One of my clients, the Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation (GAGDC), just voted me to their board of directors.

The GAGDC works to foster and promote revitalization of the low-to-moderate income communities that we serve using comprehensive community development strategies.  Since 2001, the GAGDC has worked in all, or parts of, Ashburn, Auburn Gresham, Englewood, Greater Grand Crossing, Washington Heights, West Englewood, and West Chatham.

GAGDC receives support from many sources and contributors including the State of Illinois, Cook County, Local Initiatives Support Corporation of Chicago (LISC/Chicago), the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago (UWMC), the MacArthur Foundation, the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning & Development, and local private and financial institutions.  We also partner with institutions like University of Chicago, Illinois State University, and University of Illinois at Chicago on several funded and collaborative projects.

Originated as part of the New Communities Program, Greater-Auburn Gresham has worked to:

  • Organize residents and other community stakeholders to develop a Quality of Life Plan that integrates existing and planned activities;
  • Assess existing programs, identify service deficiencies, and generate organizational and community commitments to address them; and,
  • Partner with other organizations to collectively attract and integrate new or improved services, creating impactful quality recreational and social opportunities for the community.

GADC’s other programs include work in five pillars which include:

1) Community Economic Development

  • Provides technical assistance for business start-ups
  • Beautifies commercial areas via Chicago of Chicago’s Special Service Area #32
  • Produces the annual 79th Street Renaissance Festival
  • Holds informational community forums and fireside chats
  • Support CAPS and public safety advocates
  • Facilitates of the 6th District Business Subcommittee
  • A City of Chicago Neighborhood Business Development Center site
  • Real Estate Development
    • Supports, rehab and builds mixed-income housing and commercial units
    • Provides consulting and project management services
    • Undertakes construction management and property management
  • Produces the annual 79th Street Renaissance Festival
  • Free Financial Coaching through Financial Opportunity Centers

2) Housing and Senior Services

  • Manages the Department of Housing SARFS Program as a delegate agent
  • Supports Historic Chicago Brick Bungalow initiative Preservation of single family and multi-unit housing, and Special Project Initiatives
  • Manages Auburn Gresham Micro Market Recovery Program (MMRP) is an initiative of the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development Holds informational forums, home-buying seminars and credit counseling
  • Provides technical assistance for block clubs and homeowner associates
  • Creates a resource and referral network with linkages to financial resources and social services
  • Collaborates with Neighborhood Housing Services
  • After School Matters Youth Employment

3) Educational Initiatives and Youth Development

  • Faciliate Auburn Gresham’s United Way Neighborhood Network
  • Out of School Programs for the Auburn Gresham GOLD Network
  • Facilitate Auburn Gresham Gold – A Community-driven Education Plan
  • Support the Community Web Portal (auburngreshamportal.org)

4) Health

  • Manages partnership with UIHealth, school based Auburn Gresham Health and Wellness Center

5) Community and Family Engagement

  • Organize residents and other community stakeholders (task forces) to develop a Quality of Life Plan that integrates existing and planned activities
  • Produces the annual 79th Street Renaissance Festival
  • Facilitates free tax services and financial seminars
  • Manages Chicago Cares Volunteer program for Auburn Gresham
  • A PlayStreets facilitator for Greater Auburn Gresham Communities

GAGDC is headquartered at 7901 South Racine, Chicago, IL 60620. We can be reached by phone or fax at (773) 483-3696 or e-mail at greaterauburncdc17@sbcglobal.net.

Also, the Auburn Gresham Healthy Lifestyle Hub has been awarded the 2023 Landmarks Illinois Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Preservation Award for Adaptive Reuse!