$15,000 / 2015
2840 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Chicago, IL 60618
Nancy Aardema, Executive Director
Website: 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. With a one year $15,000 Trustees grant from Hazen, LSNA will organize youth members and allies to address the growing issues of gentrification and displacement in Northwest Chicago communities and to develop policy solutions and culturally-affirming responses. Youth leaders will organize to win two specific policy initiatives aimed at stemming the displacement of long-time Latino residents: to urge local city council members to agree to more substantial affordable housing set-asides that would force developers to create more affordable family units and to advocate for a local property tax freeze for long-time home owners.