SWOP and Brinshore are hosting an open house Saturday, November 18th from 10:00 a.m. until 1 p.m. for the next two houses ready for sale under the Reclaiming Southwest Chicago Campaign.  Both homes are classic Chicago bungalows, have been fully rehabbed inside and out, and come with new appliances.  The homes are located at 5749 S. Talman and 6147 S. Mozart.  Please stop by and see them.  For more information, please contact Harry Meyer at 773-471-8208 ext. 131 or hmeyer@swopchicago.org.

SWOP Needs Citizenship Workshop Volunteers Every month between now and next June, SWOP will be sponsoring a series of Citizenship Workshops.  To make these workshops as effect and efficient as possible, SWOP needs volunteers to help out.  Volunteers help with logistics, translation, completing documents, and many other tasks.  SWOP provides training to all volunteers to help you prepare for the workshop.  To find out when the next workshop is, check here. To become a SWOP Citizenship Workshop volunteer, please contact…

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SWOP recently expanded its work with young people by being awarded the partnership with the Community Schools Initiative at Talman Elementary School. Talman has long been a member of SWOP and host to a large Parent Mentor Program. Over the summer, Principal Jacqueline Medina invited SWOP to join the school as a partner on the CPS funded program. The goal of the program is to improve students’ academic performance by offering before and after school programs and to increase parent…

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The City of Chicago is making funds available for homeowners to replace old and non-working furnaces, boilers, and hot water heaters. If you live in the area bounded by 59th to 71st STs. and Western to California, you may be eligible to receive funding to improve your home’s systems.  Applications and supporting materials are due to the City by November 10th so don’t delay.  Please contact Heather Windmon at NHS for more information at 773-392-4202. These grants are being made…

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SWOP is pleased to welcome new Adler University intern Diana Chaidez.  Diana is a first year student completing her social justice practicum.  At SWOP, she will focus on all kinds of data.  Her first task was working with SWOP staffer Harry Meyer to complete the latest housing survey of the community.  Over the course of this school year, Diana will work to track participation at SWOP meetings and leadership development; housing, crime, education and other data trends in the community;…

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On May 25, 2017, more than 500 community leaders gathered at St. Adrian Church to kickoff the next phase of the Reclaiming Southwest Chicago Campaign (read about it here.)  Since then, a lot has happened with the campaign. SWOP/Brinshore have completed 10 buildings since May, leasing up 25 units.  All the units completed during the first phase of the campaign are occupied.  Recently, SWOP/Brinshore sold their first single family home.  Three more are scheduled to be completed soon.  Using $1…

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School is back in session and that means it is time for Parent Mentors to be back in classrooms helping students succeed. During the week of October 2nd, 120 parents, from 12 local schools, gathered at Gage Park High School to build their skills. Mostly moms, these emerging leaders have committed to their children and their schools that they will work collectively to make things better. Now in its second decade of work, the Parent Mentor Program is an effort…

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On Tuesday, September 19, 2017, more than 25 SWOP leaders, Gage Park educators, students, and alumnus gathered in the Gage Park High School cafeteria.  They came together to answer the question: What Actions Should We Take to Achieve Our Vision For Gage Park High School?  Their work built off a similar session held on July 17th (find a report on this meeting here) where the group built a vision for the school. After introductions and an update from principal Tamika…

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SWOP is hosting a DACA Renewal Workshop on Saturday, September 23rd at Gage Park High School, 5630 S. Rockwell.  Registration starts at 8:00 a.m. and is open until 10:00 a.m.  You are eligible to renew for DACA renewal if: Your current DACA expires on or before 3/5/18. You do not have a serious, new arrest since your last DACA approval. All previous encounters with Immigration were reported at the time of your initial DACA application. You did not leave the…

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My name is Juan and I am a DACA beneficiary.  I came to this country with my family when I was 9 years old.  As soon as I started school, it was my goal to learn English as quickly as possible, and by the time I was in eighth grade, I was able to speak it fluently.  I also was very diligent and dedicated to my studies, earning top grades consistently throughout high school and college. I was able to…

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