Something incredible is happening in Chicago. Black Men United, a “national community service organization” according to their website, is receiving a brand new a building, built for them by the city. This, along with several other projects, are a part of the city’s grand plan to invest in the West Side of Chicago. The groundbreaking event happened on February 17, 2023, at 8:45. Additionally, many city officials were there, including Mayor Lori Lightfoot, Deputy Mayor Samir Mayekar, and of course, Alderwoman Monique Scott. This is a wonderful opportunity for Black Men United and for economic development in the 24th Ward.
Black Men United does great work in and for the community. They do mostly community service-oriented events. Aside from the organization itself, the event was packed with a lot of people. Big names, like previously mentioned Lightfoot and Scott, as well as AJ Patton, CEO of 548 Enterprises. 548 Enterprises is a development company. The entire community of Chicago, including North Lawndale, showed up to celebrate this momentous occasion.
“Its overwhelming in the excitement, you saw this turnout, it was just great. It made me feel really proud,” said Patton.
Investment Troubles
Things like this typically just don’t happen on the West Side, especially not for areas like North Lawndale. North Lawndale, as a community, is systematically under-invested in compared to areas like Lakeview or the downtown area. There simply hasn’t been enough investment from the City of Chicago inside of North Lawndale. Additionally, it isn’t just North Lawndale either, areas like Englewood and Garfield Park are in a similar if not worse situation. The City of Chicago needs to continue to step up when creating more equitable outcomes in Chicago.
Luckily, the Lightfoot administration is attempting to make the situation better. Even though she may be leaving office in the next six months, Lightfoot’s administration still seems committed to healing the structural inequalities.
”I think this is a great day for the West Side. This land sat vacant for decades and it took this mayor to deliver this kind of result,” said Deputy Mayor Samir Mayekar.
Black Men United’s Vision
What is great about this, is that Black Men United will have a greater outreach to all the people they already serve. Black Men United teaches young Black men how to be productive members of society, using community service as a positive outlet. This brighter vision for Black men in America is being amplified with the construction of this building.
The building itself is part of a greater plan for Chicago that the Lightfoot administration started. The plan is called the invest southwest initiative. The invest southwest initiative is a grand plan to invest in the South and West sides of Chicago. This initiative to invest in these west and south areas of Chicago is one of the best things to come out of the Lightfoot administration. The plan includes the construction of buildings like the new Black Men United building. Moreover, the intent is to create not only new economic growth in these areas but places where community members feel safe and sound.
Better Late Than Never
Ultimately, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Black Men United building comes at a time when North Lawndale needs it the most. The community of North Lawndale is one of the most underfunded neighborhoods in the city, and yet the City of Chicago has finally chosen to come through for this community. North Lawndale may only have 40,000 or so residents, but each one of them matters. Furthermore, the City of Chicago may be beginning to understand that even if certain communities aren’t currently making that much revenue, their quality of life still matters in the grand scheme of things. The City of Chicago may be finally beginning to understand that the squeakiest wheels of all haven’t been getting any grease for a very long time.
Written by Kenneth Mazerat
Sources:
Block Club Chicago: $68 Million West Side Industrial Center Breaks Ground At Infamous Silver Shovel Dumping Ground by Trey Arline
CCAC: Invest Southwest Initiative with the Chicago Department of Planning & Development
Chicago.gov: City Of Chicago, 548 Enterprise, And Related Midwest Break Ground On Industrial Site And Innovation Center In North Lawndale by Mayor’s Press Office
Interview: AJ Patton on February 17, 2023
Interview: Samir Ayekar on February 17, 2023
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of Kenneth Mazerat
Inset Image Courtesy of Kenneth Mazerat
