What We are Facing
With the increase of land values, opportunistic developers and investors are making housing unaffordable and putting longtime residents at risk. Last year, 32% of properties were bought in South Shore by profit-driven investors, a 15% increase since the Obama Center was announced in 2015.

A Sad Reality: Being Forced Out of Our Homes
A recent example of what we are up against is , which left tenants without heat for a month in the winter and forced them into unaffordable apartments.

Why a Community Benefits Agreement?
While we understand there are benefits of the Obama Center, a CBA will protect the people of South Shore keeping housing costs down, stopping unfair evictions and ensuring that longtime residents aren’t forced out by high rents and property taxes. The CBA would also provide funding for home repairs, relief from high taxes, measures to prevent evictions and a ban on unfair fees.

Overwhelming Support
Recently, in a non-binding ballot question.

Holding Our Representatives Accountable
Alderman Desmon Yancy . The community reminded him this past month when they came together to share stories of being forced out and demanded unwavering support for the CBA.

What are We Asking For?
We propose a set of specific benefits that will address the needs of South Shore residents:

1. Preserve city-owned vacant lots for the development of affordable housing.
2. Reserve 60% of new housing for extremely low-income households.
3. Convert new developments into public housing.
4. Invest in rent assistance, home rehabilitation loans and homeownership initiatives.

To learn more, go to .

We Must Move Quickly
While efforts have been made to preserve affordable housing in neighboring Woodlawn, South Shore remains vulnerable. Investors have already bought 32% of homes in the community, more than any other neighborhood in the city. To join the fight against displacement, email us at info@nullkocoonline.org, or call (773) 548-7500.

The post Obama Center ‘Yes,’ Displacement ‘No’ appeared first on ��ѻ��ýCommunity Organization.

Recognizing the pressing issues faced by the residents, he extended the church beyond Sunday and championed initiatives such as affordable healthcare, access to nutritious food, youth services and recreational activities that became cornerstones of his ministry.

Little did he know that Kenwood United Church was one of the founding churches that helped create the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization. Rev. Sanders served on KOCO’s board for over a decade continuing to advocate for fair housing practices, opposing the displacement of the Black community from its lakefront neighborhood and collaborating on Back to School and Summer programs.

One of Rev. Sanders’ notable contributions to the Kenwood community includes founding the Norma Jean Sanders Health Clinic in 2001. The clinic, located at , offers free, personalized medical care to all individuals. Open on Fridays from 9 am – 2 pm, it addresses various health concerns prevalent in the community, such as asthma, hypertension and heart disease, assists with referrals for dental, eye care and other specialty services and conducts Back to School exams. Call the clinic at (773) 624-8987.

While the clinic temporarily closed after the passing of its former Medical Director, Dr. David Stewart, in 2022, the clinic is now reopened under the leadership of its new Medical Director, Dr. Maurice ‘Mo’ Brownlee. Please help spread the word to ensure that the community can take advantage of its vital services.

Norma Jean Sanders Free Clinic Re-opening. Rev. Boyd, current pastor at Kenwood UCC, Dr. Maurice ‘Mo’ Brownlee, Current Clinic Medical Director, Rev. Dr. Sanders, Pastor Emeritus at Kenwood UCC, and Jaribu Lee, Deputy Director at the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization.

In reflecting on his work, Rev. Sanders emphasized the importance of the community asserting their wants and needs and demanding the resources and opportunities that have too long been denied. “We must address the disparities in education, the lack of community facilities and the challenges faced by our youth. If you don’t speak out, ain’t nothing gonna happen.” says Rev. Sanders, a reminder to us all that it is our duty to use our ideas and talents to improve the quality of life for everyone in our communities.

At KOCO we are grateful for the opportunity to honor and celebrate Rev. Sanders on his 90th birthday as he celebrates 45 years of ministry. We appreciate having worked with Rev. Sanders and Kenwood United Church over the last 4 decades.

We need more principled, honorable, and ethical community pillars like Rev. Sanders. Rev. Sanders has laid a foundation that can be built upon for the next 40 years and beyond. KOCO works to develop new generations of African American leadership that will build stable, viable, and just communities where opportunity is not denied based on race or economic status.

The post Celebrate the Life & Legacy of Rev. Dr. Leroy Sanders appeared first on ��ѻ��ýCommunity Organization.

Mayor Johnson, a former organizer for the Chicago Teachers Union, credited his “multicultural, multi-generational movement” for carrying him from relative obscurity to the fifth floor of City Hall. He promised to create a government that truly belongs to the people of Chicago. “It’s more than voting,” Johnson said in his victory speech. “We’re building power.”

It is imperative that more young people actively participate in the decision-making in their communities and the city including voting and ongoing civic engagement, advocacy, policy development and implementation. KOCO believes in building the power of the people every day. From community organizing, leadership development, education, and training, we empower our young people, senior citizens, and the entire family. We aim to show young Chicagoans how to participate in their own rescue by actively engaging in the community and advocating for the changes they want to see in their city.

When young people are truly empowered and encouraged to use their power they create real positive change in our communities and the city overall. This process of investing in young people benefits everyone right now and into the future. As KOCO continues to work toward developing the next generation of leaders, the role of youth in Chicago’s politics and communities will undoubtedly remain a force for positive change.

While the city seeks to partner more authentically with community organizations, churches and other stakeholders to keep young people safe over the holiday weekend, KOCO will continue to advocate for year-round investment in our youth. Below are some youth-led, community-supported events and activities designed to engage young people, create safe spaces and advocate for policy change.

The post Building Power: Supporting Chicago’s Youth as They Shape the City’s Future appeared first on ��ѻ��ýCommunity Organization.

We need a moratorium on hospital closures NOW to #SaveMercy and #SaveProvident. Submit a witness slip in support of SB558 HFA3, the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ health equity omnibus bill that includes a moratorium on hospital closures. It will be discussed in a House Executive Committee Hearing TODAY.

To file a witness slip, go to bit.ly/savemercyslip – Fill out the form with your information. Note that most fields are mandatory. If you do not officially represent an organization, please write “SELF.”- For position, select “SB558-HFA3” from the drop-down menu, and click “PROPONENT.”- For testimony, choose “record of appearance only.”- To submit the created slip, accept the terms and click the “create slip” button.

We need a moratorium on hospital closures NOW! Chicago Needs An Elected Representative School Board Now! Out of more than 800 school districts in the state of Illinois, Chicago is the largest and one of the only districts that does not have an elected school board! KOCO has been on the frontline for years on the need for an Elected Representative School Board for Chicago.

We urge you to take action with us today to call State Senate President Don Harmon to call the vote for HB 2267, which creates an Elected Representative School Board for Chicago. CPS’s appointed board isn’t accountable to families, teachers or voters. Having a school board appointed by the mayor for 25 years has not brought stability to CPS in terms of finances, enrollment or labor relations.

We are tired of not having a voice and a vote and how our public schools are run like every other school district in Illinois. Aren’t you?�� Call Senator Harmon TODAY at (217) 782-8176.

Chicago parents and citizens deserve full democracy, not ‘hybrid’ democracy.�� CPS families of color call for elected school board

The post State House Committee Discussing Moratorium on Hospital Closures Happening NOW! appeared first on ��ѻ��ýCommunity Organization.

CHEC is committed to ensuring that Mercy Hospital remains a full-service safety net and teaching hospital for generations to come. But Insight has no experience in operating a full-service hospital. That makes transparency, community oversight and participation in governance is more crucial. Community stakeholders must have��equitable representation��on the new board of directors��with voting powers and a significant role in how the new owner operates Mercy Hospital��in Bronzeville.

���ܰ���includes expectations for:
1. restoring critical services, 2. governance, 3. financial stability, 4. transparency, 5. collective bargaining, 6. including employee retention and rehiring. Mercy Hospital is able to provide comprehensive health care for the long term. See the full rubric evaluation tool here

The Chicago Health Equity Coalition is made up of SEIU Health Care Illinois and Indiana, Kenwood Oakland Community Organization, Teamsters Local 743, Lugenia Burns Hope Center, National Nurses United, Mother’s Opposed to Violence Everywhere, Physicians for a National Health Plan, BYP100, SEIU Local 73, White Coats for Black Lives, People for Community Recovery and Mt. Carmel MB Church.��

CHEC’s goal is to stop the closure of hospitals in vulnerable communities on the South and West sides of Chicago and work to ensure that all Illinoisans have equitable access to health care. We must continue to work together to realize health equity in Chicago in our lifetime!

The post Huge Mercy Hospital Victory, But the Fight Isn’t Over appeared first on ��ѻ��ýCommunity Organization.

Back in the summer when the word about Mercy Hospital closing emerged, the Kenwood Oakland Community Organization and the Lugenia Burns Hope Center formed the Chicago Health Equity Coalition (CHEC), made up of community, labor, healthcare and faith-based organizations, to fight back and #SaveMercy and #SaveProvident. Since May of 2020 CHEC has consistently been on the front lines of the fight to save Mercy Hospital.

Much has happened since the summer and our Coalition has consistently been demanding that Trinity Health Systems sell Mercy and it was made public last week��that Trinity has agreed to sell��Mercy Hospital and��has identified��a prospective buyer to��keep the hospital open.��We are pleased that Trinity Health Systems is finally willing to sell to a buyer to keep a full-service hospital at the site! Though we are pleased with this development,��we reject a process where Trinity determines who the buyer will be.

CHEC has met with Trinity’s Proposed buyer, but also plans to meet with other potential buyers. ��We are��calling on the Illinois Health Facilities Board to��deny��Trinity’s proposal to sell to their buyer��unless the��CHEC and elected officials get the opportunity to examine��all proposals.��Nothing about us, without us.

Join us virtually or submit your written statement for the next public hearing of the Illinois Health Facilities Board on Mercy tomorrow,��Friday, March 12 at 11 AM.��The deadline to register to speak��at the meeting is today, so����and pass the word.

We must continue to work together to realize health equity in Chicago…in our lifetime!

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The post Milestone Towards Victory to Save Mercy Hospital appeared first on ��ѻ��ýCommunity Organization.