|
Albany Park
Community Center 
Full Circle Goals-
- Facilitate a process that yields a viable sustainable Neighborhood Plan with
both short term action steps and long term strategies for future growth and
community development.
- Broaden the scope of stakeholders who regularly participate in Albany Park
Community projects, e.g. renters, business owners, school children, their
parents, CTA patrons and commuters, immigrants and new citizens, and
neighborhood children and youth.
- Increase the technical capacity of neighborhood residents (facility with the
Internet and other digital tools, knowledge of progressive planning and
community development methods and techniques, savvy regarding Chicago
political mechanisms).
- Increase the sophistication level of community participation by Albany Park
Community stakeholders (from those who have only peripheral input to full
actors and decision makers).
- Broaden the institutional coalition of technical assistance and service
providers in the neighborhood (Albany Park Theatre Project, Albany Park
Neighborhood Council, Albany Park Chamber of Commerce, Healthy Albany Park
Coalition).
Albany Park is a
multi‑ethnic, lower‑working class neighborhood located on the northwest side of
Chicago. The community has been the site of dramatic change over the years.
Predominantly upper‑working class Jewish residents lived in the area until the
early 1960's. Over the past thirty years the population profile has changed to
include a high percentage of poverty‑level and low‑income working class
residents from a variety of backgrounds. Albany Park has also become a
port‑of‑entry for immigrants, with a diversity index of 77 according to the 2000
Census. Public school enrollment data shows at least thirty‑six different
languages and dialects spoken by community residents. The APCC client profile
for 2000-01 indicated that 92 % of those serviced were nonwhite minorities ‑ 63%
are Latinos; 8% are Asian; 19% are from the Middle‑east; 2% are
African‑American. Included in the "White" clients are recent immigrants from
Bosnia and Romania with low levels of English and acculturation. 70% were
economically disadvantaged.
Organization
Overview
The mission of the Albany Park
Community Center is to provide a full range of programs and services to promote
positive planning and development in the Albany Park community. The Center will
involve existing community groups and community groups which it organizes to
achieve its neighborhood development objectives. These objectives are to
achieve a stable neighborhood which includes adequate housing, a viable
commercial and industrial area, high and steady levels of employment, and the
provision of human services to insure a high quality of life for neighborhood
residents. In accordance with these aims, APCC's programs and services are
designed to increase the stability of families and aid in the healthy
development of children by being safe, nurturing, and culturally sensitive.
They also serve to strengthen families and protect children while assisting in
their development.
History of
The Albany Park Community Center
The Albany Park Community Center, Inc., is a not-for-profit,
community-based organization located in the multi-ethnic, working poor
neighborhood of Albany Park. The Center operates a wide range of programs and
services at fifteen locations in and around the community we serve. Since its
inception, the Center has been the largest social service agency exclusively
serving the Albany Park neighborhood. Our
administrative office is located at 3403 West Lawrence Avenue, Suite 300,
Chicago, Illinois 60625. The Center's largest program facility is located at
5121 North Kimball. The Center also operates child care programs in its other
facilities located at 3401 West Ainslie and 4909 North Pulaski. Counseling and
substance abuse prevention programs are also offered at ten Chicago Public
Elementary and High Schools in the immediate community and surrounding area.
The Albany Park Community Center was incorporated on
September 24, 1975 and is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors operating
under a Charter from the State of Illinois and the Board's By-Laws. The agency
is exempt from federal income tax under sections 509(a) and 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code.
The Center is a United Way member agency. The
Board of Directors applied for membership in the United Way of Metropolitan
Chicago in 1976. The Center was accepted as an two-year provisional member in
1977. Based on the agency's excellent first year performance, the United Way
waived the second year of provisional membership and accepted the Center as a
regular and full member in 1978.
Albany Park has been the site of dramatic community transition over the years.
Predominantly upper-working class Jewish residents lived in the area until the
early 1960's. Over the past forty years, the population profile has changed to
include a high percentage of poverty-level and low-income working class
residents from a variety of backgrounds.
Click here for the Albany Park Community Center
Official Website
Get data and information on Albany Park from
www.chicagoareahousing.org
Community
Profiles-
Chicago Tribune Community Profile for Albany Park
Click below
to link to The Local Community Fact Book (1990) Narratives:
Albany Park
Other community area data resources:
Click here to view The Woodstock Institute's- Community Lending Fact Book
Click here to view Chicago Prospector Area Demographics and Businesses
Search for housing information on the Community
Information Technology & Neighborhood Early Warning System (City NEWS Chicago)
site by clicking here
Click here to view Chicago community area market profiles
by MetroEdge
Map of Albany Park
go to APCC
Full Circle web |
