JCUA Supports Affordable Housing Proposal in Humboldt Park

Over the summer JCUA’s teen activists interned at Latin United Community Housing Organization (LUCHA) (see blog post on that).

Recently, LUCHA has reached out to JCUA to endorse the organization’s proposal for an affordable housing development project in Humboldt Park, a predominantly Latino community on Chicago’s west side.

JCUA proudly supports this proposal, and has expressed this support in a letter to Alderman Roberto Maldonado (26th Ward). Click here to read JCUA’s letter to Alderman Roberto Maldonado. This letter will be part of the file LUCHA submits with its proposal. Now this proposal includes a Jewish voice for more affordable housing in a community that needs it.

Jewish Teens Intern at the Latin United Community Housing Organization

Three participants in this summer’s Or Tzedek Advanced Activism session were assigned as interns to the Latin United Community Housing Organization (LUCHA) in Chicago. LUCHA was founded in 1982 by residents of Humboldt Park, West Town and Logan Square to combat displacement and preserve affordable housing in the community. 

Working on LUCHA’s campaign to develop 42 units of affordable housing in Humboldt Park with a wellness component, the Or Tzedek interns helped research the urban and community health of proposed sites.

Natasha Madorsky (from left), Elizabeth Barras and Hannah Kaplan.

By Natasha Madorsky, Elizabeth Barras and Hannah Kaplan
Or Tzedek Participants 

(Cross-posted from the Or Tzedek blog)

LUCHA hosted us as interns for one week in June through a new partnership with JCUA. The three of us were participating in Or Tzedek, which brings teens together to work for social justice throughout Chicago.

During our week at LUCHA, we explored the Humboldt Park community to survey prospective affordable housing sites and speak to local residents about life in the neighborhood. At the end of the internship, we presented our findings and ideas to LUCHA.

Many of our suggestions for LUCHA incorporated the elements of health and wellness into affordable housing programs. We visited Simons Park (In the Humboldt Park neighborhood) and spoke to visitors, as well as the park supervisor, about the wide variety of sports teams, camps and cultural programs offered at the park and community center. We feel that if LUCHA were to build in that neighborhood, fostering a partnership with Simons Park would be essential.

Our internship at LUCHA was certainly an eye-opening experience. We had the pleasure to explore an unfamiliar but vibrant community not too far from our own homes in Wilmette, Evanston and Cleveland, Ohio.

Approaching local residents and hearing their thoughts and concerns allowed us to develop our community organizing skills, as well as gain an insider perspective of what it might be like to live in Humboldt Park. Everyone we met was friendly and welcoming, yet they were very honest with us about the problems and struggles that they face.

» A few spots are still open in the remaining Or Tzedek sessions July 15-22 and Aug. 5-12. Learn more and register here.

When our surveying work was done, we were able to visit the park and enjoy the beautiful lagoon and field house. We all feel lucky to have had the opportunity to work with such an exceptional organization within a unique and culturally rich community.

Our Story: Or Tzedek Advanced Activism 2012

By Natasha Madorsky, Dan Lapidus, Emma Hultgren, Sophie Leff, Sarah Crotty, Elizabeth Barras, Madison Reisler, and Hannah Kaplan
Participants in the 2012 “Advanced Activism” session of Or Tzedek

(Cross-posted from the Or Tzedek blog)

Or Tzedek Advanced Activism participants, summer 2012.

While most of our peers are spending their summers at the pool or at camp, eight of us – teens from around the Chicago area (and Cleveland, Ohio) – came together to pursue social justice for the diverse communities around us.

The thing is, we all came from different communities and we all have different Jewish experiences. Some of us came from the city and some from the suburbs. Some of us go to Jewish day schools and some of us go to public schools. We represent a wide range of denominations of Judaism; we are Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, Reform and Unaffiliated. Although we may be passionate about different issues, we all want the same thing- JUSTICE.

In these past eight days, we’ve all driven down streets lined with foreclosed and abandoned homes. Until Or Tzedek, we never quite realized the gravity of the issue. Several of us spent the week interning at the Humboldt Park-based organization LUCHA (Latin United Community Housing Association), which works on affordable housing and related issues within the community. Through this experience, we were able to interact with neighborhood residents and deepen our understanding of how affordable housing affects individuals and communities.

» A few spots are still open in the remaining Or Tzedek sessions July 15-22 and Aug. 5-12. Learn more and register here.

Later on in the week, we spoke with residents of Lathrop Homes, a public housing development. The restrictions placed on access to housing and the governmental neglect found in Lathrop is appalling. Institutionalized oppression tears these communities and lives apart.

Or Tzedek stands for light of justice, which is exactly what we think everyone needs to be aware of. The light is “shining” on our generation to get involved in the problems of our world. M’dor l’dor, from generation to generation, we need to create a society where everyone has what they need. Or Tzedek has given us inspiration to find different causes closer to home. Everyone can make a difference.