BURNSIDE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, INC.

Drawing community residents together both young and old working together as partners around common interest, goals and activities in the community. 

HISTORY

As with so many things in life, particularly those things most worth doing, getting started and actually beginning can sometimes be the most challenging steps.  We always knew we would someday come up with a way to make a difference in our community.  For a number of years prior to starting the Burnside Neighborhood Association, Inc. we worked hard in our community to bring about some positive changes.

We held a meeting at a neighborhor's house to discuss the possibility of starting a neighborhood association and how to go about electing officers and writing the by-laws.  A second meeting was held in March of 2003, it was recommended that we elect officers and  select a name for the association, Inc.  In April of 2003 the name Burnside Neighborhood Association was chosen; officers were elected and by-laws written.  In addition, the association was officially registered with the appropriate government entity.

Our first priority was to develop a Neighborhood Action Plan.  The purpose of the Neighborhood Action Plan was to identify issues and concerns that were contributing to the deterioration of our community, property value, and quality of life.  The plan provided us with the opportunity to promote creative problem solving, and a spirit of teamwork between community residents, local government and other stakeholders in the community. 

The information collected identified the neighborhood's strengths, weakness, opportunities, threats, and provided a good inventory of conditions and needs of the community.  While waiting for a response from the City of Chicago Mayor's Office, concerning the Neighborhood Action Plan, we held a few community events throughout the summer of 2004.

For the majority of us it was obvious that this would become a full time responsibility.  Was this easy?  Absolutely not.  But it allowed us to start and build the association slowly, and professionally.  It was during this time that we were also able to avail ourselves to lots of  other community-based organizations and political leaders.

We have grown professionally.  In the past few years, we have developed a youth program, established a Back-to-School Supply Drive, etc.  These experiences have bolstered our confindence, and sharing of information with others.  We have found one axiom that continues to bear true as we enter our 8th year: There is no limit to the amount of information we can obtain to imporve the quality of life in our community.

We promise to provide as much support, services, ideas and assistance as we possibly can; to help the residents in our community become more involved in its growth and development.

Richard M. Daley, Mayor of the City of Chicago

 

Jean Walker, President

Safona Mitchell, Director

Marline Weary, Vice-President

Cathy Black, Program Coordinator

Anthony Cook, Consultant

Farron Walker, Legal Advisor

Lakita Anderson, Secretary/Treasurer