by AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. 2024 QUARTER 4
November 27, 2024
THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY PUBLISHED ITS FIRST QUALITY-OF-LIFE PLAN CALLED AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. (AFT) IN 2018.
THIS QUARTERLY PUBLICATION DESCRIBES HOW AUSTIN COMING TOGETHER (ACT) IS SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY TO IMPLEMENT AFT AND OTHER EFFORTS.
WHAT THE COMMUNITY CAN EXPECT FROM THE ASPIRE CENTER PAGE 3
AUSTIN CONTINUES TO SUPPORT THE ASPIRE CENTER: FROM GROUNDBREAKING TO GRAND OPENING PAGE 4 FROM GRASSROOTS TO CORPORATE SUPPORT: HIGHLIGHTING THE PARTNERSHIPS MAKING THE ASPIRE CENTER POSSIBLE PAGE 7
Special thanks to these Austin Forward. Together. quality-of-life plan legacy investors:
With the release of the AFT Highlighted Agenda, ACT is going “on the road!” Our team will be on tour and available to co-host discussions about the new phase of Austin’s AFT quality-of-life plan and its vision and strategy, with block clubs, churches, community organizations, coalitions, etc. Other ways we’ll ensure to update the community on the progress of implementing the Highlighted Agenda are through newspaper sections like this, emails, and social media.
Community
Narrative
TASK FORCE CHAIRS
Kenneth Varner
Healthy Schools Campaign
Dearra Williams
Austin Coming Together
STRATEGY LEADS
Suzanne McBride
Austin Talks
Alicia Plomin
Austin Coming Together
Cindy Gray Schneider Spaces-n-Places
Jai Jones
PSPC, The Chicago
Community Trust and Community Resident
Adrienne Otkins
Community Resident
Economic Development
TASK FORCE CHAIR
Roxanne Charles West Side Forward
STRATEGY LEADS
Erica Staley Manufacturing Renaissance
Emily Peters
Jane Addams Resource Corporation
Tina Augustus
Community Resident
Melissa O’Dell Defy Ventures
Fanya Buford Berry
Community Resident
Education
TASK FORCE CHAIR
Charles Anderson
Michele Clark High School
STRATEGY LEADS
Ruth Kimble
Austin Childcare Providers Network
Cata Truss Community Resident
Housing
TASK FORCE CHAIRS
Athena Williams Oak Park Regional Housing Center
Allison McGowan Community Resident
STRATEGY LEADS
Shirley Fields Community Resident
Rosie Dawson
Westside Health Authority
Baxter Swilley Community Stakeholder
Public Safety
TASK FORCE CHAIRS
Bradly Johnson BUILD Inc.
Marilyn Pitchford Heartland Alliance
STRATEGY LEADS
Edwina Hamilton BUILD Inc.
Bertha Purnell Mothers OnA Mission28
Jose Abonce The Policing Project
Ruby Taylor Taproots, Inc.
Youth Empowerment
TASK FORCE CHAIR
D’elegance Lane
Community Stakeholder
STRATEGY LEADS
Aisha Oliver Root2Fruit
Helen Slade Territory NFP
Dollie Sherman
Austin Coming Together
Chris Thomas YourPassion1st
Civic Engagement
TASK FORCE CHAIR
Deborah Williams-Thurmond
Habilitative Systems Inc.
By Sydni Hatley
Marketing & Development Coordinator, Austin Coming Together
The Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation stands as a testament to the power of community organizing and collective vision. Built on the efforts of passionate advocates and community trailblazers, this project reflects a legacy crafted by and for the people it serves. Here are some highlights from the journey to revitalize the site at 5500 W. Madison.
CPS closes Emmet School, but Austin steps up and fights for it to be repurposed to continue addressing the community needs, holding ground while other government agencies proposed alternative uses that residents did not agree with.
2018
Over the next several years, the former school building remains vacant and at risk of being demolished, until Westside Health Authority (WHA) officially acquires the site. At the same time, Austin Coming Together is stewarding a grassroots effort for the community to create its first-ever quality-of-life plan called Austin Forward. Together. (AFT)
Recognizing an unique opportunity to partner, WHA and ACT collaborate with AFT leaders to reimagine the closed
Emmet school space, which gets included as a focal project of the AFT plan.
With support from LISC Chicago, planners at Teska Associates lead a visioning session to brainstorm ways the community could address critical needs through property redevelopment and the concept for the Aspire Center Workforce Innovation is born.
Lamar Johnson Collaborative (LJC) also joins the partnership, bringing additional design expertise and resources to realize the community’s vision.
Austin releases the AFT plan and starts implementation.
In partnership with ACT and By the Hand Club for Kids, WHA submits a Letter of Inquiry in response to the $10 million Chicago Prize opportunity through the Pritzker Traubert Foundation and is awarded a planning grant to develop a full proposal for submission.
four investments strategically clustered around existing assets in an area bound by Madison St., Chicago Ave., Central Ave., and Laramie Ave.: The Aspire Education & Wellness Campus; Aspire Austin College & Career Academy; The Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation; and Aspire Housing.
After being named one of six finalists for the Chicago Prize, ACT helps convene AFT and other leaders who collectively create The ASPIRE Initiative. The $121-milliondollar effort initially supported by United Way of Metro Chicago, IFF, Applegate & Thorne-Thomsen, Krista Inc., and Purpose Built Communities incorporates several goals and ideas from the community’s AFT plan and outlines how Austin can build a stronger cradle-to-career pipeline through
Community engagement continues with two in-person grassroots events occurring, as well as virtual engagements to garner input from Austin residents, in addition to ongoing AFT leader involvement.
ASPIRE begins to attract investment. Financial and pro-bono services support from private philanthropy, government, and technical assistance partners help generate over $40 million in capital from 2020 to 2023.
Financing closes on the project. The Aspire Center’s groundbreaking event is attended by former Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Followed by a community celebration that includes free food and a chance for residents to learn about the services that will be available at the Center directly from the groups who will provide them.
Community engagement and participation are still underway as we continue mobilizing the Aspire Center for operations. ACT is excited to expand our services and be part of the vibrant hub that the Center and the intersection of Madison and Central will become! n
When Emmet School was shut down in 2013, community organizers sprung to action, partnering, brainstorming, and collaborating on resources and efforts that would help keep this space in the community. Since then, hundreds of local leaders have come together to craft a roadmap for how Austin can lead the change it wants to see. Community leaders have influenced not only the mission and vision of the Aspire Center but also the operations and design projects for the center. As construction continues, nearing the 2025 Grand Opening, the team is grateful for the ongoing support of community members.
Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC) will provide comprehensive support and skills training for Central Austin’s unemployed, and underemployed in search of living-wage careers in high-demand economic sectors. Since 1985, JARC has trained low-income adults in manufacturing and will continue their free on-site skills training at the Center, teaching Computer Numerical Control machine operation, welding, and mechanical assembly.
Austin Coming Together (ACT) has facilitated collaboration among its member network to collectively impact education and economic development outcomes in Austin since 2010. ACT assisted the community in creating its first-ever qualityof-life plan and manages its ongoing implementation, in addition to engaging with residents to get them connected to resources through its Austin Community Hub Initiative.
Westside Health Authority (WHA) has owned the property of the former Emmet school, now Aspire Center, since 2018. They will leverage their 30 years of experience while offering services at the Center that include community reentry, youth development, and employment connections. In addition to the Aspire Center, WHA is involved in many efforts that are helping to revitalize and rebuild the Austin community and surrounding areas by leveraging the power of ordinary citizens.
BMO will ensure residents have access to a walk-up ATM, financial coaching, and other banking products/services. business development.
By Darnell Shields Executive Director, Austin Coming Together
Alongside Westside Health Authority, Austin Coming Together (ACT) is codeveloping Austin’s former Emmet Elementary School into the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation (ACWI), a central location for resources and high-performing on-site workforce development training.
ACWI is located at Madison and Central, one of the most important intersections in our community because Central Avenue is the spine that connects Austin’s other smaller neighborhoods. Developing existing assets in this densely populated area directly addresses many of the community’s needs and is a visible symbol of the investment our community deserves.
We understand it is important that the center help address both residents’ immediate and long-term challenges, so we have established a holistic model to approach serving residents along a spectrum of outcomes from economic stability through wealth creation.
Just as ACT’s Austin Community Hub currently does, the Aspire Center will support individuals by connecting them to a comprehensive range of services, many of which will be provided at the Center or by local service organization partners. Whether it be mental health, housing, or
even steady employment, we will help residents overcome the barriers holding them back from thriving.
However, we know that simply connecting an individual to a job will not allow them to build wealth unless that job is a career opportunity that pays a living wage. That’s why the Aspire Center will provide linkages and pathways to high-demand economic sectors such as healthcare, transportation distribution, and logistics, information technology, and advanced manufacturing so Austinites can truly have the chance for upward mobility.
The program model for the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation will be guided by these principles:
Focus on the individual
Infuse humanity in all we do
Commit to meet a person where they are and inspire
Address all related barriers
Help a person imagine goals they never thought possible
Help residents remain in Austin and thrive
Use our collective experience with who we serve as our primary source of research at the outset
Design for possibility, not necessarily services that exist
When you visit, you’ll find a welcoming environment with various spaces designed for community engagement, including reservable conference rooms and even a rooftop terrace!
The Aspire Center will be a place that offers so much more than just services; it will help aspirations take flight. We want the center to inspire everyone who walks through the doors to reach for their dreams and ambitions!
Completing the project will be a milestone in the community-led renaissance that’s been underway in Austin for years. It will
catalyze economic development and represent how the community is rising above a history of disinvestment, limited opportunities, and underfunded services.
The story of the Aspire Center is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when communities come together to build their future. It exemplifies how grassroots efforts can successfully transition to impactful and strategically funded initiatives that honor the voices of those they serve.
Construction is on track and the grand opening will be Spring 2025! n
Since 2010, Austin Coming Together (ACT) has facilitated collaboration to improve education and economic development outcomes in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.
Today, we serve a network of 50+ organizations committed to improving the quality of life in the Austin community. Our strategic plan is called Thrive 2025 and outlines how we will mobilize our resources to achieve four impact goals by the year 2025: Quality Early Learning, Safe Neighborhoods, Living Wage Careers, and Stable Housing Markets.
Officers
CHAIR
Larry Williams
Broker, State Farm Insurance
VICE CHAIRMAN
Bradly Johnson
Chief Community Officer, BUILD Inc.
SECRETARY
Jerrod Williams
Law Clerk, Illinois Appellate Court
Leadership
Darnell Shields
Executive Director
Research & Evaluation
Andrew Born*
Senior Director of Community Impact
Mia Almond
Research Associate
TREASURER
LaDarius Curtis
Senior Director of Community Engagement & Health, West Side United
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Darnell Shields
Austin Coming Together
Directors
Sharon Morgan
Director of Graduate Support & Community Outreach, Catalyst Schools
Reverend Reginald E. Bachus Pastor, Friendship Baptist Church
Deirdre Bates*
Director of Operations
Dearra Williams
Executive Operations Lead/ Assistant to the CEO
Londen Mance
Office Administrator
*Also part of the ACT Leadership Team
Sandra Diaz*
Service Delivery Enhancement Manager, Austin Community Hub
Emone Moore
Engagement Coordinator, Austin Community Hub
Dollie Sherman
Engagement Specialist, Austin Community Hub
A House in Austin
Academy of Scholastic Achievement
Austin Childcare Providers Network
Austin Community Family Center
Austin Weekly News
(Growing Community Media)
Be Strong Families
Beat the Streets Chicago
Bethel New Life
Beyond Hunger BUILD Inc.
By The Hand Club For Kids
Cara
Catholic Charities
Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures
Chicago Community
Loan Fund
City of Refuge
Defy Ventures Illinois
Erikson Institute
Friends of the Children
Friendship Community Development Corp. of Austin
Greater West Town
Community Development
Project
Tenisha Jones
Chief Program Officer, UCAN
Reginald Little
Business Development Specialist, Great Lakes Credit Union
Dawn Ferencak
Senior Marketing Strategist, Chicago Parent
Deborah Williams-Thurmond
Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist, Habilitative Systems, Inc.
Saenovia Poole
Community Resources Coordinator, Austin Community Hub
Clara Bonnlander
Social Services Coordinator, Austin Community Hub
Ethan Ramsay* Planning and Investment Manager
Grace Cooper Lead Organizer
Housing Forward
i.c. stars
IFF
Institute for Nonviolence Chicago
Jane Addams Resource Corporation
Kids First Chicago
KRA Westside American
Job Center
Learning Edge
Tutoring (fka Cluster Tutoring)
Ruth Kimble
Founder & CEO, Austin Childcare Providers Network
Max Komnenich
Associate Principal, Lamar Johnson Collaborative
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jack Macnamara 1937–2020
FOUNDING BOARD CHAIR
Mildred Wiley 1955–2019
Nyla Larry
Project Coordinator
Arewa Karen Winters
Community Organizer
Natalie Goodin
Special Projects Manager
Nicholas Galassini
Chicago Neighborhood Recovery Program Associate
Legal Aid Chicago (fka LAF)
Manufacturing
Renaissance
Mary Shyrese Daycare
Maryville Academy
Mercy Housing Lakefront
New Moms
OAI, Inc.
Oak Park Regional
Housing Center
Open Books
Marketing & Development
Alicia Plomin*
Director of Marketing and Development
Jon Widell Marketing and Development Specialist
Sydni Hatley
Marketing and Development Coordinator
PCC Community Wellness Center
Project Exploration
Renaissance Social Services, Inc.
Sarah’s Inn
South Austin
Neighborhood Association
St. Joseph Services
St. Leonard’s Ministries
Stone Community Development Corporation
The Catalyst Schools
The Journey Forward
The North Avenue
District, Inc.
Towers of Excellence
UIC Jane Addams
College of Social Work
VOCEL
Westside Health Authority
West Side Forward
Worldvision
Youth Guidance