December 16, 2020
AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. 2020 QUARTER 4
THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY PUBLISHED ITS FIRST QUALITY-OF-LIFE PLAN CALLED AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. (AFT) IN 2019. THIS QUARTERLY PUBLICATION DESCRIBES HOW AUSTIN COMING TOGETHER (ACT) IS SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY TO IMPLEMENT AFT AND OTHER EFFORTS.
AUSTIN
REMAINS RESILIENT After a long year, the community continues to go forward together.
AN UNWAVERING COMMITMENT PAGE 3 | 2020 AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. HIGHLIGHTS PAGE 4 DISTANCED AND DISCONNECTED PAGE 7
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Austin Weekly News • December 16, 2020
AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. 2020 QUARTER 4
Since 2010, Austin Coming Together (ACT) has facilitated collaboration to improve education and economic development outcomes in Chicago’s Austin community. Today, we serve a network of 50+ organizations committed to improving the quality of life of all residents. 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. Learn more at AustinComingTogether.org.
ACT BOARD OF DIRECTORS Officers CHAIR
Larry Williams Broker, State Farm Insurance VICE-CHAIR
Angela Waller
TREASURER
LaDarius Curtis Senior Director of Community Engagement & Health, West Side United
Directors Sharon Morgan
Community & Government Relations Director, Advocate Aurora Health
Director of Graduate Support & Community Outreach, Catalyst Schools
SECRETARY
Reverend Reginald E. Bachus
Bradly Johnson Director of External Affairs, BUILD Inc.
Pastor, Friendship Baptist Church
Tenisha Jones
Ruth Kimble
Senior Director of Strategy & Operations, West Side United
Founder & CEO, Austin Childcare Providers’ Network
Reginald Little
Jerrod Williams
Mortgage Loan Originator, Fifth Third Bank
Law Clerk, Illinois Appellate Court
Dawn Ferencak Senior Marketing Strategist, Zoe Communications Group
Deborah Williams Community Outreach & Engagement Specialist, Habilitative Systems, Inc.
In Memoriam BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jack Macnamara 1937–2020 FOUNDING BOARD CHAIR
Mildred Wiley 1955–2019
ACT STAFF Leadership Team
Service Delivery Team Sandra Diaz
Planning & Investment Team
Marketing & Development Team
Darnell Shields* Executive Director
Community Hub Coordinator
Ethan Ramsay
Alicia Plomin**
Project Coordinator
Shavion Scott
Jai Jones
Marketing & Development Manager
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Community Engagement Coordinator
Nicole Marcus
Andrew Born
Dollie Sherman
Micro Market Recovery Program Intern
Dearra Williams
Research & Evaluation
Youth Engagement Coordinator
Marketing & Development Associate **Also part of the ACT Leadership Team
*Ex Officio Member of the ACT Board of Directors
We’re hiring! Learn more at AustinComingTogether.org
ACT MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS A House in Austin Accion Austin Childcare Providers’ Network Austin Weekly News Be Strong Families Beat the Streets Chicago Because I Care Bethel New Life Beyond Hunger (fka Oak Park River Forest Food Pantry) BUILD Inc. By the Hand Club for Kids Cara Catholic Charities Chicago Austin Youth Travel Adventures
Chicago Community Loan Fund City of Refuge Cluster Tutoring Program Erikson Institute Friends of the Children Friendship Community Development Corp. of Austin Greater West Town Community Development Project Housing Forward I.C. Stars IFF Institute for Nonviolence Chicago Jane Addams Resource Corporation Kids First Chicago KRA Westside American Job Center
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 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 Loretto Hospital The North Avenue District, Inc. Towers of Excellence UIC Jane Addams College of Social Work VOCEL Westside Health Authority West Side Forward (evolving from Bethel New Life) Worldvision Youth Guidance
AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. 2020 QUARTER 4
Austin Weekly News • December 16, 2020
An unwavering commitment By Darnell Shields Executive Director, Austin Coming Together
A
ustin Coming Together (ACT) was built on the foundation of our core values: unity, commitment, transparency, collaboration, and action; the same stable ground we stand on today. During the COVID-19 pandemic, this foundation is what has allowed us to anchor a response.
These recent events have revealed an unfair system that is perpetuating disadvantage in Black and Brown communities in Chicago. If we are to break the cycle, we must name and confront the obstructions in our way. That is why ACT has continued to enhance the coordination of social services; attract public and private investment; and build capacity for policy change. Our work is rooted in relationships. Through these relationships, we are able to more fully understand what Austin needs. By implementing the Austin Forward. Together. plan and generating at-scale investments, we will spur economic development and bring equitable opportunities to the community. And to ensure our improvements take hold long term, we are building strategies to address institutional barriers.
The pandemic has turned out to be a cumulative burden weighing more heavily on some communities than others. Needs have increased in already distressed areas like Austin. Students forced into remote learning are struggling with lack of connectivity, parents We can reimagine are losing jobs, and access to fresh food the way we treat is limited. Plus, those who are employed in our neighbors, in all roles that require them situations, whether in to be in the office or the field risk increased community, business, exposure to the virus in order to support government, or society themselves and their families during these as a whole. uncertain times. At ACT, we have seen a strain on individuals as well as the social services that support them.
DARNELL SHIELDS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AUSTIN COMING TOGETHER
However, our dynamic member and partner network continues to function as a safety net of the essential services Austin residents need to sustain themselves. As Chicagoans and people across the country spoke out in protest during the civil unrest that followed, we were reminded of the importance and urgency of our work. No matter the circumstances, we advocate for justice for all, which can only be accomplished through organizing, strategizing, and mobilizing to take action in opposition to systemic racism and disinvestment.
As discouraging as the current economic crisis may seem, we cannot let ongoing systemic inequities threaten the progress we have made. We must keep up what has proven to be most effective if we are to help Austin residents thrive: a comprehensive, collaborative approach. We must do it by empowering the people and groups who are here.
This is our chance to not just respond, but to recommit, recalibrate and restructure the systems that should equitably serve us all.
IS RESPONDING! ACT has established a COVID-19 Response Strategy to gather information on community needs and support them through: ADVOCACY COMMUNICATION RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT AND DEPLOYMENT
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50K+
600K+
COVID-19 Testing Sites
Masks distributed
Pounds of food distributed
We can reimagine the way we treat our neighbors, in all situations, whether in community, business, government, or society as a whole. There is nothing stronger than pushing forward in a world that has not always been kind to you. This is the true measure of resiliency and that is what we will continue to do in Austin...remain resilient! n
$140K
500
Direct financial assistance to families
Laptops distributed
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Austin Weekly News • December 16, 2020
AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. 2020 QUARTER 4
2020 Highlights from Austin’s quality-of-life plan, called Austin Forward. Together (AFT), is a set of goals created by and for the community designed to address 23 strategies with 84 total actions across 7 Issue Areas between 2019 and 2023: Community Narrative, Education, Housing, Youth Empowerment, Economic Development, Public Safety, and Civic Engagement. Today, there are more than 40 dedicated volunteer members across seven Task Forces, one for each Issue Area. In partnership with ACT, these Task Forces have signed on over 40 unique organizations as Implementation Partners and together have initiated more than 30% of the plan’s total actions so far! Although this year has caused many organizations involved to pivot or slow their work, here are some of the actions that have been able to move forward.
COMMUNITY NARRATIVE The goal of the Community Narrative Task Force is to revitalize the image and spirit of Austin by promoting assets such as our historic housing, creating a healthy community and building a more robust environment for local arts and culture. STRATEGY 3:
Create environments that foster health and wellness in the community.
ACTION 2:
Promote healthier food choices across Austin.
STRATEGY 2:
Increase the number of authentic images and stories portraying the Austin community.
Racial Reconciliation Symposium makes space for important issues
Working together to feed Austin Existing food insecurity has worsened recently. Fortunately, there has been a paradigm shift in the way Austin’s broken food ecosystem is being revitalized. Numerous partners formed a large planning group to create a grant proposal called Austin Eats. The Lumpkin Family Foundation, The Christopher Family Foundation, and The Builder’s Initiative has awarded $250,000 that will allow this strategy to support: • • • •
emergency food grocery access and culinary entrepreneurship food education gardens and farms
Getting together such a dynamic group to work as collaborators, instead of competitors, does not happen often. Austin Eats will begin immediately and include both short and long term projects.
19
partners involved in the Austin Eats planning process
23
minimum groups will be needed in order to implement all the goals in Austin Eats
$250K
grant will improve the food ecosystem in Austin
On November 5, 2020 the Austin Renaissance Council hosted the Racial Reconciliation Symposium at the Kehrein Center for the Arts, the new state-of-theart theatre inside Catalyst School in Austin.
Candace Moore, Chief Equity Officer for the City of Chicago, spoke about the efforts of Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot’s Racial Equity Response Team at the Racial Reconciliation Symposium.
To reconcile is not only to restore connection but create it anew. HANNAH BONECUTTER HIP HOP/SPOKEN WORD ARTIST AND PERFORMER AT THE 2020 RACIAL RECONCILIATION SYMPOSIUM
The agenda focused on youth empowerment and community narrative, including a youth panel, adult panel, several artist performances, and an interview with State Representative La Shawn Ford. The event was created to discuss how to work towards restoring years of devastation created by a racist system, while also combating the damaging stereotypes Austin still faces today. In order to repair decades of mistrust and mistreatment, we need to learn, adapt, and take action. Everyone must play their part in solving such a large, complex problem. And that solution can only be identified through open, honest conversations like the ones had at this symposium.
AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. 2020 QUARTER 4
Austin Weekly News • December 16, 2020
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The goal of the Economic Development Task Force is to create economic revitalization in Austin and by Austin. We will support new and existing local businesses, entrepreneurs, and the workforce; improve our commercial corridors; and attract new investment to build a stronger, more dynamic local economy. STRATEGY 3:
Build the local economy and small businesses to improve community wealth and selfsufficiency.
ACTION 2:
Attract major commercial anchors.
New event space coming to Chicago Avenue and Lockwood By creating a dedicated space for private events as well as public use along the Chicago Avenue corridor, a formerly unused lot will help the area become a main shopping, dining, and entertainment district. Efforts to encourage local small businesses to use the space, as well as for physical improvements like adding elements to the streetscape, are now underway.
Inspired by vibrant pop art, the fittingly named POPCourts is a collaboration between the Special Service Area 72 Austin Chicago Avenue Cultural Corridor, the Westside Health Authority, United Way of Metro Chicago and the Chicago Department of Planning and Development. Once finished, the space will have a basketball court, a plaza for pop-up markets, a lawn for seating, a spot for food trucks, and a mural painted by local artists.
This colorful space will offer events like pop-up markets complete with musical performances and create excitement for residents nearby. The groundbreaking took place on Saturday, October 24, 2020.
EDUCATION The goal of the Education Task Force is for our local educational system and partners to provide the services, opportunities and support to help all our students stay on track, enrich their education and serve their needs, from early childhood through high school, to job and career readiness. STRATEGY 1:
Improve and expand access to quality early childhood programs.
ACTION 4:
Partner with CPS to align curriculum for a seamless transition to kindergarten.
Setting up support for kindergarten transition Austin Childcare Providers’ Network (ACPN) is a collection of the area’s early childhood educators and an ACT Core Member. The Governor’s Office of Early Childhood Development and A Better Chicago will fund ACPN to help improve the framework for Chicago Public School (CPS) students to transition from pre-k to kindergarten. ACPN is leading the efforts in planning the Austin Kindergarten Transition Initiative Pilot which will include childcare providers and kindergarten teachers who have been trained on a shared curriculum and assessment companion, working together to prepare Austin children for kindergarten. Research shows there must be more alignment, coordination, and continuity of learning and practice among childcare owners, state pre-k teachers, and kindergarten teachers. Offering a consistent and effective experience for Austin youth, no matter where they receive their early education, will build a strong foundation for a bright future.
READ THE AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. PLAN ONLINE AT AustinComingTogether.org/QLP
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Austin Weekly News • December 16, 2020
AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. 2020 QUARTER 4
Plan Leaders Community Narrative
Economic Development
TASK FORCE COMMITTEE CHAIRS
TASK FORCE COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Briana Shields
Jerrod Williams
Briana Janeé Arts
Kenneth Varner Healthy Schools Campaign
Community Resident & SANA Member STRATEGY LEADS
Erica Staley
STRATEGY LEADS
Manufacturing Renaissance
Lasondra Kern
Heather Sattler
Community Resident
Suzanne McBride Austin Talks
Alicia Plomin
Austin Coming Together
Michael Romain
Austin Weekly News
Cindy Schneider Spaces-n-Places
Community Development Consultant
Education TASK FORCE COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Natasha Smith-Walker Project Exploration
Crystal Bell
Ella Flagg Young Elementary School
Charles Anderson
Michele Clark High School STRATEGY LEADS
Housing
Public Safety
TASK FORCE COMMITTEE CHAIRS
TASK FORCE COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Athena Williams
Bradly Johnson
West Cook Homeownership Center
Allison McGowan
Community Resident STRATEGY LEADS
Shirley Fields Hunters Realty
Rosie Dawson Westside Health Authority
Athena Williams
West Cook Homeownership Center
Ruth Kimble
BUILD Inc.
Marilyn Pitchford Heartland Alliance
Chris Patterson
Institute for Nonviolence Chicago STRATEGY LEADS
Adam Alonso BUILD Inc.
Bradly Johnson BUILD Inc.
Edwina Hamilton
Jane Addams Resource Corporation
Pam Price
Gina Young
Chicago Public Schools
Catholic Charities
Melody Lewis
Natasha Dunn
Bertha Purnell
Roxanne Charles West Side Forward
Cata Truss
TASK FORCE COMMITTEE CHAIRS
TASK FORCE COMMITTEE CHAIR
Carmen Scott-Boria
Deborah Williams
BUILD Inc.
D’elegance Lane Westside Health Authority
Deonna Hart BUILD Inc.
Jeramie McGill
Habilitative Systems Inc. STRATEGY LEADS
Arnold Bearden
South Austin Neighborhood Association (SANA)
Sharif Walker Bethel New Life
St. Joseph Services
Gina Young
Catholic Charities
BUILD Inc.
Juan Villalobos
Austin Chamber of Commerce VOCEL
Civic Engagement
STRATEGY LEADS
Austin Childcare Providers’ Network
Emily Peters
Youth Empowerment
BUILD Inc.
Institute for Nonviolence Chicago
Community Resident
Sean Schindl
Kids First Chicago
INTERESTED IN JOINING THE IMPLEMENTATION TASK FORCE?
Contact ACT’s Project Coordinator, Ethan Ramsay at 773.417.8616 or eramsay@austincomingtogether.org for more information
AUSTIN FORWARD. TOGETHER. 2020 QUARTER 4
Austin Weekly News • December 16, 2020
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Distanced and disconnected:
How COVID-19 has widened the digital divide and what we can do to address it
By Alicia Plomin Marketing & Development Manager, Austin Coming Together
F
orced into remote learning, already vulnerable students are falling farther behind because of the ‘digital divide.’ There is a stark inequity inhibiting those without internet or devices from accessing everything from basic education and jobs, to healthcare and safety information. This divide stood out as an important issue early in the COVID-19 crisis and has since been getting worse, becoming an immediate, critical area of need. There are startling connectivity gaps across Chicago. Just in terms of youth, 1 in 5 kids under the age of 18, approximately 110,000 children, lack access to broadband. Austin, with the city’s largest geographic community and a population near 97,000, has the largest number of disconnected families. Kids First Chicago (K1C), an education and parent advocacy organization, released a report in the spring that stated Austin has nearly 8,000 kids without access to the internet, the most of anywhere in the city.
CHICAGO CONNECTED To address this serious issue, K1C spoke with Austin Coming Together (ACT), a community-based organization working to increase access to the resources Austin residents need to thrive. K1C then established a sponsored internet services program for high-need communities and families. The work of K1C and ACT helped inspire the city to create the Chicago Connected Initiative, a groundbreaking program designed to provide free highspeed internet service and digital literacy to approximately 100,000 Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students citywide for the next four years. ACT’s mission has been anchored in the power of community and collaboration since their 2010 inception. This led to ACT being selected as the lead Community Based Organization Partner in Austin for Chicago Connected. Expertise facilitating collaboration has enabled ACT to leverage their network unlike any other community. Their Austin Community Hub team is working to mobilize member organizations and other engagement partners to expand digital literacy support for students and families over the next several months. Plus, ACT looks to these partner networks to help identify areas and populations of greatest need, as well as to stay current on what resources are available.
The digital divide is an issue that has been magnified; but it’s not new. I was on a team almost ten years ago that focused on broadband access and adoption in response to this issue then. Even as a lead agency, we recognize that this is an issue bigger than a single organization can handle. SHAVION L. SCOTT DIRECTOR OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AUSTIN COMING TOGETHER
A GRAND CHALLENGE
COLLABORATION IS KEY
In-person connection is decreasing and the digital divide is widening. Not only is it affecting CPS students, but people of all ages -- adults working or learning from home or on the job hunt, or even seniors who need critical health information or virtual doctor’s appointments.
To date, eight organizations are now working together to support Chicago Connected outreach efforts to reach up to 11,500 households in Austin. They include:
The grand challenge of scaling this effort is there simply are not enough resources to meet the needs.
PROGRAM FACTS • The Chicago Connected team has already reached out to all eligible families via robocall, text, email, or mail and has provided activation codes for them to sign up for internet access immediately. • Families with questions can get assistance at cps.edu/chicagoconnected/eligibility or the Parent Support Hotline at 773-417-1060.
• Austin Childcare Providers’ Network (ACPN) • Project Exploration • Austin Coming Together (ACT) • Helping Our People Excel (HOPE) CDC • What About Us Charitable Enterprises • Vessels Unto Honor Ministry • Life Changing Community Outreach (LCCO) • BUILD Inc. A few additional organizations are also prepared to support digital literacy efforts at both basic and advanced levels in the coming weeks and months. Where the world is right now, being digitally connected is a necessity for everyone, regardless of race, income, or geographic location. Getting everyone connected will take a consistent, collaborative approach over time. n
Chicago’s Austin community is full of incredibly passionate individuals and groups who truly care for one another. It has beautiful architecture, housing stock, and an immense potential for growth. But it is also struggling now more than ever. From job loss to food insecurity, existing problems have recently gotten worse. Austin Coming Together (ACT) has worked alongside our 50+ member network to serve and care for Austin families since 2010. We have connected thousands of residents to critical resources this year, but the need is still growing.
Show how much you care. Join the #AustinCares campaign today!
In order to continue supporting Austin families right now, we need your help. Make an impact where it’s needed most! DONATE ONLINE AT
AustinComingTogether.org/AustinCares