TARGET AREA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION: Addressing High Risk Community Members
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TARGET AREA DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION:
Addressing High Risk Community Members
Chicago, IL
PROGRAM OVERVIEW officials, merchants, bankers, and other
The TARGET (Teaching Area Residents in Gresham and neighborhood institutions.
Englewood to Take part in) Area Development
Corporation was created by the Ambassadors For These stakeholders came together to form the
Christ Ministries (AFC) in 1995. It was a result of TARGET Area Volunteer Action Caucus (VAC) and
several meetings that occurred between concerned launch the Community Alliance for a Safe Summer
residents, police, parishioners, and business people (CASS), a three-pronged strategy to revitalize the
who were determined to turn their neighborhood neighborhood. First, they implemented a local version
around. Decades of disinvestment in the of the city-wide CeaseFire anti-violence program.
neighborhood had taken its toll on the community’s Caseworkers worked with police to reach out to at-
safety and hope for change. TARGET’s initial plan was risk residents and provided resources for employment
to focus on redeveloping commercial corridors in the and other social services. Under TARGET’s leadership,
neighborhood. However, not long after it started, CeaseFire expanded its role in the neighborhood to
TARGET realized that economic development was only execute rapid-response strategies to address violent
a small part of the neighborhood’s problem. Through crime by assisting victims, promoting community
over 1000 citizen surveys, TARGET found that the healing, intervening in anticipated violence, and
residents were afraid of the area’s crime and felt aiding police investigations where appropriate.
powerless against it. Residents did not patronize the Second, the VAC spearheaded the Commercial
local stores because they were afraid of being Corridor Redevelopment Plan. This was a community-
victimized and outside investors steered clear for the driven program to spur public and private investment
same reason. TARGET concluded that public safety into the Ashland Avenue and 79th Street business
had to be addressed in order to sustain any new corridors. Local merchants, clergy, school
economic development gains. administrators, police, residents, and youth
participated in shaping and advocating for the plan to
In an effort to enrich its ability to address this the City to be recognized as a redevelopment area.
problem, TARGET sponsored a trip of police partners Finally, the Campaign to Improve School Attendance
and residents to Boston in 2000. Apostle Joseph and Achievement Program (CISAP) worked with
Stanford of the Ambassadors for Christ Church, and families to reduce truancy, engage residents in school
Sixth District Police Commander Mark Davis joined policy making, and improve academic performance of
four active residents to learn from the highly students in three target schools. These three projects,
acclaimed Boston Public Safety Model that relies on done in concert, contributed to comprehensive and
the involvement of residents, churches, and police to positive changes in the Auburn Gresham/ Englewood
address that city’s serious crime problems, especially community.
those involving youth. Armed with lessons from
Boston’s model, TARGET’s mission expanded to
include empowering, educating, and organizing
neighborhood residents to build a strong and safe
community. Because of the police involvement early
on, TARGET had been
able to maintain
longstanding support
and participation by
various levels of the
local precinct. Its
strategy was based on
the power of
partnerships between In the 1970s and 1980s, 79th Street suffered from neighborhood
the police, clergy, abandonment and huge decreases in commercial activity as a
youth, parents, result. TARGET has helped renovate buildings like this one used
residents, public by the Ambassadors for Christ for an affordable housing program
for senior citizens.
1NEIGHBORHOOD BACKGROUND
Since the 1960s, the Auburn Gresham and Englewood
neighborhoods of Chicago, Illinois, had seen
continuing neglect and deterioration. Losses in
population accompanied abandonment of
businesses. In fact, about sixty percent of the
businesses on a mile stretch of 79th Street, the area’s
major commercial corridor, had been abandoned,
some with the aid of suspicious fires. Blight took over
certain parts of the neighborhood as residents and
landlords lost the ability and incentive to maintain
their properties.
Approximately 145,000 people live in the CeaseFire outreach workers travel to local schools and perform
predominantly African American communities of skits to educate youth about the consequences of their
Auburn Gresham and Englewood. According to the involvement with drugs and violence.
2000 Census, 32.5% of the households in Englewood
have an annual income below $10,000. Forty-eight dropped out of school and criminally-involved
percent of the families in West Englewood and 37% of unemployed young adults, including those returning
those in Auburn Gresham make less than $25,000 to the neighborhood from prison.
annually. Beyond poverty, all three communities have
declined in population in the last three decades and Going Back to School
lost valuable businesses and housing. More wealthy In 2000, TARGET heard from its police partners that
residents moved out and were replaced by those with 1,200 youth had been arrested for committing crimes
lower incomes. Crime increased as schools failed, during school hours that year. The local elementary
public services were reduced, violence increased, and schools (Clara Barton in West Englewood, Scott Joplin
jobs left the area. For many years, the neighborhood in Auburn Gresham, and Oglesby in Englewood)
was listed in Chicago’s top twenty most dangerous reported unusually high truancy rates. TARGET was
neighborhoods. The Chicago Department of Public aware that truant youth would fall behind in school
Health consistently ranks the area in the top 15 (of and be more likely to drop out, thereby decreasing
77) communities with the highest homicide rates in employment prospects and increasing the likelihood
the city. of their involvement in criminal activity. In fact, 70%
of ex-offenders in the neighborhood were school
dropouts. The VAC, including its police partners,
LEADING STRATEGY: ADDRESSING
convened a resident focus group on this problem.
HIGH RISK COMMUNITY MEMBERS One of the most important findings was that many
The three components of the CASS Campaign, homes of truant youth were headed by single working
employed together, enabled the neighborhood’s mothers who found it difficult to monitor their
revitalization. However, it was the community’s children during work hours. More support for these
intense focus on and creative solutions to assist high families would clearly be needed to try and address
risk individuals that made CASS stand out. The this problem.
Volunteer Action Caucus (VAC) implemented
programs to respond to what they saw as root causes Out of these focus groups, community partners
of crime. Soaring school truancy rates meant that launched the Campaign to Improve School
many of the neighborhood youth lacked the Attendance and Achievement Program (CISAP). The
education and skills that could lead to employment purpose of this project was to reduce truancy, engage
opportunities and success in the future. Drug residents in school policy making, and improve
trafficking replaced legitimate employment and led to academic achievement. Partners included TARGET;
increases in violent crime and arrest rates. After Family Cares Mission, a social service agency that
serving time for crime committed in the provided after school programs, summer jobs, a food
neighborhood, former prisoners returned to Auburn pantry, and family counseling; 6th District Police
Gresham and Englewood with little skills and Officers; South Side Pastors Reaching Area Youth (SS
resources and with no real change in the PRAY), a group of about 20 pastors who regularly
neighborhood’s opportunities available to help lead a knocked on residents’ doors to elicit input and
crime-free life. This cycle fed upon itself creating a involvement; LaSalle Bank and First National Bank of
steep downward spiral that had a negative impact on Evergreen Park that provided funds for operating
the livelihood of all residents of the neighborhood. support; members of Local School Councils; public
Thus, the VAC targeted its programs at youth who had officials; residents; block clubs; and concerned
2parents. CISAP received funding to hire Youth TARGET led
Outreach Workers to work with truant students at two residents, young
elementary schools, Joplin and Barton, though they and old, in public
demonstrations in
were able to also provide minimal support for the the neighborhood
third school, Oglesby. to express their
concerns about
By utilizing the resources of CISAP’s partners, the violence in
their community.
outreach workers assisted hundreds of students.
They worked with the schools to identify chronically
truant youth. The Sixth District Police wrote letters to
the parents of these students that informed them
about their child’s record and resources that were
available. Not only were parents more likely to take
seriously a letter on police rather than school
letterhead, but they also received the message that
truancy is a safety issue as well as an educational
issue. If there was no response from the letter or
phone calls, the outreach workers visited the
students’ homes. They found that the biggest causes
of truancy in the family included housing and
financial problems, illness, or inadequate support for TARGET was designated as CeaseFire’s lead agency in
parents. Using CISAP’s connections with community Auburn Gresham and Englewood in 2002. It employed
stakeholders, the outreach workers directed parents ten Outreach Workers who were hired by a panel of
and students to existing support services in the area. neighborhood religious leaders, parents, police
They made referrals to food pantries, shelters and officers, merchants, and staff from TARGET. Many of
rental assistance programs, and to work with police the CeaseFire staff members were former offenders,
and pastors to overcome other obstacles to achieving themselves.
good attendance.
Ceasefire staff met with the local police to help them
Chronic Truancy Percentage Rates identify crime hotspots and high-risk individuals.
School 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Together they developed a system where whenever a
Joplin 31.4 2.1 0.1 0.7 .09 shooting occurred in the neighborhood, the Sixth
Barton 1.5 1.4 0.4 0.5 2.2 District Police Precinct immediately sent a fax to
Oglesby 13.2 3.5 3.60 5.2 1.9 TARGET. The CeaseFire workers then communicated
State 2.4 2.2 2.0 1.9 2.1 the news and location to involved clergy members.
http://www.homesbystarck.com/reportcard_frame.html The workers, clergy, youth, and other community
leaders rushed to the scene of the crime. They
CISAP expanded its efforts beyond truant students. organized vigils, talked to the victims, tried to prevent
Outreach Workers also made links with local retaliation, and found out as much as possible about
merchants. Many of them agreed to support the what happened to aid in the police investigation. That
campaign by closing their stores before school more people became involved in these activities
started and refusing to sell to youth during school encouraged other members of the community to join
hours. TARGET provided leadership development and help reduce violence.
training to parents in order for them to become more
involved in the Local School Councils, which provide Besides responding to violence as it happened,
community-level opportunities for parents and each CeaseFire worker provided intensive case
residents to shape the policies of their schools. The management to 11-20 clients. Using links made
combination of these efforts helped the entire through the VAC, they referred individuals to social
community become more engaged in the education of service agencies that provided job training and
its young people in an effort to provide alternatives to placement services, housing assistance, advocacy,
criminal activity at an early age. counseling, drug and psycho-social therapy; and to
school administrators for educational opportunities.
Ending the Violence These clients were also the main way that the
CeaseFire is a citywide program in Chicago that aims outreach workers identified other high-risk
to empower communities to put an end to shootings individuals in the community. Clients became more
and other violent crimes. The project was started by involved in community activities, led anti-violence
the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention at the marches, planned outreach activities and methods for
University of Illinois at Chicago in the mid-1990s. educating the public about these issues.
3CeaseFire workers also made links to local merchants CeaseFire workers’ ability to partner with local
to find jobs for community residents with past stakeholders empowered the community to speak out
criminal records. By assuring that these residents against the perpetrators of crime and violence, while
were being guided by TARGET and CeaseFire at the same time embraced high-risk residents and
caseworkers, merchants’ hesitancy to employ provided real options that enabled individuals to
residents with criminal histories subsided. They hired become contributive members of the community.
CeaseFire clients and helped them learn valuable
skills that provided concrete alternatives to violence
and criminal activity. Outreach workers also
PROGRAM IMPACT
depended on information from business owners The implementation of the Campaign for a Safe
about crime trends along TARGET’s commercial Summer has resulted in significant improvements for
corridor development project. Sharing this Auburn Gresham and Englewood’s neighborhoods.
information enabled the partners to respond to The CISAP program helped over 325 families resolve
problems as they arose. For example, one merchant truancy related issues. Truancy rates have decreased
communicated that his store had became a staging 86-99% in Joplin and Oglesby despite the
area for a group of individuals to rob passersby. concentrated efforts TARGET also made in Barton.
CeaseFire then implemented a plan of action. For a Since then, TARGET has received funding for 5-6
short period, several residents and clergy members additional CISAP outreach workers to continue to
repeatedly entered and surrounded the store in large partner with schools, students, and parents. In 2001,
groups, of up to 40 people at a time, to communicate during CeaseFire’s first year in the neighborhood,
that the store was being taken back and that criminal there was a 25% decrease in shootings as well as a
behavior would not be tolerated. 30% drop in overall arrests and a 40% drop in
MERCHANTS STEP UP
When TARGET began to work with merchants to redevelop the commercial corridor on 79th Street, it came to
recognize that the success of this business area depended upon the condition of rest of the neighborhood.
Revitalization on that street would impact the surrounding streets and vice versa. On the flip side, neglect in
either part of the neighborhood would have the same widespread effect. Thus it was crucial that
redevelopment efforts on this main commercial corridor be coupled with the activities of the entire
neighborhood. With this understanding, TARGET worked hard to involve merchants in many different
aspects of the community building and safety efforts. Knowing that their businesses depended on their
involvement, merchants responded and became committed to investing time and resources into their
community.
Merchants first became involved by participating in the community-driven planning sessions to create the
79th Street Redevelopment Plan. For two years, merchants participated in meetings with TARGET, local
clergy, youth, and the police to share input and insight on what kind of development would be best for
Auburn Gresham and Englewood. Through this process, business owners built stronger relationships with
other stakeholders in the community. When their time or resources were needed down the road, they
responded at least in part because of these relationships to which they felt accountable.
Besides increased communication with local police and CeaseFire workers that helped to tackle crime
problems in or around their own businesses, merchants also played active roles in addressing safety
concerns in the neighborhood. Merchants were willing to close their stores for about 15 minutes before
school opened to discourage students from being late for school. In addition to refusing to sell to school
age youth during school hours, they posted anti-truancy fliers in their stores and also made a point to
communicate the importance of attending school to many youth who frequented their businesses. Soon,
kids could not go anywhere without being told to go to school.
Local businesses were also willing to provide employment to many high-risk individuals in the community.
Residents who returned to Auburn Gresham and Englewood from prison were often unable to find jobs.
Working for one of these business owners provided income for the individual, but also demonstrated the
power of stakeholder involvement in the community’s revitalization efforts. Also, when TARGET planned
community building events such as neighborhood cookouts, basketball tournaments, or fieldtrips, local
merchants often donated food and materials. For their dedication to the neighborhood, many businesses
received awards from TARGET and the Community Alliance for a Safe Summer.
4narcotic-related arrests. Between 2003 and 2004,
District 6 saw an additional 53% decrease in WINNING PROGRAM
shootings, compared to a 40% decrease citywide. Community Alliance for a Safe Summer
Members of the community have been increasingly
involved in local safety efforts as they have seen APPLICANT
clergy, youth, and other residents become more active TARGET Area Development Corporation
in the neighborhood.
TARGET AREA
Working closely with TARGET’s Commercial Corridor Auburn Gresham and Englewood neighborhoods
project, the efforts of the Volunteer Action Committee Chicago, IL
(VAC) also resulted in huge strides in economic and
community development in the area. By mobilizing INCEPTION DATE
residents in the community around crime and safety, May 2001
TARGET was able to transfer this energy and
involvement into its community development efforts. KEY PARTNERS
The neighborhood was designated by Chicago as a Chicago Police Deparment
redevelopment area which qualified it for tax credit Chicago Project for Violence Protection
relief. TARGET used this incentive as well as publicity Clara Barton and Scott Joplin Public School
about the falling crime rate to garner $42 million in 6th District Beat Facilitators
private and public investment. A new facility for the Family Cares Mission
6th District Police Department was built, further Safer Foundation
deepening the development and public safety Urban Solutions
relationship. New senior housing, a Walgreens Local clergy, banks, merchants, politicians, block
pharmacy, a supportive housing complex, a health clubs, and adult and youth residents
clinic, and a family restaurant were just a few of the
other developments in the area. With funding from FUNDERS
the City, TARGET facilitated a grant program for new LaSalle Bank
facades for existing merchants, many of which were Catholic Campaign for Human Development,
involved in the development and safety work. TARGET University of Illionois
plans to increase and formalize citizen participation
into future development projects and to hire a
COMMUNITY CONTACT
professional planner and marketing company to work
Patricia Watkins
with the community on this effort. This process has
Executive Director
also gotten local public officials more involved, more
TARGET Area Development Corporation
supportive, and better able to advocate for the
1542 West 79th Street
community’s needs.
Chicago, IL 60612
p. (773) 651-6470
f. (773) 651-5491
e. Godslady@msn.com
PUBLIC SAFETY CONTACT
Lieutenant Bruce Lipman
Chicago Police Department
6th District
p.(312) 745-3741
5L O C A L I N I T I AT I V E S S U P P O R T C O R P O R AT I O N For more information on the
Community Safety Initiative
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