Leading Community Change: Teaching Chicago High School Students about Planning (Updated)

Updated June 2007

Recap of the Leading Community Change Final Student Presenations

(For more background information on the Leading Community Change program, scroll down to the original April 2007 article.)

The West Madison Advisory Task Force now has more valuable information at its disposal for shaping the future of West Garfield Park, thanks to findings presented by West Garfield Park youth on May 31st.

At the final presentation of the Leading Community Change program, youth from four area high schools described the results of a survey they conducted of their peers and laid out recommendations for the community as it begins to implement the West Madison Street plan. Four groups presented, each specializing in different aspects of the neighborhood’s well being.

After the presentations, task force and community members asked questions and stimulated a lively discussion between the attendees and student presenters. The students were put on the spot to answer some tough questions during which they demonstrated their broad knowledge of their subject areas.

Preceding the presentations, representatives from several of LCC’s partner organizations said a few words. Stephen McCullough of Bethel New Life gave a welcome address, Joe Kearney of the Chaddick Institute gave a background of the program, and Jim Dorrell of Marshall High School gave the perspective from Chicago Public Schools.

For more information, contact the Chaddick Institute at chaddick@depaul.edu.


April 2007

Student Planners Investigate Downtown Chicago's History, Zoning

The neighborhood of West Garfield Park in Chicago is changing. The community recently approved a plan to enhance retail along West Madison Street, and they are moving into the all-important implementation phase.

In order to prepare youth to be involved in the process, the Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development at DePaul University has created Leading Community Change, a pilot program to introduce West Garfield Park high school students to zoning, policy, and planning. Bethel New Life, a place-based community development corporation, and the Chicago Public Schools Service Learning department are assisting with the program's coordination.

On March 17, youth from several high schools explored the architectural history and current zoning of downtown Chicago. Chaddick Institute Program Manager Joe Kearney gave an introductory presentation on zoning and the history of downtown Chicago. Students then broke into small groups and were assigned a specific area of downtown. They conducted internet research to acquaint themselves with their area’s history. They also perused Chicago’s detailed online zoning database to find out current ordinances.

After gathering this preliminary information, the groups, along with volunteer leaders, walked from the Chaddick Institute to their areas to do on-the-ground investigations. I had the opportunity to accompany the group investigating the former Grand Central Station area along the river. The site of the former station is now a vacant brownfield. It has sat idle for many years, and nearby condo residents use it as a dog park.

Students took advantage of the educational opportunity. “I learned a lot,” said Al Raby High School 10th grader Shijuanna Oliver. “The land is up for sale, but no one has bought it because it would cost a lot to clean it.” Marshall High School 9th grader Dominique Porter said that she had fun and now understands more about Chicago history.

Our group took photos of the site and noted the zoning and condo prices nearby. They talked with residents and explored the history of Daniel Burnham’s 1912 Polk-Wells building. Group photographer Viatavia Comley, a 10th grader at Al Raby, said she learned a lot about the history of Grand Central Station and what it was used for.

After returning to the Chaddick Institute, each small group presented their findings to the class.

Through LCC, students get a head start in learning the processes of community change and development. “LCC really offers students a chance to look behind the scenes in their neighborhood,” Kearney said. “We found that the students are intrigued by finding out how to get things done in their neighborhood. That's a valuable tool for anybody, let alone a high school student.”

Future sessions in the Leading Community Change program will focus students’ attention on their own neighborhood, the changes it is facing, and the new retail plan. The goals are a student presentation to the West Madison Advisory Task Force in June, as well as increasing youth involvement in shaping the future of their community.

For more information, contact the Chaddick Institute at chaddick@depaul.edu.

Jeffery S. Brubaker is APA’s education assistant editor. Contact him at JBrubaker@planning.org.