Grassroots Organization Uses Street Outreach To Reduce Violence And Recidivism
Grassroots Organization Uses Street Outreach To Reduce Violence And Recidivism
BY KATHERINE NEWMAN
Target Area Development Corporation (Target Area) is a grassroots social justice organization working in Chicago to assist south side communities to build the strength and capacity they need to solve their greatest problems.
The organization uses street outreach to address criminal justice reform, prevent violence, and supporting residents as they return from incarceration.
“Target Area is a grassroots nonprofit faith-based organization located on the south side of Chicago in the community of Auburn Gresham. We have been doing this type of work since 1995 and what we mean by that is street level intervention, re-entry, and organizing. Those are the three things that we do and I believe that we do it well,” said Autry Phillips, executive director of Target Area.
In the beginning, Target Area got its start when a group of south side clergy set out to create safe passageways in their neighborhood by asking groups of people to stop hanging out on the street corner. The group of pastors quickly realized that the people they were asking to leave the corners didn’t have many other places to go and that they too needed some assistance.
“Our street-level intervention work started in Auburn Gresham on 78th Street. There were a bunch of pastors and clergy on the corners telling guys that they had to get off the street without knowing anything about why they were there, just that it was a nuisance in the community,” said Phillips. “The brothers started asking what they were supposed to go do and where they were going to go.”
From this point, the group of clergy decided to formalize their support services and provide assistance for these people, many of whom felt like they were unable to become functioning members of society, according to Phillips.
Since then, Target Area has expanded its reach and steadily increased its number of street outreach workers to connect vulnerable citizens with resources to support their success.
A few years ago, Target Area Development Corporation became part of the Communities Partnering For Peace Collaborative (CP4P) which is being led by Metropolitan Family Services and has brought together nine nonprofit organizations from nine Chicago communities to work together in preventing violence across the city.
“One thing we have to understand is that what got us here won’t get us there. What we were doing back in 95, back in 2000, and in 2005 is not going to work for 2020. The reason why I believe in the success of CP4P is that we are creating a new way of doing things and collaborating. We have the power of people working together and the power of like-minded people working together on one goal of reducing violence in the City of Chicago,” said Phillips.
To learn more about the Target Area Development Corporation visit www.targetarea.org.
Latest Stories
- CTU Gathers with Faith-based Leaders to Highlight Recent Tentative Agreement Wins for Students and Educators
- COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER KISHA MCCASKILL TAKES CENTER STAGE AS SOUTH SUBURBAN COMMUNITY UNITES FOR A GREENER FUTURE
- RICH TOWNSHIP SUPERVISOR CALVIN JORDAN LEADS HEARTWARMING SPRING CELEBRATION FOR HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES WITH “EASTER JAMBOREE” CELEBRATION
- Local Musician’s Career Spans 50 Years
- Have Questions About Money? The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office Can Help
Latest Podcast
STARR Community Services International, Inc.
