RPCC

From HistoryWiki

Rogers Park Community Council (RPCC) Soundex Code R262

1772 W. Lunt Avenue

Rogers Park Community Council (RPCC), 1772 W. Lunt Avenue, was founded in April 1952 when neighbors joined together to stop the private development of the lakefront area. This group of concerned citizens banded together and formed a corporation that worked with neighbors to solve community problems. RPCC's first win was motivating the City of Chicago to purchase 13 street-end beaches to be used as public lands.

After the success of motivating government forces, RPCC directed its energies to neighborhood housing. RPCC recognized the need to monitor and advocate on behalf of safe housing and established the Housing Resource Center in 1971.

The Community Awareness and Pride Program was created as the organizing arm of RPCC. These activities range from demonstrative actions to an overall plan for the future development of Rogers Park. RPCC has taken public stands relating to zoning, recreational land use, and open housing. In 1990, they lead a citywide coalition that improved the way liquor licenses are issued and renewed. In 1993, RPCC was a leader in the effort to bring CAPS to Rogers Park and organized the Rogers Park Block Organization Network.

In 1985, the RPCC established the Victim Advocacy Support Program to assist survivors of all violent crime.

In 1987, RPCC expanded our programs to include the Youth Intervention Program, a gang prevention activity. This Program worked with the individual youth, family, schools, and community to prevention criminal activity and gang affiliation. In 1995, they facilitated the development of the 24th District Youth Network to coordinate youth services in the area. In recent years, Youth Programming has concentrated on coordinating after-school activities, recreational services, and youth employment education.

In 1993, the Rogers Park Home Repair Program was established. This program assists seniors and the disabled with improving their homes. Our goal is to allow for independence and improve accessibility, thereby allowing community "resources" to remain a viable part of our neighborhood.

In 1996, the RPCC initiated a new community newspaper, the Rogers Park 2000. This free newspaper was published quarterly and 10,000 copies are distributed throughout the neighborhood. The issues are mailed to every household in the 60626 zip code.

In January 1997, the RPCC established a new subsidiary corporation, the Rogers Park Community Development Corporation (RPCDC). The CDC's mission is to "create and preserve affordable housing in Chicago's Rogers Park community; aid individuals and families to obtain decent, safe and sanitary housing; prevent community deterioration; lessen the burden of federal, state and local governments to provide housing and economic development opportunities; provide educational, training, and economic development opportunities for residents of the Rogers Park community; as well as collaborate and network with other non-profit organizations to promote the aforementioned purposes.

Beginning in 2008, the Multicultural Resource Center began to provide targeted services to the area's immigrant and refugee populations.

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.

Founders

Tobey Prinz

Award Programs

The Spirit of Rogers Park Award

1996 Officers

President: Jennifer Jeffris

1st Vice President: Robert Winston

2nd Vice President: Tom Settles

3rd Vice President: Keith Lord

Secretary: Emma Clay

Treasurer: Dick Moran

1996 Board of Directors

Connie Abels

Ali Akbari

Melody Browne-Thomas

Sanford Goldman

Marie Harrigan

Cesar Izquierdo

Valerie Jeffries

Renee Kane

June Kinard

Benny Martinez

Meribeth Mermall

Mitchell Morgenstern

Richard Morris

John O'Neal

Mark Redwood

Regina Robinson

Diane Taylor

Dennis Weekly

Jum Yeamann

1996 RPCC Staff

Executive Director - Cary Steinbuck

Associate Director - Sheela Das

Action Program Director - Carol Goldman

Housing Organizer - Mary Jane Haggerty

Youth Intervention Program Director - Norman Polk

Youth Advocate - Jennifer O'Malley

Victim Advocacy Support Program Director - Dana Nate

Fiscal Coordinator - Carol Butler

VISTA/Community Policing Organizer - Max Shure

Photos

RPWRHS photos L009-0426 shows a group of award recipients of awards from the Rogers Park Community Organization on May 8, 1996, at Howard Street and Paulina Street. Who received the awards, or what they were for are not provided. If you recognize anyone, please let us know.

RPWRHS photo S013-0404 shows Hi-Neighbor Day - children racing. Date given is October 1963. No location is given.

RPWRHS photo S013-0405 shows Hi-Neighbor Day - children racing. Date given is October 1963. No location is given.

RPWRHS photo S013-0406 shows Hi-Neighbor Day - children racing. Date given is October 1963. No location is given.

RPWRHS photo S013-0407 shows Hi-Neighbor Day - sign. Date given is October 4, 1964. Location given is Loyola Park.

RPWRHS photo S013-0408 shows Hi-Neighbor Day - band. Date given is October 4, 1964. Location given is Loyola Park.

RPWRHS photo S013-0409 shows Hi-Neighbor Day - band. Date given is October 4, 1964. Location given is Loyola Park.

RPWRHS photo S013-0410 shows Hi-Neighbor Day - field house. Date given is October 4, 1964. Location given is Loyola Park.

RPWRHS photo S013-1109 shows Rogers Park Community Council table. May 1980. No location given. No reason for event given.

RPWRHS photo S013-2034 shows Rogers Park Community Council 50th Anniversary Cake. Saturday, June 22, 2002.