$25,000 / Spring 2017
Nancy Aardema, Executive Director
Chicago, IL
http://www.lsna.net
Logan Square Neighborhood Association (LSNA) began in 1962 as a committed group of neighbors motivated by the emergence of community redlining. Today, LSNA is a multi-issue, multi-generational community organization, directly serving over 6,500 residents and impacting tens of thousands more through nationally-recognized issue campaigns and programs. LSNA has had great success transforming local troubled schools, building strong relationships with teachers and administration, and introducing restorative justice programs to replace zero tolerance policies. LSNA’s recent housing work has gained recognition for developing Latinx youth who grew up in the community as leaders in actions, policy conversations, and strategy meetings. Stemming from this work, LSNA has been selected by LISC-Chicago (a community development corporation) to lead a two-year neighborhood planning process for west Logan Square and Hermosa. With a one-year renewal grant from Hazen, LSNA will organize youth members and a broad group of allies to address the growing issues of gentrification and displacement in Northwest Chicago communities and conduct youth-led action-research projects on community issues as part of the West Logan Square/Hermosa Neighborhood Plan. These effords will inform policy change and organizing campaigns. Youth members will educate relevant school, community, city, and state decisionmakers on their findings and suggest policy changes.