Summer Archives

Charles Kay Chicago, IL - Office of the City Treasurer, City of Chicago

Charles Kay

Community Conversations, Community Solutions

From the beginning of May through July, I worked with the Chicago City Treasurer’s Office (CTO). I helped carry out a CTO partnership with the Chicago Community Trust (a Chicago foundation) to host 19 “On The Table” conversations centered around economic development in Chicago. The conversations were held across 14 Chicago neighborhoods and had approximately 250 total participants. I worked with “thought leaders” to execute the conversations, which were held in May. I also attended approximately ten of the conversations. These open-ended conversations scrutinized the issues specific communities struggle with, and brainstormed solutions small and large. During the conversation, I listened to and noted key themes, issues, and narratives. I also spoke to attendees before and after the conversation, hearing about their backgrounds, the issues they face, and their ideas for change. Moving forward, the treasurer’s office will use this qualitative data to influence their public policy efforts.

What stood out from these conversations was that people truly care about their communities, and that they have solutions in mind. Equally apparent, however, was the lack of resources and support going into these neighborhoods. Nonetheless, attendees recognized that these conversations were a step in the right direction for effective government and community reinvestment.

As a part of the Chicago Community Trust’s On the Table initiative, participants were able to apply for an Acting Up award: grants of $1,000 and $2,500 to help attendees implement and take action on their ideas. The grant application’s core component was a two minute pitch video, and I provided support to ten applicants through the application process. Assisting applicants produced actionable steps with the conversation and reduced barriers to entry for potential applicants. Of the ten applicants that I assisted, seven received grants. The 70% success rate of the applicants I assisted is more than triple the success rate of the general applicant pool (71 winners, 300 applicants, 24%).

The grantees that won range greatly in terms of its location, age, and idea. There is (i) a church-group that will hold pop-up resource fairs for the homeless, (ii) high schoolers who will provide mentoring and tutoring for ESL elementary students, (iii) a father who’s going to hold an all day dad's conference on the south side geared towards helping dad's be better fathers, (iv) a health-advocate who wants to purchase and repair old bikes and then host a community bike event as a means of engaging youth and residents of the far south side, (v) an ex-convict who will pilot a youth after-school program to reduce recidivism, (vi) a youth organization that will host “lunch n learns” that bring inspiring and caring adults to speak with preteen and teen boys during their lunch hour, and (vii) high schoolers who will bring globalization education to high school students through a series of workshops and partnerships with schools.