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AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. 2026 QUARTER 2

July 8, 2026

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.

THE WALSER HOUSE LIVES ON IN AUSTIN

Historic landmark secured on the Westside by Austin Coming Together

THE JOURNEY OF AUSTIN COMING TOGETHER AND THE WALSER HOUSE PAGE B3 ROADMAP: RECLAIMING AN ASSET FOR THE COMMUNITY PAGE B4

THE WALSER HOUSE SAVED BY A WESTSIDE COALITION PAGE B7 Special thanks to these Austin Forward. Together. quality-of-life plan legacy investors:

B2 Austin Weekly News • July 8, 2026

AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER: 2026 QUARTER 2.

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.

ACT BOARD OF DIRECTORS

LaDarius Curtis

Director of Community Engagement, Greater Chicago Food Depository

Officers CHAIR

Deborah Williams-Thurmond

Jack Macnamara

Austin Coming Together

VICE CHAIRMAN

Directors Sharon Morgan

Director of Graduate Support & Community Outreach, Catalyst Schools

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

Reginald Little

In Memoriam

Broker, State Farm Insurance

CEO, BUILD Inc.

Associate Principal, Lamar Johnson Collaborative

Business Development Specialist, Great Lakes Credit Union

Darnell Shields

Bradly Johnson

Max Komnenich

Executive Management Professional

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Larry Williams

ACT STAFF

Tenisha Jones

TREASURER

Reverend Reginald E. Bachus

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

1937–2020

Founder & CEO, D.W. Provision Consulting Services

FOUNDING BOARD CHAIR

Ruth Kimble

1955–2019

Mildred Wiley

Founder & CEO, Austin Childcare Providers Network

Pastor, Friendship Baptist Church

Naysha Alcala

Data & Systems Analyst

Alfred Jackson Community Liaison/ receptionist

Marsha Williams Office Clerk

Operations Deirdre Bates

Dollie Sherman Engagement Specialist

Ethan Ramsay*

Planning and Investment Manager, Austin Forward Together

Strategic Initiatives Grace Cooper Sandra Diaz* Lead Organizer

Director of Operations

Dearra Williams

Natalie Goodin

Executive Liaison

Service Delivery Enhancement Manager, Hub @Aspire Center

Londen Mance

Emone Moore

Arewa EKUA

Office Administrator

Engagement Specialist

ACT MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS

Special Projects Manager Community Organizer

La’Shawna Bundy Marketing & Community Land Trust Development Coordinator Robbie Gorman* Mary White Director of Development Community Resource Coordinator

Krys Cano

Community Resource Coordinator

Ariel Bland

Referral Network Coordinator

Jon Widell

Marketing and Development Specialist

Sydni Hatley

Marketing and Development Specialist * Also part of the ACT Leadership Team

Institute for Nonviolence Chicago

Mercy Housing Lakefront

Association

Westside Health Authority

New Moms

St. Joseph Services

West Side Forward

OAI, Inc.

St. Leonard’s Ministries

Worldvision

A House in Austin

Bethel New Life

Defy Ventures Illinois

Academy of Scholastic Achievement

Beyond Hunger

Erikson Institute

Jane Addams Resource Corporation

BUILD Inc.

Friends of the Children

Kids First Chicago

Oak Park Regional Housing Stone Community Development Corporation Center

Youth Guidance

District, Inc. Austin Childcare Providers By The Hand Club For Kids Friendship Community KRA Westside American Job Open Books The Catalyst Schools Towers of Excellence Network Development Corp. of Austin Center Cara PCC Community Wellness The Journey Forward UIC Jane Addams College of Austin Community Family Greater West Town Learning Edge Tutoring (fka Center Catholic Charities Social Work Center The North Avenue District, Community Development Cluster Tutoring) Chicago Austin Youth Travel Inc. Project Exploration VOCEL Austin Weekly News Project Legal Aid Chicago (fka LAF) Adventures (Growing Community Towers of Excellence Westside Health Authority Renaissance Social Services, Housing Forward Manufacturing Renaissance Inc. Media) Chicago Community Loan UIC Jane Addams College of West Side Forward i.c. stars Fund Mary Shyrese Daycare Be Strong Families Social Work Sarah’s Inn Worldvision IFF City of Refuge Maryville Academy Beat the Streets Chicago South Austin Neighborhood VOCEL Youth Guidance

AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER: 2026 QUARTER 2.

Austin Weekly News • July 8, 2026

The Journey of Austin Coming Together and the Walser House

By Darnell Shields Executive Director, Austin Coming Together

I

n late June 2026, Austin Coming Together acquired the J.J. Walser House –– the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed residence at 42 N. Central Avenue in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood.

The acquisition marks a major preservation milestone for Austin, with ACT taking responsibility for the endangered landmark and guiding its next chapter with community accountability and long-term care.

The home, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1903 for Joseph J. and Grace Walser, is a rare example of Wright’s Prairieperiod residential work in the city of Chicago.

It is a designated Chicago Landmark, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and is Wright’s only single-family residence on Chicago’s West Side. The Walser House has benefited from generations of stewardship, including nearly five decades of care by Hurley and Anne Teague, who purchased the home in 1970. Following Anne Teague’s passing in 2019, the property entered a period of vacancy and uncertainty, underscoring the need to protect the home and carry forward its legacy.

For ACT and its partners, the acquisition is not only about preserving a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home. It is also about recognizing the Walser House as part of Austin’s future. As steward of the Austin Forward. Together. quality-of-life plan and Austin’s Central Avenue Plan, ACT sees the house as a valuable asset with the potential to anchor the preservation of history, and the opportunity for more cultural and educational experiences along one of the neighborhood’s key corridors. The Walser House was a dot on a map in the Qualityof-life plan back in 2018, and we see this as a full circle moment for the community, and the vision and direction that had been set out for Austin all of those years ago. Further, this acquisition continues the momentum and transformation taking place on Central Avenue, moving the Central Avenue Action Plan fully into implementation, preserving a piece of Austin’s rich history and beginning a journey that mirrors the trajectory of the community.

This moment has been years in the making.

Along the way, we have navigated a complex process, outside development pressures, severe weatherization, foreclosure, and a myriad of financial and maintenance hurdles. Through bringing both preservation leadership and a longstanding commitment to Austin, we are ready to usher in the next chapter. 

Photo of Anne Teague outside of her home, by Eric Allix Rogers

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B4 Austin Weekly News • July 8, 2026

AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER: 2026 QUARTER 2.

Roadmap: Reclaiming an asset for the community An inside look into the process and strategy

Reclaiming an asset for the community entails a lot of work: stabilization, community engagement, development, in addition to navigating the complexities involved with acquiring a property that has a rich history; it requires time and patience. We are now entering the next phases of this process, after acquisition, and while this process is demanding, we are excited for the opportunity and privilege that has presented itself to restore an iconic home in Austin.

STABILIZATION Stabilization is the first critical step. This work focuses on addressing the immediate physical needs of the property to prevent further deterioration while continuing to assess the home’s long-term restoration needs.

Early priorities include weatherproofing the roof to protect the home from elements, working with architects and engineers to develop and execute a plan to support the structural foundation and addressing environmental concerns that resulted from years of deferred maintenance.

The stabilization efforts will help ensure the Walser House is protected and prepared for future restoration and reuse. .

COMMUNITY RE-INVISIONING The Walser House is more than just an architectural project, reclaiming this asset for Austin is a tool for community equity, furthering the revitalization of Central Avenue, and honoring previous stewards of the property, like the Teague family. The home has tremendous potential to serve as a cultural hub and multi-use space that reflects the needs, history, and aspirations of Austin residents. Additionally, its architectural significance also creates opportunities for tourism associated with the architectural appeal of Frank Lloyd Wright, while preserving and sharing the important history connected to the former resident owners and the Austin community.

AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER: 2026 QUARTER 2.

Austin Weekly News • July 8, 2026

DEVELOPMENT This is an exciting and complex adaptive re-use development project that will require strong partnerships, a massive fundraising effort, and deep community engagement.

The development will occur in multiple phases.

ACT is well positioned to lead this project, as the new owner of the home, building on our successes stewarding assets for the community, including the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation. ACT will ensure this process has community accountability, input, and the longterm care and development that is required. .

The acquisition reflects a broad coalition effort to move the house from uncertainty into stewardship.

The stewardship is a permanent long-term phase of ownership that is unique to an acquisition of this nature. Unlike standard real estate ventures that end when construction finishes, ownership and acquisition of a landmark is an ongoing responsibility. Austin Coming Together is honored to take on this project and maintain, protect, and manage the Walser House to restore it to its former status, and see it become a contributor to Austin continuing to thrive.

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B6 Austin Weekly News • July 8, 2026

AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER: 2026 QUARTER 2.

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.

WE CANNOT DO THIS WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF AUSTIN RESIDENTS. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Plan Leaders Community Narrative TASK FORCE CHAIRS

Kenneth Varner

Healthy Schools Campaign

Dearra Williams

Austin Coming Together

Reesheda Nicole Berry The Kindred Civic Arts Forum STRATEGY LEADS

Cindy Gray Schneider Spaces-n-Places

Maria Sorrell

Community Resident

Megan Hinchy

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Andraya Yousfi

By the Hand Club for Kids

Jai Jones

Economic Development

Adrienne Otkins

TASK FORCE CHAIR

United Way and Community Resident Community Resident

Roxanne Charles

Michael Romain

West Side Forward

The Culture

STRATEGY LEADS

Keli Stewart

Emily Peters

Front Porch Arts Center

Imani Lewis

Civic Researcher

Kenn Cook

Westside Historical Collective

Jane Addams Resource Corporation

Tina Augustus

Community Resident

Melissa O’Dell Defy Ventures

Fanya Buford-Berry Community Resident

Education

Housing

Public Safety

TASK FORCE CHAIR

TASK FORCE CHAIRS

TASK FORCE CHAIRS

Charles Anderson

Athena Williams

Langston Harris

Michele Clark High School

Oak Park Regional Housing Center

Allison McGowan

Project Exploration

Deondre Rutues

Community Resident

Rutues Center for Business & People Development

Director of Parent University

STRATEGY LEADS

STRATEGY LEADS

Shirley Fields

Ruth Kimble

Community Resident

Edwina Hamilton

STRATEGY LEADS

Pam Price

Austin Childcare Providers Network

Cata Truss

Community Resident

Rosie Dawson Westside Health Authority

BUILD Inc.

Jose Abonce

The Policing Project

Ruby Taylor Taproots, Inc.

Youth Empowerment TASK FORCE CHAIR

Kenya Hawkins

Community Stakeholder STRATEGY LEADS

Aisha Oliver Root2Fruit

Helen Slade Territory NFP

Dollie Sherman

Austin Coming Together

Chris Thomas YourPassion1st

Baxter Swilley

Civic Engagement

Ed Coleman

TASK FORCE CHAIR

Community Stakeholder Austin Chamber of Commerce

Nikea Banks Community Resident

INTERESTED IN JOINING AN IMPLEMENTATION TASK FORCE? Contact ACT’s Lead Organizer Grace Cooper at gcooper@austincomingtogether.org

Deborah Williams-Thurmond D.W. Provision Consulting Services

AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER: 2026 QUARTER 2.

Austin Weekly News • July 8, 2026

B7

The Walser House saved by a Westside Coalition The journey to rescue the historic JJ Walser House has reached a monumental turning point. The acquisition by Austin Coming Together reflects a broad coalition effort and marks a critical shift from uncertainty into stewardship.

Without the commitment from a broad coalition: the Frank Lloyd Wright Conservancy, Landmarks Illinois, Preservation Chicago, City of Chicago Historic Landmarks Division, Austin Forward. Together, and the Teague Family this historic moment would not be possible. Their work has helped the asset in the hands of the community.

This acquisition reflects years of coordinated efforts to rescue the property from foreclosure and neglect. Civic and community partners, including Fannie Mae and the Community Investment Corporation, worked alongside community stakeholders and preservation partners to secure a pathway for the property’s transfer to ACT so the community can benefit from it.

Moving forward, we are committed to and focused on the long-term stabilization of the home. This is an outcome preservation advocates described as significant for both the landmark and the West Side community. t

We commend Austin Coming Together for its vision and determination to preserve the J.J. Walser House, a nationally recognized architectural and cultural asset on Chicago’s West Side.

KENDRA PARZEN, LANDMARKS ILLINOIS ADVOCACY MANAGER

ACT understands the potential waiting to be unlocked by revitalizing this landmark Frank Lloyd Wright design, celebrating Austin as a destination for notable architecture. The organization’s deep roots in the community mean they know the rich stories the house can tell about how it has changed over time, and what Austin residents envision for its future.

BARBARA GORDON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT BUILDING CONSERVANCY

Austin Coming Together’s acquisition of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Walser House will be transformative for both the home and the community.

WARD MILLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF PRESERVATION CHICAGO

To learn more and sign-up for updates visit: austincomingtogether.org/walser

BE A PART OF HISTORY

DONATE TO MAKING WALSER WRIGHT FOR AUSTIN Give online today:

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