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The Chicago Council on Urban Affairs was organized to focus attention and increase public understanding of a variety of community concerns and issues.
Following is a timeline of events, programs and initiatives that have shaped and defined who we are and our contributions to the city of Chicago.
1971 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1982
1987 1989 1990 1991 1992 1994 1995
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002
The Chicago Council on Urban Affairs, formerly known as TRUST, Inc., was organized to focus attention and increase public understanding of a variety of community issues. (return to top)
TRUST published “Managing Chicago’s Urban Dollar” which concluded that needed downtown improvement must be supported by action to reverse neighborhood deterioration which leads to the decline in the city’s tax base. (return to top)
TRUST initiated the city’s first and only open, nonpartisan study process. TRUST selected as its first topic, a study of the impact of the County’s tax assessment and tax delinquency policies on the preservation of Chicago’s multifamily housing stock. (return to top)
TRUST published “Urban Neighborhoods: An Action Report on the Impact of Tax Assessment and Tax Delinquency Policies.” Four pieces of state legislation grew out of this housing study. (return to top)
First TRUST Neighborhood Awards Dinner. Two communities were cited for their redevelopment activities: Pilsen and South Shore. (return to top)
A state senate resolution commended TRUST for its “significant demonstration of the importance civic organizations can have in initiating constructive change through the democratic process.”
TRUST developed an independent “Neighborhood Agenda” to be released during the mayoral campaign as a means of stimulating public policy debate. Forerunner to the neighborhood agenda adopted by the Washington Administration.
CANDO honored TRUST with an award for its exceptional service to the neighborhoods of the city of Chicago.
TRUST advocated for a constitutional amendment that reduced the period following the scavenger tax sale from two years to as low as 90 days. The amendment was passed by the state legislature and led to the formation of the Committee to End Illinois Tax Abuse, under the chairmanship of Michael J. Howlett and ultimate passage of the amendment by the voters. TRUST’s efforts helped to save many abandoned buildings from becoming crime and drug havens.
The Department of Planning adopted TRUST’s package of recommendations for commercial strip revitalization. (return to top)
The publication “Stimulating Joint Urban Ventures: Community Organizations and Organized Philanthropy” improved communication between funders and community organizations and resulted in some significant modifications of United Way policies and procedures.
TRUST received the James IV Award of Excellence for Outstanding Community Service from the Chicago Community Trust. (return to top)
TRUST changed its name to The Chicago Council on Urban Affairs and became a membership organization.
First edition of One City, an expanded urban affairs magazine.
The Council began a three-year economic development partnership with Erie Neighborhood House (Southeast West Town) called “The Chicago Neighborhood Experiment.” (return to top)
The Council formed its Election ’89 Committee which drew on all sectors to set priorities and write an agenda for the upcoming Mayoral election.
WTTW joined with the Council to present televised Mayoral Forums to discuss the Council’s Election ’89 Agenda with the candidates.
Jack Kemp, Secretary of HUD, spoke at a luncheon sponsored by the Council.
Mayor Daley joined the Council at a breakfast forum for the release of the Council’s report and recommendations on “Education Systems Serving the Hard-to-Employ.” Both major Chicago newspapers gave editorial support to the report’s recommendations. (return to top)
The Council partnered with The Human Relations Foundation of Chicago to conduct a study and release a report on the coverage of race and poverty issues by the media.
The Council initiated and staffed a joint venture with the Chicago Economic Development Commission and the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago to track public and private dollars spent on workforce education in Chicago. (return to top)
Franklin Thomas, president of the Ford Foundation, was the featured speaker at a Council luncheon to discuss poverty.
The Council began its in-depth review of governance, management, and budget at the City Colleges of Chicago and convened a task force chaired by Robert Belcaster. (return to top)
The Council convened a “Workforce Education Stakeholders Group” to advocate and monitor workforce education recommendations.
Colorado Governor Roy Romer addressed a Council luncheon on national standards for education.
City Colleges implemented over 80% of the Council’s recommendations. (return to top)
The Council implemented a new corporate membership program targeted to the business community.
The Council released a major study on how local TV news stations report violence and develops a series of recommendations to station managers. (return to top)
Council President and Vice President are interviewed by Channel 2 News about the Council’s violence and TV news report.
Channel 2 News changed its format and implemented the Council’s recommendations.
The Council testified at the President’s Welfare-to-Work Commission hearing about the comprehensive welfare-to-work program designed by the Council.
The Council and Northwestern University worked with two Chicago public high schools to monitor the news media’s treatment of youth and violence.
As a result of the Council’s youth forum, a student is hired as a youth beat reporter at Channel 2 News.
Council President awarded an eight-month fellowship by the Chicago Community Trust. President visited 24 cities in 15 states and interviewed 80 leaders about race and ethnic affairs. (return to top)
The Council celebrated 25 years of service to the city of Chicago.
The Council announced two new program directions: Public Policy and Racial Divide and Crime, Justice, and Public Safety.
The Council and The Human Relations Foundation of Chicago cosponsored a forum to discuss the role of race in the current immigration debate. Pulitzer Prize winner, Dale Maharidge (The Coming White Minority: California’s Eruption and The Nation’s Future) gave a presentation about California’s anti-immigration initiative and how it set into motion Proposition 187 and Proposition 209, thus leading the way for other states to push through anti-immigration and anti-affirmative action and legislative initiatives. (return to top)
The Council developed plans for a major research project to analyze perceptions and attitudes about the Juvenile Court and youth crime public policy.
The Council continued community outreach initiatives by holding community forums across the city to discuss juvenile justice and youth crime.
Mutual Assistance Association and Youth as Resources were the annual neighborhood awards dinner recipients.
The fall issue of One City, Juvenile Justice: How do we Police the Child, gave a review of the philosophy and rationale that has shaped the Juvenile Justice System for the last 100 years.
The Council also began a cable show on the Chicago Access Network. Each week the Council showcased Chicago’s leading civic and community leaders to discuss youth crime and immigration issues. (return to top)
The Council continued its research project on perceptions and attitudes about the Juvenile Court and youth crime public policy.
Two community forums were held: one in collaboration with the Northwest Neighborhood Federation on youth crime and the best methods to decrease youth delinquency, and one in collaboration with Youth As Resources addressing the new juvenile reform law and its impact on communities of color.
The Council awarded Youth Struggling for Survival and Centro Communitario Juan Diego with its Neighborhood Award. The event was held at the Chicago Hilton.
The Council and The Human Relations Foundation of Chicago, copublished a double issue of One City. Birth of a New Nation: America in the 21st Century examined the future impact of diversity on mainstream American life.
The Council and the Foundation also sponsored a Women of the Millennium conference in June. The follow-up to this conference, Women of Millennium II: Putting Recommendations Into Action, was held in March, 1999. (return to top)
With the assistance of a grant from the MacArthur Foundation, the Council developed a major research project (a citywide survey) to analyze perceptions and attitudes about the Juvenile Court and youth crime public policy. The results of the survey were released during the summer.
The Council developed partnerships with Bethel New Life, Howard Area Community Center, Near Northwest Neighborhood Network, and Youth As Resources to review youth crime and juvenile justice issues.
The Council and The Human Relations Foundation of Chicago sponsored Women of the Millennium II: a continued dialogue about the future of the women’s movement and agenda in a multiracial community. Close to 250 women attended the event. The Council and Foundation are developing future projects to continue the Millennium Project.
The Council unveiled its new web site and email address.
The Council launched a student membership campaign aimed at recruiting undergrad and graduate students interested in public policy and urban issues. (return to top)
The Council received a two-year, $200,000 grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to further its juvenile justice initiative, including a project to collaborate with four community-based organizations to develop community-driven solutions to youth crime and reform of the Juvenile Court.
The Council continued its Women of the Millennium project by partnering with The Human Relations Foundation of Chicago to present the “Grown-Up” Women’s Workshop which featured award-winning author and journalist, Jill Nelson. Nelson is author of the best-selling and critically acclaimed autobiography Straight, No Chaser: How I Became a Grown Up Black Woman. Her speech focused on the need for African American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, and Arab women to play a stronger role in the feminist movement. A videotape of the workshop is available and can be obtained by contacting the Council at 312-782-3511 or ccua@ccua.org.
The Council’s Spring/Summer 2000 issue of One City focused on the results of its citywide survey about youth crime in Chicago, and included several feature stories highlighting the major themes of the survey results: disconnections about youth crime between the community, legislators, and the media; racial disparity and stereotyping; and concerns about the efficiency and trustworthiness of the Juvenile Court and the Chicago Police Department.
The Council announced a partnership with both Project Equality (a national organization that works with corporations, nonprofits, and religious organizations to help reach diversity and affirmative action goals and provides EEO compliance audits) and Girl Scouts of Chicago to copublish issues of One City focusing on workforce diversity and girls and diversity.
Council President Lucretia “Lu” Bailey was selected by the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago as the 2000 recipient of the Leader Award For Racial Justice. This award recognizes outstanding and notable achievements in the area of racial justice, exemplary service to the community, and a willingness to take leadership positions on issues that have an impact on women’s lives.
The Council and Pepsi Cola General Bottlers announced the continuation of their partnership to sponsor the Annual Neighborhood Awards Dinner.
The Council launched the first of a series of Community Conventions on youth crime. The Council surveyed residents (by phone and door-to-door) in Grand Boulevard (on Chicago’s South side) about their perceptions about youth crime and the juvenile justice system. This is the first time a research project of this nature has been conducted about youth crime in communities. The Council released the survey data and results in the Fall, 2001 issue of One City.
Close to 80,000 people visited the Council’s web site. (return to top)
The Council turned 30 years old.
The Council collaborated with Project Equality to copublish an issue of One City magazine, focusing on workforce diversity—which included a list of recommendations for developing and retaining a diverse workplace.
The Council conducted the Humboldt Park Community Convention on youth crime—on Chicago’s Near Northwest side. The event was shown on the Chicago Access Network (CAN-TV).
The Council elected Craig Gilmore, director of Urban Markets, from State Farm Insurance Companies, as its new board chair.
During the week of the September terrorist attacks, the Council and close to 150 people discussed diversity in America, in light of the September 11 attacks, at the “White, Like Me” presentation during the Annual Meeting.
The Council awarded Alternatives, Inc., and the Little Village Community Development Corporation with the 2001 Neighborhood Award.
The Council’s data on youth crime was cited in a national campaign to help repeal Illinois’ automatic transfer law. This law allows for the automatic transfer of juvenile drug offenders (for drugs sold within 1,000 feet of a school or public housing complex) to adult court without the intervention of a Juvenile Court judge. The law has not been repealed, but legislation has been reintroduced to repeal and/or modify the automatic transfer program. According to a report authored by Building Blocks for Youth, the group that leads the campaign, the Illinois transfer law targets innercity African-American and Latino teens, while slapping the wrists of white suburban youth. (return to top)
The Council and Girl Scouts of Chicago copublished an issue of One City magazine, focusing on girls and diversity and the importance/necessity of promoting racial, cultural, and class inclusion in the girls’ community and within girl-focused programs. This issue of One City also included a resource list of programs and organizations for girls.
The Council becomes the first Chicago-area civic group to develop an event to award and honor Chicago-area corporations for their commitment to developing and maintaining a diverse workplace. (return to top)
Council staff testifies at Juvenile Justice Legislative Hearings in Springfield, Illinois in support of community-based solutions to reduce youth crime and modification of automatic transfer laws.
The Council sponsors media literacy workshop to examine how the mass media portrays girls.
Council President and Board Chairman meet with Cook County State’s Attorney to discuss revising automatic transfer laws. Cook County State’s Attorney agrees to modify automatic transfer usage.
The Council meets with presiding judges of Juvenile Court to discuss cultural competency and diversity training at the Court.
The Council releases survey data from its Community Conventions on youth crime in four communities: Grand Boulevard, Humboldt Park, Rogers Park, and Garfield Park. (return to top)
The Council conducts focus groups with youth in detention to discuss and document the effectiveness of detention programs; data is shared with the leadership of the Juvenile Court.
The Council sponsors media literacy training for women as part of its Women of the Millennium program.
The Council conducts diversity and cultural competency training for Juvenile Court judges and staff.
The Council sponsors media literacy training seminar for girls in Chicago’s northwest suburbs.
The Council develops “Boyz 2 Men” program and examines the issues facing boys and men in a workshop.
The Council gave expert testimony at the local, state, and national level regarding Juvenile Justice reform; testimony resulted in policy changes and/or implementation.
The Council linked community-based research with performance-based public policy recommendations in Juvenile Justice.
The Council helped to catapult reform efforts in the Cook County Juvenile Justice system (the first Juvenile Court in the world). (return to top)
The Council’s Juvenile Justice reform efforts have resulted in community-based approaches to reduce youth crime, the development of a separate juvenile correctional facility, and review and reduction in sentencing methods that disproportionately incarcerate black and brown youth.
The Council’s president was asked to serve on an inspection committee to review operations/policy of the Cook County Detention Center.
The MacArthur Foundation has decided to fund the Council to lead a public education campaign about DMC (Disproportionate Minority Confinement) in the Illinois Juvenile Justice system (commence in early 2006). (return to top)
The Council celebrates 35 years of service.
State Farm Insurance Companies serves as the corporate sponsor of the Council’s 35th year anniversary celebration.
The Council leads statewide public education campaign about DMC (Disproportionate Minority Confinement) in the Illinois Juvenile Justice system. (return to top)
