Community History

Reaching a wider South Shore audience

Exchange Ideas at Chef Sara’s

Through the Planning Coalition’s Exchange Ideas meetings at Chef Sara’s Café, residents shared concerns, discussed neighborhood opportunities, and built relationships that supported community organizing.

These gatherings brought wider attention in South Shore to Val Free’s organizing. Her community work had already begun with tenant organizing.

Organizing across the Southeast Side

The Block Club Alliance’s continuing work

The Southeast Side Block Club Alliance brought block leaders together for organizing, recruitment, appreciation, and leadership conversations. Julia Hunter’s archive preserves later meetings and gatherings, including a 2017 assembly at the South Shore Public Library and a lead organizers’ breakfast.

The library assembly shown here was a later event. The first assembly took place at South Shore High School in June 2013.

2013–2020 · Grocery access and community action

From securing a grocery store to protecting it

After Dominick’s closed, residents kept organizing for a full-service grocery store at 71st and Jeffery. Local Market opened in December 2019. During the June 2020 uprising, neighbors returned to protect the store from vandalism and looting and support the community’s recovery.

The reopening archive names NNA among the participating organizations and partners and preserves photographs, a CBS interview, and a community press conference.

Housing education and resident voice

Protecting homes and asking hard questions

The Planning Coalition’s condominium seminar brought residents together with housing specialists. Later discussions examined housing, investment, displacement, and South Shore’s future.

Those earlier conversations connect with NNA’s current condominium and cooperative initiative and resident-led housing work.

Neighborhood walks and gatherings

Getting to know our neighbors

NNA’s Stop, Walk, and Stroll activities invited residents to explore the neighborhood and build connections. Today, Hey Neighbor carries that work forward through walks, greetings, and community gatherings.

2020 · Community support

Showing up during COVID

NNA, the South Shore Chamber, and Rebuild Foundation partnered on Saturday food deliveries. This work connected residents with food and support during the pandemic.

Resident participation in housing research

Survey day: neighbors building the housing record

South Shore residents helped gather the information behind the South Side Housing Data Initiative. Survey teams used smartphone tools to document building and land conditions, contributing local knowledge to a clearer picture of the neighborhood’s housing.

NNA, the South Shore Chamber of Commerce, and South Shore Works formed the South Shore Community Compact for this partnership with the University of Chicago. The work informed the 2022 South Shore Housing Data Report and recommendations addressing displacement, housing stability, homeownership, and resident voice.

November 5, 2022 · NNA and NHS

The South Shore Housing Fair

NNA and Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago brought residents together at South Shore International College Preparatory High School for a housing fair serving homeowners, condominium and cooperative owners, and renters.

The day included workshops, a resource village, and trolley tours of local homes for sale. Residents could explore mortgages, home improvement programs, down payment assistance, estate planning, property taxes, and condominium and cooperative resources.

The South Shore housing data report was one workshop within the broader fair, alongside conversations about tenants’ rights and neighborhood organizing. NNA’s year-end review reported more than 400 residents attending.

June 2024 · Greet & Meet

Making room for new neighbors

NNA brought South Shore residents together for a Greet & Meet, creating a welcoming place to meet people, share information, and build neighborhood relationships.

In 2024, NNA also convened a block-by-block organizing meeting and relaunched a 12-week series of Tuesday evening Walk, Talk & Roll gatherings.

Corner and garden karaoke

A song becomes a connection

In summer 2024, NNA launched a ten-week series of weekly corner and garden karaoke. Music gave neighbors another way to come together, share a moment, and get to know one another.

Corner Karaoke continued in July and August 2026, alongside outreach connecting residents with housing information.

October 5, 2024 · Resident participation

Bringing housing concerns into the room

NNA convened residents for a South Shore housing meeting to discuss the proposed housing ordinance and the choices shaping the neighborhood’s future.

The gathering continued a long history of creating space for residents to raise housing concerns and participate in neighborhood decisions.

2026 · Housing outreach and community connection

Organizing is still happening

During summer 2026, NNA continued Corner Karaoke, participated in block club parties, held a South Shore Summer Festival, and connected residents with housing information through Hey Neighbor Housing Help Saturdays and neighborhood outreach.

NNA also met with a condominium association about solar energy and homeownership. Current housing work includes the Condominium & Cooperative Initiative, homeowner resources, and resident-informed housing research.