June 3, 2024 – The South East Chicago Commission (SECC) is honored to announce The Shirley J. Newsome Beautification Grant Awards for 2024. The program aims to provide micro-grants to neighborhood organizations and groups to support beautification and revitalization projects that enhance the physical attractiveness and quality of life within Hyde Park, Kenwood, Oakland, Washington Park and Woodlawn communities. Since 1999, the SECC has collectively granted more than $1,000,000 in beautification funds. For 2024, the Elizabeth Louise Smith Fund and private donors have bound together to graciously support this year’s project.
“The SECC has worked to build communities from the inside out with strategic micro-investments that impact not only the neighborhoods we serve but also the neighbors themselves. Ultimately, we are working collectively to attract additional investments to the community at large.”– Diane Burnham, Executive Director
The SECC and Community Selection Committee are honored to announce eight community awards for 2024. The grant selection committee, comprised of community members from the five footprint neighborhoods, selected the following community groups for the strength of their proposals and the breadth of potential impact:
Disabled Adults Residential Enterprises (D.A.R.E.) Landscape Redesign will install perennial plantings in outdoor planting boxes and care for designated landscape maintenance areas at 1616 E. 55th Street. To be installed with the support of D.A.R.E. residents and landscaping professionals, the area will provide a beautiful addition to the streetscape.
The First Presbyterian Church of Chicago Beautification Project will install shrubs and featured sculptural works from artists-in-residence in the area surrounding its soon-to-be-restored greenhouse affixed to the church. The project will involve landscaping and installation of new flower beds and seating to create a publicly accessible community greenspace.
Muddy Waters MOJO Museum Front Yard/Vacant Lot Beautification will perform a series of maintenance and improvement efforts for the MOJO house front yard at 4329 S Lake Park Avenue, including the installation of flowers in planters received from their 2023 program grant, landscaping maintenance, and temporary fencing. This beautification will generate excitement for the opening of the MOJO Healing Garden and Museum.
Neighborhood Schools Beautification by Future Ties, NFP will involve local students in the planting and maintenance of flowers surrounding three neighborhood schools to enhance both the schools’ aesthetic appeal and educational opportunities surrounding gardening and environmental stewardship. The projects will take place at Fiske Elementary, Emmett Till Math and Science Academy, and Dulles Elementary School.
Oakland Museum and Garden Preservation bythe Oakland Cultural Alliance will rebuild and refurbish public bench seating and replace fencing areas surrounding sunflower plantings from their 2022 program grant at the site of the Oakland Museum to allow for continual community use.
Pioneer Social Work Mural Maintenance by Fuller-Reed-Huff will restore the fire-damaged panel of the 1976 Pioneer Social Work mural, an artwork depicting the contributions of pioneer social workers to peace initiatives, civil liberties, and better treatment of juvenile delinquents, laborers, and immigrants. Artist Damon Lamar Reed and assistant will repaint and maintain the panel to restore its depiction of efforts to ameliorate sweatshop conditions. The mural is located at 1530 E 57th Street.
Ray Nature Playscape Phase II by Friends of Ray PTO will purchase and install log play materials and furniture to further build upon their successful playscape project, which was partially funded by their 2023 program grant. This new equipment will bring more opportunities for outdoor imaginative play.
Woodlawn Maroons Heritage Garden by Mama Moore Regeneration Center NFP will install and maintain a garden on the grounds of Woodlawn Community Elementary School with the help of the newly founded Ultimate Maroons Youth Garden Club. This garden will represent the collective work, responsibility, and dedication of garden club participants and encourage them to be trained as young leaders and gardeners in the community.
Please contact SECC’s Program and Data Support Coordinator, Annie Anderson, to learn more about the 2024 Shirley J. Newsome Beautification Grant recipients and their projects.
