Windy city and the

City of Dreams

-Mehul Kanodia

Overview

“Like frogs around a pond, we have settled down upon the shores of this sea” – Plato

• Some issues in Mumbai vs. Chicago

• Interventions in Chicago

• Observations

• Learnings to be taken to Mumbai

Chicago vs. Mumbai

Mumbai

• Migrants from other states and their identity.

• Poverty and crime.

• Income inequality.

• Housing issues and slum rehabilitation.

• Ethnic and religious discrimination.

• Substance abuse.

• Issues of safety and gated communities.

• Ghettoization of certain groups of people.

Chicago

• Immigrants and their identity.

• Crime and gangs.

• Substance abuse.

• Ghettoization of certain ethnic groups or races.

• Housing problems.

• Income inequality.

• Issues of safety and gated communities.

• Poverty and employment.

Fieldwork in Chicago

South West Organizing Project

• Coalition of NPOs in South West with support from various agencies.

• IMAN and CEASEFIRE

• Teen Reach

• Parent Mentor program

Corporation for Supportive Housing

• Coalition of Housing organisations with support from CHA.

• MOVING ON

• Rapid rehousing project

• Permanent supportive housing

• Case managers

• HUD, CHA, THRESHOLD, etc.

Observations

• Practices in Mumbai and its comparison with Chicago.

• Social advocacy movements (e.g. ICIRR).

• Similarities due to history of both cities.

• Stark inequalities.

• Moreau’s Unmasking for individuals. (Adi Barak)

• Hull House and future of NPOs. (Jennifer Mosley)

• Alinskyism and social advocacy. (William Sites)

• ICIRR and “The American Dream” façade. (Jane Ramsey)

Learnings to be taken back

• Tools and techniques used by Coalitions and organisations for community organising.

• Resource mobilisation and planning.

• Organising social advocacy movements.

• Class simulations and learnings.

• Empowerment of community leaders in coalitions.

• Advocate for affordable housing projects and other policies.

THANK YOU!• Adi Barak

• Jennifer Mosley

• William Sites

• Jane Ramsey

• Rob Chaskin

• Charles Payne

• Scott Allard

• All the friends in classes for bearing us!

• SWOP & CSH

SPECIAL THANKS –

• Marilyn B. Rusnak

• Cristina Gros