10th Annual Woodlawn Community Summit
“A Celebration of Community Spirit” | March 16, 2019
This is an exciting and historic time for our community. Attend this important event designed to share vital information about future developments. Join a collective community voice to explore new ideas and take action that will improve the Woodlawn community. This is the time to learn about how to stay involved and informed. Hear from invited speakers in the areas of economic development, housing, youth engagement and much more!
The Woodlawn Community Summit and South East Chicago Commission (SECC) hosted the 10th Annual Woodlawn Community Summit, on Saturday March 16, 2019 from 8 a.m. -12:30 p.m. at the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration, 969 East 60th Street. The Summit is designed by residents for residents and it is FREE to attend. Each year brings an energizing morning of reflection and action for the neighborhood and businesses, providing access to creative solutions to community issues and opportunities to connect a network of resources and support.
Summit Press Release
The Woodlawn Summit is the largest event of its type on the South Side of Chicago. Since its inception in 2009, the Woodlawn Community Summit has continued its work in developing and nurturing initiatives such as the Woodlawn Chamber of Commerce, targeted youth engagement programs, and neighborhood engagement.
The Summit is designed to be an energizing morning of action, serving as a clearing house for information and providing solutions to issues in the areas of Economic Development, Housing, Youth Engagement, Safety and Sustainability.
This Summit is planned by residents for residents. We appreciate the support from the community and our sponsors and look forward to celebrating our 10th anniversary!
We appreciate the support from the community and our sponsors for this annual event. The Advisory Committee has worked tirelessly to deliver an insightful program designed to ensure resident and stakeholder participation.
Ten years ago, the University hosted the first Woodlawn Summit in a single, small classroom on our campus. In every year since, attendance has grown exponentially with more than 500 attendees expected to fill our entire Social Services Administration building today!
We want to ensure that their voices are heard and that they are able to get to the resources they need.
The Summit's success is a great testimonial to the vision of its founders and community leaders who dedicated their time, energy and resources to help transform Woodlawn!
Programming Highlights
- Community Networking
- Community Recognition and Awards
- Keynote Speaker
- Thought-Leader Panel Discussions
- Open Forum
- Roundtable Sessions
- Youth Arts & Culture
- Resource Center
- Volunteer Recruitment
- Housing Tour
Summit Participation
Facilitators and Panelists
- THE FUTURE IS NOW! Economic Development in Woodlawn. Click Here.
- HOUSING: “Chicago’s South Side: Not by Chance, but by Choice.” Click Here.
Contributors and Committees
Learn more about the Summit contributors to the youth program, South Side sustainability, local candidates for elected office, and the latest happenings in Washington Park. Click Here.
Resource Center
Be sure to visit this year’s Resource Center featuring more than 20 organizations available to assist you. Click Here.
Summit Letters of Recognition
2019 Summit Sponsors
2019 Summit Planning Committee
Committee Member | Title | Organization |
Sandra Bivens | Executive Director | 51st Street Business Association |
Rebecca Brentz | Program Coordinator | South East Chicago Commission |
Diane Burnham | Executive Director | South East Chicago Commission |
Naomi Davis | Founder, Executive Director | Blacks in Green |
Felicia Dawson | Vice President | Preservation of Affordable Housing |
Byron Freelon | President | Woodlawn Chamber of Commerce |
Liz Gardner | Co-Founder | Woodlawn Community Summit |
Paula M. Grantt | CRA Business Development Officer | Associated Bank, N.A. |
Jawanda Hairston | Community Leader | |
Terri Kilbane | Professor | Loyola University |
Deidre McGraw | Co-Founder | Woodlawn Community Summit D’Luxe Connections |
Kamaria Ngozi | Community Leader | Woodlawn Community Summit |
Joyce Nimocks | Community Leader | Woodlawn Community Summit |
Rudy Nimocks | Community Leader | Woodlawn Community Summit |
Lisa Parks | Member | Woodlawn Chamber of Commerce |
Raymonde Vance | Executive Assistant | South East Chicago Commission |
Wendy Walker Williams | Executive Director, Community Partnerships | University of Chicago, Office of Civic Engagement |
Ticina Williams | Owner | Creativiti Custom Solutions |
Alicia August Wright | Owner | A’Vents by August |
Woodlawn: At-A-Glance
Community
- Woodlawn is a growing community of approximately 30,000, predominately mixed-income African-American residents.
- The community is located on Chicago’s lakefront, just eight miles from the city’s downtown Loop area.
Four Quadrants
The community of Woodlawn has organized itself along the geographic boundaries of 63rd Street, running east and west, and Cottage Grove, running north and south, to create four quadrants, each with its unique socio-economic profile.
Land Development
Woodlawn is highly-favored for new development, embracing an estimated 59 acres of vacant city-owned land, with an additional 85 acres of vacant land owned privately, according to the Gensler study.
Woodlawn Housing Stock
Realtor.com reports 213 properties making up more than 240 units were sold in the first three months of 2018. The combination of increased rehabbing and sales, with a record high sales price of $599,000 single family home price reported in March, 2018 support the expectation for continued population growth and a shift in the economic demographics, including an increase in the ownership ratio.
