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Back on the block: Calls for unity echo through Washington Park

By Richard Muhammad on Wednesday, August 30, 2006

“We are committed to reclaiming Washington Park, block by block and building by building. Together we pledge our commitment to serve as instruments of peace and healing for the Washington Park Community.”

— Excerpt from Washington Park pledge

With the noise of the Green Line “El” train and motorcycles roaring down side streets in the background, the Washington Park Neighborhood Association (WPNA) held its second “Unity in the Community” rally on the steps of the Church of the Good Shepherd.

The summer evening drew a spirited group Aug. 9 that listened to pastors, community residents, activists and state representative. The Unity Rallies are the organization’s preemptive solution to improving the Quality of Life in Washington Park. The mission is to unify a neighborhood where one block doesn’t know what the other block is doing. Unity brings harmony, connecting the residents is the key to reclaiming the neighborhood, explained Tasha Baker, the New Communities Program director for Washington Park.Three Unity in the Community rallies were planned for strategic locations to bring residents from different blocks together, Baker said. A third rally is planned for mid-September.

The evening started with a peace march from St. Edmund’s Episcopal Church to the Church of the Good Shepherd, at the corner of 57th St. and Prairie Avenue. The evening was a showcase of possibilities with a performance by a neighborhood dance troop, a presentation by New Beginnings a non-profit that helps homeless women become self-sufficient and the 5700 Indiana block club president, who repeated the theme of cooperation. Baker led a Washington Park pledge that focused on working together.

Washington Park is seeing signs of change with new housing construction and rehab projects, and just blocks away police department “blue lights,” which include surveillance cameras, signify trouble spots. Problems range from drugs and violence to poor mail service and too few programs to engage youth people.

'Keep the faith'

The rally focus went beyond problems as residents were urged to stay involved, or get involved, whether by working with the WPNA neighborhood association or buying flowers and sod to beautify where their yards. They were also invited to the mic to speak their minds.

“The people that don’t respect this area are going to get the picture soon and very soon, so keep the faith,” said State Representative Ken Dunkin, who represents Washington Park. He pledged his support and congratulated organizers, pastors and residents trying to bring the area back. Dunkin told the group new street lights will be coming a block away, with additional lighting planned. He also offered to help with beautification efforts.

It’s great to see people out, said Donna Smith, president of the 5700 S. Indiana Block Club. “Unity means to have humility. In order for us to have humility, we must know we have to work together, we must believe in one another, we must believe in what we’re doing and we must look after the children,” she said.

“This is going to be a different community; this is going to be a different neighborhood. The thing we have to do is be sure it remains Black or mixed, because like a lot of neighborhoods throughout the city, gentrification takes place and then people that lived here are not able to stay,” added Rev. David E. Chambers, Jr. pastor, Church of the God Shepherd.

Sherry Simpson runs a program for girls out of her home. “I decided and the girls decided that they didn’t want to do what everybody else around the neighborhood was doing. We needed to get together and do something that was worth their time, something they could be proud of doing and something they can talk about everywhere they go,” she said.

The result was the Washington Park “Baby Dolls” (Bold And Beautiful Young Daughters Obtaining Life Long Success) are part of a mentoring program for girls ages 11-17. “They girls work hard and they are open for anything that’s positive,” said Simpson.

WPNA: Trying to make things better

Murray Johnson, president of the Washington Park Neighborhood Association, wants to see more opportunities for youth, acquisition of a vacant lot for a youth center, and local businesses donating some profits to pay for youth programming. He and his wife have lived in the community for 56 years.

“The reason why we’re doing it outside is to let the people know that we’re just not talking, we’re actually acting on what we’re saying,” said Johnson. The summer rallies, which took the place of regular monthly meetings, are a chance to let people know about services that are offered in the community, encourage people to participate, and partner with block clubs, churches and other organizations, he said. Regular meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month at St. Edmond’s Church.

There will be workshops, regular meetings, continued organizing, help forming block clubs, and work with the Ministerial Alliance to get participation from the many churches in the area, Johnson said.

“I want the people who have been in Washington Park for 20, 30, 40 years to have a say so about what’s going on in Washington Park. Everything that’s been built in Washington Park, our taxes pay for it. We need to have a say so, we need to unite,” he said.

One of the challenging things is outreach to renters, who may move frequently, but they need to be engaged and involved, he said. A tenant’s rights workshop is scheduled to offer information and reach out to renters, Johnson added.

Kiyaheta Bentley, 25, has lived in the neighborhood for two years. “I want to see things that can bring the community together. I want to see the kids have something to do. There needs to be a change,” she said.

Bentley felt inspired by the rally and made some predictions. “Next time the meeting is going to be bigger, the signs are going to be bigger, and I’ll play a part in that, if I have to. I’m trying to be a community activist too,” she said.