AustinTalks (http://austintalks.org/tag/austin-coming-together/)
In its first year, the campaign to improve Austin garnered $13 million in investments. That includes a record $10 million gift from BMO Bank. “It’s been a really momentous year. There’s been a lot of success,” said Darnell Shields, executive director of Austin Coming Together. The nonprofit, launched in 2010, is the driving force behind the quality-of-life plan.
All Austin residents are invited to the community summit, where updates will be given on Austin’s quality-of-life plan. Celebrate the victories and investments, and discover how you can get involved. The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 14 at Kehrein Center for the Arts, 5628 W. Washington Blvd.
One of the experts featured in “FIRSTHAND: Gun Violence” is Jermaine Harris, a community policing sergeant in the Chicago Department’s 15th District, who talks about using social justice as a means of supporting the Austin community. The series launches Nov. 12 on WTTW.
The donadtion – the largest corporate gift in United Way of Metro Chicago’s history – will be used to help implement Austin’s quality of life plan and to support social service infrastructure and development in the city’s most-populated community area. The investment was announced last week at an event hosted by Mayor Lori Lightfoot and attended by several local elected officials.
The Project Stamp photo project, organized by the local non-profit Alt Space Chicago, documents everyday residents in their community. With help from Austin Coming Together, the group will soon be displaying the images throughout Austin.
The $1 million gift from Rick and Cate Waddell, given to United Way of Metro Chicago, will be used to support economic development over the next five years in Austin through the Neighborhood Network Initiative. Austin Coming Together will play a key role in the initiative.
Services for Mildred Wiley, community leader and founding chairwoman of Austin Coming Together’s board of directors, will be held April 6 at Bethel New Life, 1140 N. Lamon.
Former federal prosecutor Lori Lightfoot answered questions about a number of issues before a crowd of a few hundred West Side residents on March 28. Her opponent, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, was a no show at the mayoral forum held less than a week before the April 2nd runoff.
All 14 candidates have been invited to the candidates forum, which will be held at 1 p.m. Feb. 9 at Malcolm X College. The forum is sponsored by the Chicago Westside chapter of the NAACP and Austin Coming Together.
After two years of work involving more than 400 people, the plan was celebrated Saturday at Michele Clark Magnet High School. Now seven task forces each devoted to a key issue area will begin implementing the plan.