One of the more interesting parts of studying Nonprofit and Public Administration is seeing how other cities and towns are dealing with like issues. The department I am studying in offers seminar classes that provide an opportunity to get out of the class and see what is happening on the ground. One such opportunity was a weekend seminar in Chicago last weekend that I participated in.

Chicago is one of the biggest American cities that has been making somewhat of a comeback of sorts over the last ten years. The decrease in population has been stemmed and there is increasing demand to live within the city limits and take advantage of the amenities the city offers. While life in the city could be said to be getting better, there are many residents who are not able to tap into the current upswing. Our seminar focussed on three nonprofit organizations that attempt to improve the ability of some of the cities more vulnerable citizens to get by.

The first place we visited was the Resurrection Project in the Pilsen neighborhood. Pilsen is a predominantly Mexican neighborhood. Mexicans used be attracted to Pilsen by cheap rents and available jobs. However now most of the manufacturing is gone and so have most of the jobs. Residents struggle to pay the rent. In 1991 six local Catholic parishes banded together and hired a community organizer to engage the people and determine what the residents felt would bring revitalization to the neighborhood. The residents stated that affordable housing was a big need and so the parishes started an organization that would continue to convene the residents while providing housing at the same time. Almost 15 years later TRP has help to ressurect the neighborhood by making available more than 125 housing units and renovating more than 6 old factories for community use. Now the leaders have plans for a plaza in the center of the neighborhood which will allow for events that celebrate the assets of the residents.

After a delicious lunch at the local meeting place we headed up the EL to The North Shore Credit Union. Here the Executive Director gave us a fascinating look into how financial services can really have an impact on people in a depressed area. He explained the practices of predatory lenders and banks. Also it was interesting how difficult it is for people of low income to get any banking services at all. The NSCU really helps out by providing banking services to those who, were it left to the whims of the market, would not have a place to bank. The presentation really made you see that banks are by no means neutral when it comes to how they operate. They are out to make a profit and will do so ruthlessly. Thank goodness for legislation such as the Community Reinvestment Act which causes banks to end the practice of redlining and rather forces them to invest in communities they would otherwise not. Many of these dollars go to the NSCU as they try to accomplish their mission of providing financial services that will allow thier clients to get their head back above water.

The second day we visited one organization and did an architecture focussed boat tour. The organization was the Chicago Mutual Housing Network. This organization's goal also concerns affordable housing. Their approach is quite unique however. They promote housing co-ops which are cost efficient as they avoid a lot of middleman costs. Also they are focussed on residents as owners with responsibilities and a hand in making things better in their communities. Another fascinating look into the rules and conventions of society and how the unspoken rules and norms have a major impact on how we live our lives. Of these norms they idea of competition is so engrained in our society as the only way to move things forward. The Network turns that on its head however, by emphasizing co-operation as a better way. A community from Spain that the presenter, Charlie Daas, provided as an example was the Mondragon co-operative. Very interesting indeed.

After two busy days in the city we were ready for a restful day and we enjoyed one. Sarah's parents took us to Ravinia Park where every summer there is a magnificent concert series that is performed out of doors. Patrons pay to enter the park and then are permitted to set up picnic spots on the lawn and consume the drink and food they have brought. We had a wide assorment of goodies but probably the most divine goody was the music. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra was performing Mozart's Marriage of Figaro and it was wonderful.