Image Source: Terrence Antonio James, Chicago Tribune
The impact of Great Cities Institute’s recent report on North Lawndale is discussed in a commentary written by Garland Thomas-McDavid, president and CEO of North Lawndale College Prep.
A recent report from the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois at Chicago focused on revitalizing the North Lawndale community. It was uplifting and gratifying to see North Lawndale making headlines for its incredible potential while simultaneously being acknowledged for the steep uphill battle this neighborhood continues to face after generations of strategic, damaging disinvestment.
But there was a key issue that appears as a mere afterthought. As impactful as it may be to make targeted efforts to revive North Lawndale’s economy — from housing to employment to food scarcity — there is a piece of this equation that we cannot overlook: community violence and the trauma that comes with it.
Garland Thomas-McDavid continues in his commentary to discuss the importance of addressing youth trauma and reinvesting in Chicago neighborhoods.
