Taylor Iaculla

Professor Bennett

PPS 250

March 19, 2015

West Garfield Park Development Proposal

Purpose

The intent of this proposal is to attempt to ensure that West Garfield Park is able to

attain funding from the Good Communities Foundation as it has been subject to significant

disinvestment and disadvantages throughout the years. With the support of the Good

Communities Foundation, it is quite possible for West Garfield Park to provide services and

resources that its residents desperately need in order to create a more cohesive and stable

neighborhood.

West Garfield Park Description

Demographics

West Garfield Park is a community area within the City of Chicago that is

predominantly African American making up 95.9% of the neighborhood’s population with

small numbers of other racial or ethnic groups such as Hispanics, Asians, or Caucasians

making up the other 4.1% of the 19,383 total population. (Greater Chicago Food Depository,

2009). Of those, the average age for a male living in the neighborhood is 26.6 years of age,

while the average age of a female is 31.9 years old. Also, 24.5 percent of adults age twenty-

five and over do not have a high school diploma, compared to 14.5 percent of residents in

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Chatham, a middle class, African American neighborhood also in Chicago that is somewhat

similar to West Garfield Park.

Resources

There are many community development corporations (CDC’s) already present to

address issues in the “urban neighborhood scarred by decades of disinvestment and

concentrated poverty” (Williamson, Imbroscio, Alperovitz, 2002) such as the Garfield Park

Community Council and Bethel New Life both of which have made powerful strides in the

community. Similarly, many churches also attempt to reverse the effects of disinvestment

and poverty one of which is the New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church which

provides parenting classes, educational services, affordable housing, and health services to

the community as it has a minimal amount of grocery stores, access to health services, and

struggles with educational attainment. In addition to social services provided by the state,

West Garfield Park has two alcohol treatment centers and two drug treatment centers

along with a location for behavioral health services, a Head Start program, and a transitional

living space for women and children (Paral, 2012).

Also, the CeaseFire program operates within the community with the goal of

reaching at-risk youth to teach them the consequences of violence, drugs, and other

destructive behavior (Cure Violence, 2014). Transportation in the area relies largely on

public transport as there are two train stops in the area accompanied by multiple bus stops

as well. For the most part, as long as one has the money for transportation, they should be

able to get to most places within the community. There are a four parks in the area as well,

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none as large or well-equipped as the neighboring Garfield Park located in East Garfield Park

though. (Chicago Park District, 2014). Nonetheless, there is still the presence of some green

space in the community which is mostly aimed towards children, serving as a helpful

resource for parents throughout the community.

City Programs

One city program that will begin this summer in the community is PlayStreets. The

program is designed to keep kids healthy and promote an active lifestyle. There are events

planned throughout the summer to ensure that children along with their parents interact

through an array of programs in order to maintain their health. The program is supported

by the city’s public health agency and is a major initiative targeting twenty-six

neighborhoods across the city. (Mayor’s Press Office, 2015).

Problems

Violent Crime Property Crime Quality of Life Crime 0

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Crime per Thousand People

Chatham Chicago West Garfield Park

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Graph 1

As the graph above displays, West Garfield Park has more incidents of crime per

1,000 residents compared to the City of Chicago or Chatham with regards to violent,

property, and quality of life crimes. Much of the crime in the area is connected to drug

related offenses with there being 161 narcotic related incidents between February 8th and

March 10th of 2015 (Chicago Tribune, 2015) showing that there is an increased need for

programs that offer effective drug treatment or having members of the community work

more closely with law enforcement to ensure their neighborhood has a less likely chance of

drug abuse or manufacture. For instance, a successful program that worked in the past was

when the parks department partnered with Bethel New Life, a local community

development corporation, to buy a property and then evict all those who manufactured or

used drugs. After this, they were able to renovate the local park near the property and it

was once again used as a communal resource. As well as crime, another issue that West

Garfield Park faces is limited access to affordable, nutritious food sources. There are not

very many grocery stores in the community leading to 29.5% food insecurity compared to

20.6% for all of Chicago. Furthermore, the neighborhood struggles with access to proper

healthcare services and has very limited access to affordable or proximal locations where

they can find assistance. “Even though the supply of physicians has risen greatly in the past

thirty years, it remains low in most low-income, central-city neighborhoods” (Drier,

Mollenkopf, Swanstrom, 2013). This certainly applies to this community as it has higher

rates of infectious diseases such as gonorrhea or chlamydia than Chatham or Chicago and

also has 19.7% of residents uninsured (Paral, 2012). Even more so, there are no

obstetricians or gynecologists nor specialist physicians. In fact, even for a primary care

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physician, there is only .28 per 1,000 residents within the neighborhood along with .22

dentists. (Paral, 2012). These issues can all be traced back to a common reason, which is the

concentration of poverty within the neighborhood. As of 2009, the median income for West

Garfield Park residents was 22,242 dollars which is 24,539 dollars less than the Chicago

average. Moreover, 40.3% of households are below the poverty line compared to 18.7% of

Chicago residents showing the adverse effect that a multitude of circumstances has on their

capability for economic vitality and stability without additional assistance.

Development Needs

Economic Growth

Economic development is one of the primary factors inhibiting local stability within

the area. With 40.3% of households below the poverty rate, it is important that the locality

focuses on increasing per capita income as well as attempting to bring in private businesses

through incentive programs they can offer. With the influx of business growth, people will

therefore have better access to jobs which may be closer to their homes as well. As business

comes in, the tax base will also be able to be expanded and possibly cause more money to

be reinvested back into the community.

Health Services

Access to health is vital to ensuring a better quality of life for both individuals and

communities. With so little healthcare available, it is imperative that the community

develop some type of plan to address this need, whether through public or private health

services. Additionally, it is equally important that people have access to insurance either

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privately or through Medicare or Medicaid. Through educating the public, they can also

learn of government resources available to them to ensure that they have some options

when it comes to health care. As many people within the community also have little access

to nutritious produce, it is important they receive medical attention periodically as

malnutrition can lead to an array of negative health effects such as immune deficiencies,

obesity, or abnormal growth.

Crime Prevention

As crime in this area is much higher than the rate for either Chicago or Chatham, it is

imperative that in developing the area, one remembers the propensity for violence in the

area. In order to ensure a safe social and economic environment, safety must first be

addressed. People within the community must feel safe in order to be active members of

the community and become civically engaged. If people are “afraid to go outside in areas

with high crime [they]... keep their children locked inside” (Drier, Mollenkopf, Swanstrom,

2013) which further perpetuates the lack of social capital within a neighborhood that is vital

for deliberative democracy and coalition building. In order for businesses to want to enter

the community, they must be reassured that their store or business will be safe from

property crime and also feel as though their customers will be highly willing to enter the

neighborhood they are a part of.

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Education

PSAE Composite

Graduation rate

College enrollment

0.00% 10.00% 20.00% 30.00% 40.00% 50.00% 60.00% 70.00% 80.00% 90.00%

Educational Attainment

Chicago Chatham West Garfield Park

Educational attainment will be vital to the success of West Garfield Park especially in

the future as people who are well educated tend to have more economic opportunities

coupled with health benefits which addresses two issues this neighborhood faces. As shown

above, the graduation rate for West Garfield Park from Orr High School is at 41.90% while

Chatham’s graduation rate for Simon High School is at 79%. In attempting to develop the

skills of the youth in the neighborhood, it is important to bring them to a level where they

will be able to continue their education through either technical schools or a university. As

graph two shows, there is only 42.40% college enrollment for those who graduated from

Orr High School while those from Simon High have a college enrollment percentage of 77.2

(Bennett, 2015). Educational advancement is at the center of giving individuals an

opportunity for increased life chances in which they can advance in the world as they so

choose.

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Graph 2

Values to Consider

Economic Outcomes

Economic development practice should not be driven purely by the market’s desires.

Development should be pursued only to increase the economic stability of the entire

community through increased governmental control over the market. For example, Wal-

Mart is highly subsidized by governments as it is believed that they “boost employment and

expand the economy” when in actuality, its presence causes “local businesses dollars that

once circulated locally, generating economic activity and jobs, to cease to do so” (Mitchell,

2006). The main concern should then be for the stability of the local economy to truly effect

the lives of the poor so they can increase their probability to better themselves both from

an economic and political standpoint (Reese, Fasenfest, 2004). In this way, localities can

better ensure that the changes in their community will be a more equitable distribution of

wealth. Also in order to ensure that the people within the community are being directly

affected, it would be important to note if per capita income has increased, and if it has not,

then a shift in policy may be needed.

Health Outcomes

The outcomes one should aim to achieve through implementation of policy with

respect to health care in West Garfield Park would be for the overall rate of infectious

diseases, teen birth rate, and tuberculosis to decrease while the rate of health care

providers and the insured increase. Teen birth rate and infectious diseases in the area are

much higher than the Chicago averages with 57 teen births per 1,000 residents while West

Garfield Park’s teen birth rate was 114.9 per 1,000. This is double the rate of Chicago and

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may also contribute to the lack of educational attainment within the neighborhood,

overcrowded housing, and financial instability if the pregnancy is unplanned. So lowering

the birth rate is a primary concern not only for individuals, but for the community as a

whole as it contributes to the sequence of poverty. Another goal is to achieve equal

distribution of quality health care and its benefits without a heavy cost problem. In valuing

this, it insures that health policy takes into consideration the social dimensions than inhibit

health services by focusing on the poor having the same access and financial burdens of the

wealthy.

Education Outcomes

The values used to judge policy with regards to education could be to compare the

rate of high school graduation and college enrollment after enacting a policy to see if the

percentage increased. Furthermore, using aptitude tests may also prove to be useful as they

can be compared and then used to judge the ability of a person’s skill for future work.

Another outcome to strive for is the shift in attitude, beliefs, and values has changed along

with an increase in the individual’s quality of life and civil or social development. Through

this, their views may shift into more positive thoughts and as their civil development

increases, then they may become more involved with other members or institutions within

the community thereby accumulating social capital which can result in the sharing of

resources, engagement in service, and a sense of belonging. This can further the possibility

for increased democracy within the community as well which , according to Gianpaolo

Baiocchio, can lead to the empowerment of the poor and increased social justice through

social transformation and activism (2001).

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Development Strategies

Economic

Chatham Chicago West Garfield Park$0

$5,000

$10,000

$15,000

$20,000

$25,000

$30,000

$20,320

$27,148

$10,951

Per Capita Income

In attempting to develop the community, a program that has achieved some success

already is Bethel New Life’s Community Investment Program. The existing program provides

low-interest loans to businesses and non-profits that are located in in the West Side of

Chicago. They have given over $9.9 million to West Side businesses that have provided

capital for start-up, renovation, expansion, inventory, and equipment. (Bethel New Life,

2015). “Poor access to credit remains a significant barrier to small business development

and growth among minority-owned firms and businesses located in modest income urban

neighborhoods” (Immergluck, 2004) which accurately describes the state of this

community. With a per capita income that is about 40% less than the per capita income for

Chicago, it is vital to expand the availability of credit for people so they have the

opportunity to create financial stability and wealth for themselves.

In assisting the efforts of a prominent community development corporation that has

an extensive history in the community, it would help to solidify the presence of another

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Graph 3

organization operating within the community such as the Good Communities Foundation.

As there has already been success with this program the likelihood for success is all but

assured, however the one issue with this may be that Bethel New Life does not simply serve

the West Garfield Park area. They also provide assistance to other neighborhoods in the

West Side of Chicago such as Austin or East Garfield Park. If the goal is focus aid on West

Garfield Park then there must be stipulations attached to any financial support given. The

likely contribution this will make to the communities development is to not only increase

opportunities for individuals, but the community could have greater access to resources at

more affordable prices. Stores given loans for expansion or renovations ensures they do not

have to increase prices very significantly as they have more time and flexibility if they are

not under severe financial burdens. Furthermore, through the expansion of business

development, the neighborhood becomes more attractive to external business entities or

people which can bring their services or money into the area increasing the local economy’s

stability and autonomy.

Health

A development strategy that would benefit this community would be to repurpose a

vacant building into a health care center. There are 283 vacant building in the neighborhood

(City of Chicago, 2015) many of which could be used as a healthcare office. The health

service should be aimed towards low-median income households or those with little to no

health insurance. As this is a continuing problem for many in the community, there should

be a focus on prenatal and infant services as well as treatment for infectious diseases such

as gonorrhea as there were 5,560 cases per 100,000 in the neighborhood last year

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compared to the Chicago rate of 1,259 per 100,000 in 2011 (Paral, 2012). Furthermore,

access to contraceptives would also be vital in the cause to decrease the incidents of teen

pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. It may also be important to discuss with

current healthcare professionals from the area what other health concerns to be mindful of

as they already serve the community and would know what medical resources they are

lacking.

Also, in order to garner support, one should try and convene members of the

community so they can discuss their healthcare needs. If people are more concerned over

the healthcare needs of children in the community rather than in other services, then those

needs should be addressed as opposed to what members outside of the community best

see fit. If the community does not support the actions, then there will be limited likelihood

of success. A participatory approach can play a “major role in bolstering…credibility and

political security and in winning support for the plan” along with ensuring “citizens were

given the chance to interact directly with planning staff” (Williamson, 2011). Furthermore,

as healthcare services are quite limited within the region, it will provide for a more “broad

array of local services and amenities… [making] a community a more attractive place to

both potential businesses and residents (Williamson, Imboscio, Alperovitz, 2002) which

implies a higher quality of life for residents as well. Overall, the likelihood success of this

social service being inserted in the community is fairly high as there is a clear need, market,

and benefit to doing so.

Education

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A developmental strategy to increase educational achievement would be to provide

an after school program dedicated to creating a safe environment in which kids can improve

in tasks such as reading, writing, problem-solving, and social skills. This would increase their

ability to learn faster, improve comprehension, and teach them how to interact in positive

ways. It may also be important to provide after school services because of the high number

of single parent households within the community. This not only improves their child’s

learning ability but could serve as an informal child care service. The parent would know

that their child is being well cared for while they have time to focus on other matters.

Although it would be equally important to try an incorporate parents into this program as

well. In doing so, the program can help parents keep their children on track by educating

them as to what the developmental goals are both physically and mentally. Also, as the

access to adequate food sources plagues the neighborhood, they can instruct parents on

proper nutrition and provide a space in which parents and children can interact in positive

ways free of stress.

The contribution of this program to the community’s development would be

increased educational skills along with increased familial involvement. In strengthening

families and ensuring for the care of children, people will be less stressed. “Those living in

concentrated poverty are bombarded by stress. High crime rates, noise, overcrowding,

unemployment, shortage of stores…are all stressors” (Drier, Mollenkopf, Swanstrom, 2013).

Chronic stress such as this manifests itself through health consequences like cardiovascular

disease or premature death as well making stress free environments an imperative need. In

providing both children and their parents with this stress free program, the community will

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not just experience educational benefits but also health benefits that will infuse with the

rest of the community.

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Bibliography

City Service. City of Chicago. (2015). Retrieved from

https://ipiweb.cityofchicago.org/VBR/

Crime in Chicago. Chicago Tribune. (2015). Retrieved from

http://crime.chicagotribune.com/chicago/community/west-garfield-park

Essential Models. Cure Violence. (2014). Retrieved from

http://cureviolence.org/the-model/essential-elements/

Mayor Emanuel and the Chicago Department of Public Health Launch PlayStreets. Mayors Press

Office. (2015). Retrieved from

http://www.cityofchicago.org/content/dam/city/depts/mayor/Press%20Room/Press

%20Releases/2014/June/06.20.14Playstreets.pdf

New Life Community Investments. Bethel New Life. (2015). Retrieved from

http://www.bethelnewlife.org/

Paral, R. (2012). West Garfield Park. Chicago Health Atlas. Retrieved from

http://www.chicagohealthatlas.org/place/west_garfield_park

Parks and Facilities. Chicago Park District. (2014). Retrieved from

http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/search/?q=west%20garfield%20park

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