Northside Community Resources
Northside Community Resources Soundex Code N632
Listed in: Rogers Park 2016, page 31.
Spring of 2012, the Rogers Park Community Council reached an important milestone by changing its name to Northside Community Resources. With this name change comes a change in its focus.
Northside Community Resources was founded in 1952 as the Rogers Park Community Council (RPCC) when neighbors joined together to stop the private development of the lakefront area. A small, committed group of people banded together and formed a corporation that worked with neighbors to resolve community problems. RPCC's first "win" was to motivate the City of Chicago to purchase a total of 13 street-end beaches. These beach areas were to be used as public lands, as they remain today.
After this initial success, RPCC directed its energies to preserving and improving neighborhood housing. In 1971, RPCC established the Housing Resource Center in order to monitor the quality of existing housing stock and advocate for responsible development.
Soon afterward, the Community Awareness and Pride Program was established as the organizing arm of RPCC, helping to stage demonstrative actions and formulating plans for the future development of Rogers Park. Over the years, RPCC has taken public stands on issues of zoning, recreational land use, and open housing. In 1990, we led a citywide coalition that improved procedures for issuing and renewing liquor licenses. In 1993, we were a leader in the effort to bring community policing to Rogers Park, organized the Rogers Park Block Organization Network.
In 1985, RPCC established the Victim Advocacy & Support Program (VASP) to assist survivors of all violent crime. Over the years, VASP has evolved to become a key resource for victims of domestic violence across the city.
In 1987 came RPCC's Youth Intervention Program, which mobilized community members around issues of gang violence and advocated for children and teens at risk of falling under gang influence. In 1995, we facilitated the founding of the 24th District Youth Network to coordinate comprehensive youth services and after-school programming. The Youth Network served youth until 2009, when funding shortages necessitated the program's closing.
In 1993, the Rogers Park Home Repair Program was established to assist senior and disabled residents with home repairs and modifications. The program still exists today under the banner of SARFS: Small Accessibility Repairs for Seniors.
Three years later, RPCC ventured into the domain of journalism with the Rogers Park 2000. This free newspaper was published quarterly until 2010, when costs became too prohibitive to continue production. Rogers Park residents now stay abreast of community developments via a host of electronic and social media outlets localized to the neighborhood.
In January 1997, the RPCC established a new subsidiary corporation, the Rogers Park Community Development Corporation (RPCDC).
The most recent addition to their spate of programs is the Multicultural Resource Program, which provides immigrant and refugee neighbors with benefits assistance; culturally sensitive advocacy, and direct referrals to educational resources.
Today, their housing, senior, victim advocacy and immigrant programming reflects a diverse client base, with needs that are equally diverse. As its reach now extends beyond the borders of Rogers Park, in March of 2012 the organization renamed itself: Northside Community Resources. Under this new banner, it is re-committed to serving the people of the city's great north-side communities.
