North Lawndale is one of the 77 community areas in Chicago, located on the city’s West Side. The community area includes the K-Town Historic District, the former Sears, Roebuck, and Company headquarters, and the city's largest concentration of greystones.
As of the 2020 census, North Lawndale has a population of 31,244. 76% of residents are Black, and 16% are Latiné. 33% of people live below the poverty line.
North Lawndale is a historically rich, predominantly African American community shaped by the Great Migration, cultural activism, and the civil rights work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Decades of disinvestment led to significant population decline and systemic inequities. Still, the neighborhood remains a cultural anchor with strong community leadership, creativity, and development.
The North Lawndale Neighborhood Network launched in 2026 to amplify and extend the momentum already created by the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council (NLCCC). With generous support from the Steans Family Foundation and guided by NLCCC’s leadership, the goal of the North Lawndale Neighborhood Network is to build on a decade of community‑driven progress — work that has organized residents, mobilized resources, and elevated shared goals that strengthen safety, stability, and opportunity for all.
North Lawndale Community Vision
To build a safe, healthy, and economically vibrant North Lawndale where residents lead decision‑making, families thrive, and community systems work together to create lasting opportunities and equitable development.
Neighborhood Network in Action
For the past decade, the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council has advanced a powerful, community‑driven model of neighborhood transformation. Through 13 active committees, NLCCC has strengthened collaboration among residents, nonprofits, city partners, and local businesses.
Highlights include new affordable housing projects, expanded workforce opportunities, cultural festivals, youth programming, safety initiatives, food distribution networks, and new community spaces such as Douglass 18 and local farm sites.
One of the organization’s goals for 2026 is to increase resident engagement, bringing more people into the NLCCC tent to increase impact. Together, these efforts demonstrate NLCCC’s commitment to long‑term, resident‑led change.
Executive Director, North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council
“By leveraging United Way’s Neighborhood Network model, NLCCC is better positioned to scale impact while staying grounded in the voices and aspirations of the community. Together, this partnership enhances NLCCC’s ability to advance its vision for North Lawndale, expanding economic opportunity, strengthening families, and building a thriving, connected community.”