Organization wants to bolster the community

Nedra Sims Fears is the executive director of the Greater Chatham Initiative, an organization focused on improving workforce and economic development in Chatham, Avalon Park, Auburn Gresham and Greater Grand Crossing. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CHRISTI LOVE
Nedra Sims Fears is the executive director of the Greater Chatham Initiative, an organization focused on improving workforce and economic development in Chatham, Avalon Park, Auburn Gresham and Greater Grand Crossing. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CHRISTI LOVE

 Organization wants to bolster the community 

By Tia Carol Jones

The Greater Chatham Initiative was founded five and a half years ago to bolster workforce and economic development in the community. The organization was founded to address the number of Black residents from the community who were leaving, because jobs were not available, and it caused destabilization.

Nedra Sims Fears, executive director of the Greater Chatham Initiative, grew up in Chatham. The goal of the organization is to look at ways to stabilize the four neighborhoods, Chatham, Greater Grand Crossing, Avalon Park and Auburn Gresham.  We are trying to keep the residents who are already there and attract more people.

“Chicago has 77 neighborhoods and we have four of those 77, we have to market and make people know that we have a wonderful community, with great housing stock, good schools and affordable housing, good transportation and good parks. All the things that you want to live well,” Sims Fears said.

The Greater Chatham Initiative points to an increase in housing prices in the neighborhoods as a sign of the improvements it has spurred since its founding. The organization has hosted trolley tours through the neighborhood for people to see the houses that are on sale, the schools and parks, as well as allow visitors to get a feel for the community.

The Greater Chatham Initiative launched Artists on the 9. It is for local artists who want to be makers. It is located on 7935 E. 79th St. The goal is to have more positive foot traffic in that area, where there are some vacant storefronts.

“The only way you can have positive loitering is to get people in those storefronts. So, we rehabilitated a storefront, designed for makers and we envision it to be our first node in an arts district,” Sims Fears said.

The goal is to create makers spaces along 79th Street where there are vacant storefronts. There are already artists in the space, two fine artists, a graphic designer and a photographer. It will be a makers space as well as a gallery space for artists to host exhibitions. People also will be able to rent the space and host events.

The Greater Chatham Initiative was able to make Artists on the 9 happen because of Landmarks Illinois and the City of Chicago’s Department of Planning and Development, along with Pangea Cares.

Sims Fears believes positive street traffic is necessary for community vitality. The Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation, a partner of the Greater Chatham Initiative, won the Chicago Prize in 2020. That is also a sign of vitality for that community and the surrounding areas because of the development and jobs it will bring.

Walmart has opened the Chicago Walmart Academy, which provides training and educational opportunities. There also are plans to make Brown Park, located at 643 E. 86th St., a smart park.
“When you look at it, you can see people are investing in the community,” Sims Fears said. “Things are happening in Chatham.
 What I love about Greater Chatham is we have great bench strips, we have people that are articulate, they’re knowledgeable, they’re well educated and they’re well traveled. They can talk to people from all over the nation and all over the world.”

For more information, visit https://www.greaterchathaminitiative.org/.

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