Quad Communities Development Corporation
TASK FORCE MEETING
APRIL 17, 2004
DRAFT—FOR REVIEW BY PARTICIPANTS
Approximately 55 members of the Quad Communities Quality of Life Task Force
convened at the Monumental Baptist Church to continue work on the
community’s quality-of-life plan.
INTRODUCTION
Alderman Toni Preckwinkle convened the meeting and introduced Task Force
member Rebecca Janowitz from the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) who provided
the group with an overview of issues related to education that CPS is working to
address. Ms. Janowitz stated that there is a range of achievement in Chicago’s
schools, with some doing well and others not. Only a handful is economically
diverse and there is currently no way to ensure that economic diversity
continues. This is in part due to selective enrollment and lottery policies.
In evaluating educational success it is important to look at student achievement
over time rather than school achievement. Ms. Janowitz responded to a question
regarding the impact of the “No child left behind” legislation on the schools, by
noting that it has been generally negative, especially with respect to the reporting
requirements that frequently fail to provide meaningful information for parents.
She concluded her remarks by noting that the best way to maintain economic
diversity within schools in a mixed income community was through the use of
attendance areas and neighborhood schools.
RECAP OF 1ST TASK FORCE MEETING
NCP Director Ray Bentley provided a recap of the planning process that will be
used to produce the quality-of-life plan and reviewed the list of ground rules for
task force and subcommittee meetings. Meeting goals for the day were to move
from issue identification to subcommittee formation and preliminary visioning.
Jeanne Lindwall from Camiros reviewed the results from the dot map exercise
done at the first task force meeting. She explained that in addition to providing
insights into how people view the neighborhood, dot maps also identify assets to
build upon and problem areas that need attention.
ISSUES
Les Pollock reviewed the 14 issue categories that had emerged from the first Task
Force meeting and explained that each participant had been given five dots to be
used to “vote” on which issue areas were most important for the subcommittees
to address. Large sheets with the issue categories and issues identified to date
were taped to the walls around the room. During the issue exercise and ensuing
break, the voting took place. Results of the voting are included in the
Subcommittee Working Papers Addendum to these meeting notes.
SUBCOMMITTEES
Following discussion as to how best to consolidate the issue areas into a
manageable number of subcommittees with relatively even numbers of
participants, four subcommittees were formed. Subcommittees then met to
organize and schedule their next meeting and develop a preliminary vision and
list of critical issues, strategies or ideas to explore further. Following
subcommittee discussion, the Task Force reconvened and each subcommittee
presented initial vision statements to the larger group. The issue areas assigned
to each subcommittee and preliminary vision are as follows:
1. Housing; Safety, Infrastructure; Transportation
Preliminary Vision:
 Safe and harmonious mixed income communities
 Ensuring affordable housing for all families
 Aesthetic and functional physical environment for all residents
2. Education; Health; Religious Institutions (issues split with
Subcommittee #3)
Preliminary Vision:
 All children attend high performing schools (K-12) within the
community
 Student learning
 Mobility (low)
 Balanced scorecard
 Schools serve as “community schools” open to and accessible to
parents and the whole community
 Schools provide health screenings for students; at a minimum, high
schools have clinics; education at all levels and ages
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Arts, culture and physical education are core disciplines in all
schools at all levels (preK-12)
Schools serve children with differing abilities
Schools are in good physical condition and are safe, nurturing
environments
Schools are open to children from 7 am to 9 pm
Churches support education of the larger community by making
facilities available
3. Youth Development, Empowerment & Employment; Employment;
Community Supports (Social Programs & Services); Religious
Institutions (issues split with Subcommittee #2)
Preliminary Vision
 Educate, develop and connect community residents with resources
and tools for growth
4. Commercial Development; Entertainment; Arts/Cultural Programming;
Heritage Tourism Development
Preliminary Vision
 Development as an exercise in inclusive community building
The subcommittees were encouraged to continue to refine their visions as
strategies and project ideas that will form the basis of the plan are developed.
(See the Subcommittee Working Papers Addendum for additional subcommittee
meeting notes.)
WRAP UP – NEXT STEPS
Ray Bentley concluded the meeting by reminding people that the next Task Force
meeting is Saturday, May 15th. Subcommittees are expected to have at least one
meeting before the next Task Force meeting and come prepared to present initial
strategies and project ideas. Camiros and the Scribes will take the vision
statement elements developed so far and craft a draft vision statement for
consideration by the Task Force members.
He reminded the group that:
 The planning process is a work in progress
 Cross-pollination of ideas will make for a better plan
 Early action projects are encouraged
Direct comments to:
Ray Bentley
NCP Director
Quad Communities Development Corporation
773.344.2113
ray361@hotmail.com