Community Development and Empowerment

2 organizations work for community development and empowerment in the Westside area:

Renacer Westside Community Network, Inc.

Address:
2040 W. Jackson Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60612-3048
map location

Telephone: (312) 226-6007

Fax: (312) 226-1742

Email: elucas@uic.edu

Web site: http://www.charityamerica.com/individuals/infocauseway/charityabout.cfm?ind=2&CharityID=240

Mission: "Rebirth" of Chicago's near westside and assistance in other Communities. Employment: job readiness, training, referral, placement, and job creation.
Energy: Projects for public housing, weathrization, energy rater training, energy efficient mortgage advocacy, technical support for City Energy Code adoption, energy audits, blower door and infrared scan waste diagnostics, energy business development. Housing development assistance for area residents and in partnership with other Community-based developers.

Services:

• HOW (Hands-On Weatherization) Workshops, covering 235 lo-/no-cost energy measures in a half-day Workshop that builds awareness/skill/confidence; with follow-up site visits, for federally-funded weatherization.
• WorkFare basic computer literacy.
• Youth Program producing five issues of the Chicago Communicator Newspaper (in partnership with Aban-Aya program of the University of Illinois)
• Chicago Housing Authority Weatherization Project, trained 30 residents as Technicians, weatherized 200 townhouses, Technicians formed their own business, project won a National Association of Home Builders Award.

Westside Ministers Coalition

Address:
4540 W. Washington
Chicago, IL 60624-2242
map location

Telephone: (773) 626-3000

Fax: (773) 626-3604

Web site: http://www.geocities.com/westside_ministers_coalition/

Mission: Westside Ministers Coalition of Chicago inc. is an organization whose purpose is to work in cooporation with other organizations sharing similar values in accomplishing our goal, which is to explore and initiate self-help efforts to improve the westside community of Chicago in the area of housing, health, energy, education, economics, and community development.