4 page double-spaced, documented research report. Topic: North Lawndale

Historical and Cultural Assets

The most important asset to the Bronzeville community and to the neighborhood Little Black Pearl is located in is its rich history dating back to the early 1900’s of Chicago’s lifetime. As a community Bronzeville was the Chicago equivalent of Harlem, New York in terms of its prestige, social capital, housing stock and its plethora of significant black political, spiritual and cultural leaders. After discussing the past of Bronzeville with Jitu Brown of the Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization I learned of the amazing importance of Bronzeville as a center of the African American community. Not only was it a place of black success and knowledge but also identity and empowerment. Many artists, writers and entrepreneurs that would be icons of the African American community resided here or spent much of their time being engaged in the neighborhood. Locally owned black businesses thrived here as well as the press, the arts and education. Contained in the neighborhood were the Sutherland Ballroom and the Palm Tavern. These were both Jazz Clubs visited frequently by Miles Davis and Louis Armstrong in their heyday according to Brown. Certain landmarks and important black leaders in Chicago derive their experience or residence from this community as well. The late and very important first black Mayor Harold Washington was from Bronzeville and there is even a cultural center in his name built on 47th avenue. This is a great asset to the community. Margaret Burroughs, founder of the Dusable Museum, the museum of African American history, grew up in Bronzeville and graduated from the Dusable high school. The museum itself, established over 50 years ago, is a landmark in itself and even more of a historical and cultural asset to the community. The house of Ida B. Wells, civil rights and suffragist leader, still stands as a landmark in the Bronzeville neighborhood and Bronzeville is home to an immeasurably treasured past and contains the very strands of history that could help to create a surge of culture and social capital. All of this rich history contains in it the potential for great development and strength. By using the roots of the neighborhood could be a great uplifting factor and increase the perceived capacities of the people and the community itself.

Background Info of Community: Erika Kreiner

Little Black Pearl has a vision to help younger adults struggling in school and to provide them with several opportunities to benefit themselves. Little Black Pearl is located in the northern neighborhood of Kenwood on the Southside of Chicago. At first I was a bit frightened for my safety traveling to the school. It seems as though almost every other day one hears about a shooting on the Southside of Chicago. As I continued to volunteer at Little Black Pearl, my assumptions slowly turned around. I began to notice small gestures of kindness that people did for each other in the community. I realized that in the community people care for one another and want to help each other out. When traveling to Little Black Pearl down 47th street one would notice the several shops, boutiques and salons along the street. The countless shops gave me the impression that the neighborhood must be well-to-do because people must have money to spend to keep them around. I conducted a little research of my own and found out Kenwood used to be one of the most elite neighborhoods in Chicago. Wealthy residents moved to Kenwood in the 1950’s to get away from the congestion of the city. The community’s population suddenly accelerated in the 1970’s and is now primarily an African-American Community. The community struggles to provide a proper education for its youth and Little Black Pearl can be known as the crown jewel of the community and even a young leader of reversing this problem.

Education Info & LBP: Julian Gomez

Rooted in the black community, Little Black Pearl (LBP) is a flourishing nonprofit serving youth in the Kenwood/Oakland, Woodlawn, and Bronzeville neighborhoods of Chicago. As a cultural arts center, it provides opportunities in art, culture and entrepreneurship to youth, and in 2011 LBP expanded its vision of education, establishing Options Laboratory School. The first graduating class was just last year, and it was a group of 5 students. This year there is a potential of 59 soon to be graduates. Like any other school, there are requirements that need to be met. Students must earn a minimum of 22 credits to receive a diploma from the Options Laboratory School: 4 English credits, 3 Math credits, 3 Science credits, 3 Social Science credits, 2 Fine Arts credits, 2 Physical Education credits, and 5 Elective credits. The question is, why 22 credits and not 24 credits like any other public school? That is the answer. The Options Laboratory School is not a CPS school, but a YCCS school. YCCS stands for Youth Connection Charter Schools and it was established in 1997 to address the high dropout rates of minority youth in Chicago high schools. YCCS has changed the culture of alternative high schools and since its establishment, it has provided higher graduation rates than Chicago Public Schools. However, because the Options Laboratory School is growing, they are looking into becoming a CPS school by next year.

Students and Children of the Area: Kyle Corcoran

As the Bronzeville area is transitioning into a more successful neighborhood, it is very important that the children of this area be engaged in the process. It isn’t entirely the responsibility of the adults in the area to ameliorate the community; rather, children and adults alike need to work together if they want the success of the neighborhood to be carried out. In an interview with Chinyera Moody, Senior Programs Manager at Little Black Pearl, she says that adults need to be sure to praise the kids for their work and good deeds. With this praise comes a drive to work even harder and to be more successful. It is important that the feelings of being successful in their talents are established at a young age, Moody says, because then this feeling and a want to be successful will carry out with them when they are adults. A former problem with this area was that adults were too oppressive and authoritative towards the kids, which made them want to act out. While respect for adults is very important, kids need to see adults as a resource for success and guidance. It is also important that the kids work together. They need to be engaged with everyone in their community, so that they can achieve a better understanding of their situation. Little Black Pearl recognizes this. The facility opens its doors during the after school program for any students who want to come in and learn. These kids form networks and friendships that may not have been made had they not come together at Little Black Pearl. They learn and work together and connections are formed.

Important Institutions, Organizations and Infrastructure:

· Illinois Institute of Technology

· Chicago Urban Skills Institute

· Baptist/Lutheran Churches; Jewish synagogue

· DuSable Museum for African American history

· High Schools: (LBP)

· KOCO (Kenwood Oakoand Community Organization)

· Original building for “The Chicago Defender”

· Chicago BEE library

· Mixed Income residential development/increasing housing stock

· “Neighborhood Market Wal-Mart” (100 New jobs)

· Urban Partnership Bank