peoples housing community arts program
TRANSCRIPT
“How Do the Arts Build Communities?”The Community Arts Program at Peoples Housing 1993-1995
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Primary service area
CHICAGO BORDER
“NORTH OF HOWARD”
COMMUNITY
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Primary service area
Total African-America
n
White Latino
6,309 48.4% 23.5%
27.1%
1990 demographics of Census Tract 101 – North of Howard neighborhood
Median household income was $18,617 (just 60% of Chicago median)
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Community development corporation Non-profit Founded 1979 Mission: “To create in east Rogers Park a hospitable community, where every person’s full potential is realized and basic human needs are met.” Program: “Peoples Housing carries out it mission through a three-pronged program of resident controlled, low-income housing, community organizing and cultural development.”
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1. Development, rehabbing & management of multi-unit apartment buildings
Peoples Housing developed and managed 21 properties, with 600
families.
Primary services
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Peoples Housing’s development projects
totaled over $22,000,000!
Primary services
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Located on Howard Street,
in heart of our neighborhood
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BUILT IN 1918 – CLOSED FOR 20
YEARS!
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We took a grassroots, creative and fun
approach to building awareness, attracting talent
and getting stuff…
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No budget – no history? No problem…• Sat in front of theater w. model• Visited community organizations• Signs asking for collaboration• Built stage in lobby up against glass
doors
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How to get chairs to fill up the newly opened
Howard Theater Lobby Space?
OVER 100 CHAIRS DONATED IN ONE
DAY!
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We followed the “Community Capacity” model of community development articulated by Dr. John Kretzmann & Dr. John McKnight of Northwestern University.
http://www.abcdinstitute.org
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The Community Capacity Model is an asset-based approach:- each community is rich with wide range of
“assets” -- things, people, talents, places and associations
- these things are already in place- they need to be recognized, cataloged and
thought of as being capable of being used for empowerment and enrichment.
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SAMPLE COMMUNITY ASSET MAP
From: “A Community Building Workbook,” 2005, Northwestern ABCD
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We did a grassroots survey to see what neighborhood folks wanted in a community cultural center and what they thought they could do there…
• Drafted and refined 2-page community survey
• Trained and deployed teams of interviewers• Conducted over 1,050 interviews throughout
neighborhood
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RESULTS• Marketing & programming feedback + got the
word out• Unearthed community talent• Surfaced potential volunteers & leaders• Surfaced potential teachers, vendors, producers
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Here’s what blossomed…
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• April 1993 to Dec 1995• Staff of 7• Budget of $225,000• Serving approx. 12,000 community
residents/year• Stories in local papers, radio, magazines
& TV
Source of funds:• Chicago Community Trust• MacArthur Foundation• City of Chicago CityArts
Program• Illinois Arts Council• Local Initiatives Support
Corp.
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Lobby Theater• Open Mic • Festivals• Special events• Meetings
Upstairs Space• Dances• Rentals• Classes
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First floor of our HQ office bldg.
On the street
Nearby vacant lot
Spaces came to life!
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START SMALL, FIND WHAT WORKS AND BUILD…
• Started as one-time event
• Monthly, then weekly
Talent Show
Cable TV
Record album
Writing class
NewspaperServed as “point-of-entry” gateway
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FESTIVALS
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Class leads to tile making/installati
oncrew, becomes a co-op business
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Drum class students form performance
ensemble for paying gigs
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FIND ARTIIST
AGREE ON PROJECT OR
CLASS
PH provided space,
marketing, $ for supplies,
coaching
TRIAL RUN OF PROJECT
EXPAND, INCREASE
MARKETING, ADD
SESSIONS
PILOT MICRO-
ENTERPRISEUnsuccessful - discontinue Successful – not appropriate for
enterprise
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CAP Operating Principles…
• Start where the people are.• Seduce, recruit local artists. • Leverage mastery of space. • Make the path by walking it. • Listen, learn and lead. • Iteration, quick start, use seed funds.
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THEN and NOW
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THEN and NOW
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Malik Yusef was part of the Howard Street Community Arts Program, with 2 tracks on “The Best of Howard Street.”
including “Hollywood Jerome” later made into HBO film.
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Did you watch
Def Poetry Jam?
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2013 Nominee for Best
Rap Song “Mercy”
2012 Winner for Best Rap Collaboratio
n,Best Rap
Album, Best Rap Song for “All Of The
Lights”
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ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION
* HOW CAN THE ARTS FOSTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT?
1. ARTS PROGRAMS CONTRIBUTE TO PUBLIC SAFETY, TRUST, CIVIC
COHESION2. DOING ART BUILDS MULTIPLE INTELLIGENCES
AND DEVELOPS COLLABORATIVE AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS
3. ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAMS OFFER RICH
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING FOR THE
CREATIVE ECONOMY
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ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION
* DOES THE ARTIST HAVE SOMETHING SPECIAL TO OFFER?
1. ARTISTS BRING NEW WAYS OF THINKING AND DOING
2. ARTISTS PRACTICE COLLABORATION
AND TEAM BUILDING3. ARTISTS CREATE SOMETHING FROM
NOTHING AND HAVE VISION TO PRODUCE BEAUTY WHERE NONE IS
OBVIOUS“Imagination precedes implementation.”
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312-804-3230
www.tresser.com
“THE ARTS SAVES LIVES AND BUILDS COMMUNITIES”