Arts Build Communities Part 1
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The document discusses the role of the arts in community development, particularly through the lens of Tom Tresser's experiences with the Peoples Housing community development corporation in Chicago. It outlines the organization's mission to enhance the community through cultural development and affordable housing, emphasizing grassroots initiatives and asset-based approaches to empower residents. Tresser highlights the importance of creativity as a vital resource for community improvement and engagement.
![“ How Do the Arts Build Communities?” Part 1 [email_address] www.tresser.com](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/arts-build-communities-part-1-1206670902752521-5/85/Arts-Build-Communities-Part-1-1-320.jpg)
![[email_address] www.tresser.com Creativity is America's most precious natural resource. It's renewable, unlimited and universally available. Creativity is our heritage, our promise and the source of our prosperity. And, like a natural resource, creativity needs to be respected, conserved, stewarded and celebrated. But, like a natural resource, creativity can be polluted, squandered and blocked. Tom Tresser is a consultant, producer, educator and trainer who can help individuals, companies and communities leverage and amplify their creative assets in order to solve problems, create economic value and trigger civic engagement.](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/arts-build-communities-part-1-1206670902752521-5/85/Arts-Build-Communities-Part-1-25-320.jpg)
Arts Build Communities Part 1
- 1. “ How Do the Arts Build Communities?” Part 1 [email_address] www.tresser.com
- 2. Tom’s background… ACTOR INTERNET MARKETER COMMUNITY DEVELOPER PRODUCER EDUCATOR “The Artist As Activist” – Loyola Theatre Department EXEC ED DESIGNER/ FACILITATOR
- 3. Recent Consulting/Training Projects The Moose Jaw Expedition 2007
- 4. Other Classes… DePaul Political Science Department “ The Politics of Creativity” DePaul Peace & Social Justice Program “ Nonprofits & Social Change” The School of the Art Institute of Chicago “ The Art of Crossing the Street – the Artist as Citizen” DePaul School for New Learning “ Who’s Lying To You Now?” (media literacy & critical thinking) Loyola Theater Department DePaul Art Department “ The Artist as Activist”
- 5. What is Community Development? Grassroots efforts to improve neighborhoods Usually focused on building or rehabbing affordable housing Conducted by 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations called community development corporations (CDC’s) Board includes significant rep from people who live in served community These groups also lead wide variety community improvement efforts
- 6. What is Community Development? First CDC was Bedford-Stuyvesant Restoration Corp. in Brooklyn, 1967 Since 1977 some 40 CDC’s in 60 Chicago neighborhoods have developed 15,000 units of affordable housing Nationally, over 500,000 units of affordable housing developed by CDCs
- 7. In April 1993 Tom went to work for Peoples Housing as Director of Cultural Development. My task: to use the arts to advance the work of the organization – to help “develop” north east Rogers Park…
- 8. Community development corporation Non-profit Founded 1979 Mission: “To create in east Rogers Park a hospitable community, where every person’s full potential is realized and basic human needs are met.” Program: “Peoples Housing carries out it mission through a three-pronged program of resident controlled, low-income housing , community organizing and cultural development .”
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- 10. Primary service area CHICAGO BORDER “ NORTH OF HOWARD” COMMUNITY
- 11. Primary service area 1990 demographics of Census Tract 101 – North of Howard neighborhood Median household income was $18,617 (just 60% of Chicago median) 27.1% 23.5% 48.4% 6,309 Latino White African-American Total
- 12. Development, rehab & property management Community organizing efforts After I go there… 3. Community Arts Program Primary services
- 13. Development, rehabbing & management of multi-unit apartment buildings Peoples Housing developed and managed 21 properties, with 600 families. Primary services
- 14. Peoples Housing’s development projects totaled over $22,000,000! Primary services
- 15. The Howard Theater Located on Howard Street, in heart of our neighborhood
- 16. The Howard Theater BUILT IN 1918 – CLOSED FOR 20 YEARS!
- 17. The Howard Theater Mass transit elevated station and bus terminal Storefront businesses Theater unsafe and closed off Facing Howard Street Lobby was sound, heated, 4,000 sq. ft.
- 18. The Howard Theater We took a grassroots, creative and fun approach to building awareness, attracting talent and getting stuff…
- 19. The Howard Theater How to get chairs to fill up the newly opened Howard Theater Lobby Space? OVER 100 CHAIRS DONATED IN ONE DAY!
- 20. We followed the “Community Capacity” model of community development articulated by Dr. John Kretzmann & Dr. John McKnight of Northwestern University. http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/abcd
- 21. The Community Capacity Model is an asset-based approach: each community is rich with wide range of “assets” -- things, people, talents, places and associations - these things are already in place they need to be recognized, cataloged and thought of as being capable of being used for empowerment and enrichment.
- 22. SAMPLE COMMUNITY ASSET MAP From: “A Community Building Workbook,” 2005, Northwestern ABCD
- 23. We did a grassroots survey to see what neighborhood folks wanted in a community cultural center and what they thought they could do there… Drafted and refined 2-page community survey Trained and deployed teams of interviewers Conducted over 1,050 interviews throughout neighborhood
- 24. RESULTS Marketing & programming feedback + got the word out Unearthed community talent Surfaced potential volunteers & leaders Surfaced potential teachers, vendors, producers
- 25. [email_address] www.tresser.com Creativity is America's most precious natural resource. It's renewable, unlimited and universally available. Creativity is our heritage, our promise and the source of our prosperity. And, like a natural resource, creativity needs to be respected, conserved, stewarded and celebrated. But, like a natural resource, creativity can be polluted, squandered and blocked. Tom Tresser is a consultant, producer, educator and trainer who can help individuals, companies and communities leverage and amplify their creative assets in order to solve problems, create economic value and trigger civic engagement.