Chicago Lawn

Located on the city's Southwest Side, Chicago Lawn is a multi-ethnic working class community determined to stop the downward spiral of disinvestment and urban decay, and to create an attractive, safe and inviting place to live for families from many backgrounds. Today, African-Americans and people of Mexican and Arab descent are purchasing homes in the area, becoming a part of existing institutions and supporting new types of organizations and businesses. The lead agency in the neighborhood is the Southwest Organizing Project.

See Chicago Lawn's 2017 Quality-of-Life Plan.

Chicago Lawn Community Area

Population

Population (2010)	63,206	down 3% from 2000
Racial/ethnic makeup (2010)	55% African American, 30% Latino, 12% white

Housing

Total occupied units (2010)	17,165	down 5% from 2000
Owned housing units (2010)	10,039	up 2% since 2000

Income

Median household income (2010)	$42,864	up 14% from 2000
Percentage above $50,000 (2010)	21%	20% above $75,000

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No Small Plans on the Southwest Side: Carl Vogel, Apr 20, 2017; The release of new Quality-of-Life Plans in Auburn Gresham, Chicago Lawn and Englewood brings fresh strategies and grassroots momentum to longtime LISC partners.
Reclaiming Southwest Chicago: Paolo Cisneros, Sep 7, 2016; Chicago Lawn, ravaged by foreclosures during the economic downturn, is now seeing the benefits of a shrewd strategy to return abandoned homes to productive use.
Opening Day: Cubs/LISC Help Ripken Foundation Create 'Freedom Field' in Marquette Park: John McCarron, Oct 12, 2015; A new playing field opens in Marquette Park. Cal Ripken Jr., Cubs, and neighborhood organizations lead celebration.
Plans Aim to Make Neighborhoods Healthy: Carl Vogel, Aug 6, 2015; Health care providers, residents and community-based organizations teamed up to rethink how to improve health and wellness in Chicago Lawn, Little Village and South Chicago.
Quality-of-Life Planning Is Back …: John McCarron, Aug 4, 2015; Fueled by resources raised through its recently completed Campaign for Stronger Neighborhoods, LISC Chicago is gearing up for a new round of neighborhood planning.
A School, a Community Organization and a Health Care Provider Steer a New, Better Course: Gordon Walek, Jul 27, 2015; Marquette Elementary School in Chicago Lawn nearly hit bottom a few years ago. But through a school turnaound, a neighborhood organization, and a new health center provider, it's bounced back.
Community Organizing: Step One for Neighborhood Change: Gordon Walek, Nov 19, 2014; A series of workshops gives LISC’s neighborhood partners an opportunity to share what they’ve learned about building community engagement, power and voice.
Hundreds Help Reclaim Southwest Side Housing: John McCarron, Oct 30, 2014; A rally featuring Gov. Quinn celebrates the first building in a program to buy, rehab and restore foreclosures on the Southwest Side.
WINGS Shelter Coming to Southwest Side: Paolo Cisneros, Jun 25, 2014; Survivors of domestic violence on the city’s Southwest Side will soon have somewhere to turn for emergency housing and comprehensive social services.
Chicago Southwest Rehabs … One Family at a Time: John McCarron, Apr 3, 2014; Chicago Lawn, hit hard by the foreclosure crisis, is showing clear signs of recovery, thanks to the work of neighborhood organizations, private developers, public investment, and residents whose…
Neighborhoods Apply 'Civic Tech' for Local Gains: Patrick Barry, Dec 12, 2013; Tech efforts are popping up all across LISC’s neighborhood network as community groups take small but important steps into the high-tech world.
Youth Build Paths Away from Violence: Kimberly Harris, Nov 22, 2013; Reducing the violence that cuts across so many Chicago neighborhoods will require multiple strategies, but at least one element was strengthened this year in Auburn Gresham and other neighborhoods…
Knight Foundation Funds 'Bilingual Bridges' for Open Gov: Patrick Barry, Jun 24, 2013; The Knight Foundation awarded a grant to LISC Chicago to support resident engagement in Pilsen and Englewood that will better connect neighborhoods to Chicago's open gov and civic hacking communities.
Volunteers Dig In on NeighborWorks Day: John McCarron, Jun 18, 2013; A little rain didn’t stop about 500 volunteers from painting, planting and mowing on Saturday, June 1, when several of LISC Chicago’s local partners pitched in at the annual NeighborWorks…
Note to Small Biz: Loans Are Available: Elizabeth Duffrin, Jun 6, 2013; There’s good news for Mom and Pop corner stores, auto repair shops and your neighborhood taqueria. More loan options are available for small businesses than most realize.
LISC Partners Ready for NeighborWorks Day: John McCarron, May 29, 2013; There’ll be lots of painting, raking and mowing on Saturday, June 1, when several of LISC Chicago’s local partners turn out for the annual NeighborWorks Day.
SWOP receives $750,000 MacArthur award: Gordon Walek, Feb 28, 2013; The Southwest Organizing Project, LISC Chicago’s New Communities Program lead agency in Chicago Lawn, has received a $750,000 award from the MacArthur Foundation in recognition of its efforts…
A Safe Place to Play: Gordon Walek, Jan 28, 2013; Health and fitness are significant issues in neighborhoods throughout the city, rich and poor alike. In Pilsen, Little Village, Brighton Park, Woodlawn, Chicago Lawn and South Chicago, neighborhood…
Southwest Side Purchase Pool Drives Quantity Discounts: Elizabeth Duffrin, Jan 7, 2013; Businesses in Chicago Lawn and West Lawn have formed a pool to purchase basic services that’s saving them thousands of dollars and reaping a small profit for Greater Southwest Development…
Training Program Reweaves the Fabric for Small Businesses: Gordon Walek, Dec 12, 2012; Goldman Sachs Small Businesses program, administered through the City Colleges of Chicago, provides new knowledge, advice that can lead to greater success for owners like Richard and Susan Schneider…
‘Dean’ Jim Capraro Retires from LISC Chicago Board: Patrick Barry, Dec 10, 2012; Jim Capraro, the Southwest Side dynamo who helped define community development in Chicago, has retired from the LISC Chicago Board of Advisors after 23 years of service. But he’s still doing…
For An Instant, City Streets Become Neighborhood Playgrounds: Gordon Walek, Oct 4, 2012; PlayStreets periodically closes off streets in Pilsen, Little Village, Brighton Park, Woodlawn, Chicago Lawn and South Chicago to provide safe, supervised space with organized sports, fitness and…
Neighborhood Recovery, One Building at a Time: John McCarron, Sep 25, 2012; Chicago’s Micro-Market Recovery Program taps CIC, NHS and LISC’s local network to help neighborhoods fight foreclosure blight
Elev8 Chicago Promotes Summer Learning and Voter Registration: Maureen Kelleher, Aug 6, 2012; Students march to encourage adults to register through connection with Children's Defense Fund Freedom Schools
Renewed Funding--and New Achievements--for Elev8: Sep 1, 2011; Atlantic Philanthropies announces a new $3.5 million grant to expand the program and study its impact at five CPS middle schools.