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Bethel New Life
Full Circle Goals-
- To use Full Circle
as an organizing tool for issues around land use in West Garfield Park
- To utilize updated
data and maps for future planning and community building efforts
- To apply the
technology component to produce more comprehensive and up-to-date land use
maps of West Garfield Park.
- To facilitate in
bringing the community together to implement an asset-based, participatory
planning process
- To use the
technology as a more efficient planning tool (faster & more comprehensive
tool)
- Full Circle is an
opportunity to up-date out-dated information
- To engage youth in
Garfield Park in subject matters including community and technology
- To use as an
instrument to work on planning issues with fellow organizations in Garfield Park.
-
GIS will enable the
community to become involved in the comprehensive planning process; i.e. housing
developments, land-use, and future planning. Community constituents will be
introduced and educated on this new technology and how it can be used
Organization
Overview
Bethel New Life Inc. is
a 24 year-old faith-based, non-profit, community development corporation on the
west side of Chicago with a national reputation for pioneering initiatives that
build on the community’s people, physical assets and faith base, turning
problems into possibilities. Bethel seeks to empower individuals, strengthen
families and build a healthier, sustainable community through a community
driven, solution-oriented, value-centered approach.
Bethel New Life, Inc.
began as a neighborhood outreach of Bethel Lutheran Church, with an initial
focus to provide decent, affordable housing. From its initial focus, Bethel has
developed a comprehensive, holistic approach to community economic development.
Bethel is nationally recognized for creating employment and business
opportunities for low-income community residents; building innovative and
collaborative partnerships; and creating linkages between economic development,
housing and community development. Bethel employs 340 individuals and has an
operating budget of $12.5 million dollars. Bethel’s geographic area includes the
West Garfield Park and Austin communities in Chicago.
Bethel's main programs are focused in four
areas:
- Community and
Economic Development
- Housing Development
- Family Support
Services
- Community Organizing
Staffs in the Real Estate Development
Department and Community Building Department received Geographic Information
Systems (GIS) training in August 2003. Bethel has a workstation dedicated to
maintaining GIS information for West Garfield Park and Austin. Data is
collected from census information, windshield surveys, borrowed data from
organizations such as MCIC, Center for Neighborhood Technology, and others. In
conjunction with these planning activities the Full Circle Project will greatly
assist Bethel to perform accurate community planning activities for future
residential, industrial, and commercial development.
History of Bethel New Life
The riots
of the late 1960s and early 1970s left the West Garfield Park community in
shambles. Homeowners, landlords, banks, businesses and investors fled this West
Side Chicago neighborhood. In their wake came poverty, unemployment, and
despair.
But a
small neighborhood church said no to despair, and yes to life. Bethel Lutheran
Church members, spurred by their faith, decided to fight the poverty and
hopelessness. In 1979, they invested their few dollars to buy a three-flat
apartment building and fix it up. In doing so, they gave birth to Bethel New
Life.
Since
1979, Bethel has earned a national reputation for cutting edge initiatives and
pioneering approaches that build on the people, physical assets, and faith base
of the community. Bethel strives to turn problems into possibilities through
community efforts that arise out of commitment to self help and self
determination with community-based, value-centered, solution oriented
initiatives.
Click here for Bethel New Life’s Official Website
Get data and information on
Austin and West Garfield Park from
www.chicagoareahousing.org
Community
Profiles-
Chicago Tribune
Austin
Community Profile
Chicago Tribune
West Garfield Park
Community Profile
Click below
for links to The Local Community Fact Book (1990) Narratives:
West Garfield Park;
Austin
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 Austin and West Garfield Park
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