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  • Location
  • The community of Auburn Gresham is located on the far South Side of Chicago, nine miles southwest of the Loop. Once a swampy marshland, the neighborhood now sits at the center of one of the city’s major thoroughfares. Despite its busy location between I-94 and the Dan Ryan Expressway, Auburn Gresham is home to a hidden beauty—the Auburn Park lagoons—where neighbors still gather to fish and play.
  • Demographics
  • About 45,000 Chicagoans call Auburn Gresham home. It is a predominantly Black community, and many of the neighborhood’s residents have experienced disinvestment in the area, resulting in a 55 percent low income rate.
  • Looking back
  • Auburn Gresham dates back to the early 1800s, but boomed around the 1920s, when the population tripled from 20,000 to 60,000. Through the 1960s and 1970s, racism and red-lining led to disinvestment and caused Auburn Gresham to experience a drastic shift. By the 1990s, the south side neighborhood was facing increased unemployment, depopulation, and declining housing values among other issues. Today, Auburn Gresham is a predominantly Black community whose residents are working with community organizations to revitalize the neighborhood.
  • History of the Neighborhood Network
  • The Auburn Gresham Neighborhood Network launched in 2016 with United Way of Metro Chicago coordinating efforts between The Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation and 10 social service agencies. The Network introduced the Auburn Gresham GOLD Initiative, which provides professional development and literacy supports for five schools, as well as expanded health services and workforce development training and job placement to parents. It also leveraged its resources to immediately mobilize and distribute critical basic needs items to residents who were negatively impacted by COVID-19 and attracted the $10 million Pritzker Traubert Foundation Chicago Prize.

Auburn Gresham Community Vision

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Planning and designing a health clinic, affordable housing, and green technology hub to catalyze opportunities for neighbors.

Neighborhood Network in Action

The Auburn Gresham Neighborhood Network is using catalytic development to jumpstart local economic growth and create employment and entrepreneurial opportunities. Increased access to healthcare, a growing green economy, and affordable housing will strengthen the neighborhood significantly.

Select “next” to read more about our developments to date.

Strengthening Auburn Gresham

  • New Federally Qualified Health Clinic run by Chicago Family Health Center serving 8,000 patients annually
  • Jumpstarting renewable energy industry on Chicago’s south side, bringing long-term, sustainable jobs for a variety of skill levels
  • 100 units of affordable housing
  • Job training for 300 community members and comprehensive support services

Coalition Highlights

The Auburn Gresham Neighborhood Network has received the support from Foundations, the city of Chicago, and coalition partners to successfully launch and execute a number of community initiatives.

Select “next” to read more about coalition highlights.

Foundation and Local Support

  • 2020 Pritzker Traubert Foundation Chicago Prize Winner. Awarded $10 million to support community-led, investment-ready initiatives that will create a better economic future for residents.
  • INVEST South/West Community—An unprecedented community improvement initiative from Mayor Lightfoot.
  • Received a $100,000 grant for a school-based health center and satellite center at Cook Elementary.
  • Received a $75,000 grant for Chicago Teacher Education Pipeline, bringing high quality, culturally responsive teachers to Auburn Gresham GOLD schools.

Community Initiatives

  • Launched COVID-19 Rapid Response Community Hub, providing immediate and direct relief via cash assistance, food distribution, and PPE supplies.
  • Launched Siemer Institute initiative to support consistent education for homeless children and support for their parents.

Hear from your neighbors and supporters

Alene Mason

Principal, Scott Joplin Elementary School

“We are trying to build model schools by sharing resources in order to take all of our schools to the next level. What keeps me excited about this work is regardless of what school a child goes to, as long as it’s an Auburn Gresham GOLD school, I know they will have a quality education.”

Pat Canning

Board Chair, United Way of Metro Chicago; Vice Chairman, Cresset

“At KPMG, we believe in United Way’s model as a catalyst to help fuel agencies who can make the greatest impact on improving lives in Chicago. We recognize it will take a sustained effort over time to really move the needle. That’s why we are proud to have made a five year pledge to support the Neighborhood Network Initiative.”
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