health challenges; and almost $55 million to increase treatment and support services for individuals and communities affected by trauma caused by gun violence. In the coming months, HHS will also provide almost $60 million to states and territories for the second of four increments in supplemental funding for the Community Mental Health Services Block Grant for mental health treatment and recovery services including crisis services and early serious mental illness treatment programs.

Gap-Filling Funds: Help buying essential items like school supplies, technology, uniforms, furniture, clothes, after-school or summer camp fees.

One-on-One Counseling: Discuss self-care, decision-making, and ways to cope stress when feeling overwhelmed with the challenges of raising children unexpectedly.

Support Groups: Share your stories, challenges, & successes caring for your loved ones.