Block Clubs In Motion

North Lawndale 's Block Club Kickoff in April 2010 was a huge success and LCDC, CAPS, and the Active Transporation Alliance have continued to move forward with the Block Club Intiative. LCDC staff has met with several individuals and block clubs throughout the community to address concernws and develop strategies to create safer blocks in North Lawndale. The Chicago Police Department has also assisted residents as they address concerns such as abandoned buildings, crime and safety.

The next Block Club Meeting will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2010 at the 10th District Police Statio, located at 3315 W. Ogden.

Written by Lawndale Christian Development Corporation, Community Organizer Tameeka Chrisitan

B-Ball On The Block Success

LCDC’s B-Ball on the Block initiative has been a huge success, within the last few weeks 155 children ages 8-14 within the North Lawndale area have registered and participated. Teams of four (4 )were created and competed against each other as representing rival National Black Colleges. These same teams were served refreshments afterwards. Each team was asked to return with information pertaining to the school they represented in the previous game. These games are held at various locations throughout the North Lawndale area every Thursday between the dates of July 8th and August 5th.





On the last tournament date the participants will celebrate with the LCDC staff and present what they have learned from this initiative. Please come out and support our youth as they learn lasting life skills such as but not limited to: teamwork, good sportsmanship, the benefits of hard work and education as each player had to participate in research.

Locations for B-Ball on the Block Basketball Tournament
4:00 – 8:00 PM, August 5th


10th District Police Station, 3315 W. Ogden Ave
Final Game and Celebration!



Submitted by Quinethel Brown, North Lawndale Resident, Intern for Lawndale Christian Development Corporation

Toastmasters on the West Side of Chicago!

Survey after survey shows that presentation skills are crucial to success in the workplace. Many people pay a high price for seminars to gain the skills and confidence necessary to face an audience. Toastmasters provides an option that is less expensive and held in high regard in business circles. This organization has been around for more than 85 years and offers a proven - and enjoyable - way to practice and hone communication and leadership skills. LCDC recently became a new charter for Toastmasters International and will begin meeting the 2nd and 4th Tuesday, of each month, starting in July 13th. The cost to join is $47 but you only pay $27 once a quarter.

This opportunity can bring you a new job, speaking engagements or just build confidence in the area that you currently work or serve. For more details or if you are interested in joining Toastmasters please contact Marlon Ryals or Tameeka Christian at 773-762-8889 or email mryals@lcdc.net; tchristian@lcdc.net.

“B-Ball on the Block” Basketball Tournament

July 8th will kick off the Lawndale Christian Development Corporation 4th Annual “B-Ball on the Block” Basketball Tournament. Formerly known as “Summer Slam”, this year’s tournament will be played at five different locations in North Lawndale on Thursday evenings through August 5th. The first game will be played on WACA (Westside Association for Community Action) basketball court which located 3525 W. Ogden.

“B-Ball on the Block” provides an opportunity for young people to learn good sportsmanship and become leaders, while having fun! Boys and Girls between the ages of 8 to 14 are eligible to participate.

Registration is FREE and open now if you are interested in coaching or playing. Vendor and residents are also encouraged to come out and join us as we support the youth of North Lawndale.

For more information contact Marlon Ryals or Tameeka Christian at 773-762-8889 or email: mryals@lcdc.net or tchristian@lcdc.net.

3rd Annual Golf Outing

You do not want to miss the upcoming Golf outing!

Lawndale Christian Development Corporation's (LCDC) 3rd Annual Golf Outing, being held June 25th at the Eaglewood Resort & Spa in Itasca, IL. We are looking forward to a fantastic day of golf!



8:00 AM Shotgun
9:00 AM Spa
1:00 PM Lunch Buffet, Live Auction, & Awards Ceremony

Friendly Competition on the Course

• Closest to the Pin Competition
• Longest Putt Competition
• Longest Drive Competition
• Hole-In-One Competition

You can still sign up http://lcdc.net/lcdcgolf.htm

New Life for Dr. King’s Lawndale Dream by Dennis Rodkin

Housing Bulletin
New Life for Dr. King’s Lawndale Dream
By Dennis Rodkin
In Lawndale, at the site of the Chicago apartment where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived with his family in 1966, work has begun on the Dr. King Legacy Apartments, a $17-million complex that, when finished, will have 45 units of affordable rental housing, retail space, and a mini-museum dedicated to the efforts of King and others to provide equal access to housing in Chicago.
Last April, on the anniversary of King’s 1968 assassination, a coalition of activist and civic groups announced plans to create the MLK Historic District on four acres along 16th Street between Hamlin and Harding streets. The first block of the $50-million project includes the site of King’s apartment—irrevocably damaged in the riots that followed his assassination—at 1550 South Hamlin Avenue. Eventually, the district is to include a park, a memorial to King, a new branch of the Chicago Public Library, and other amenities.
On December 31st, the coalition, led by Lawndale Christian Development Corp., secured the $17 million in financing needed to start work on the Legacy Apartments (that includes $5 million in federal stimulus funds). Groundbreaking followed shortly thereafter. “We’re in the ground, we’re making it happen at last,” says Kim Jackson, the executive director of Lawndale Christian Development. The slide show below looks at the site—its history and the plans for its future—as well as at a nearby home that is also associated with King.

Welcome to the New Blog spot for LCDC, where will highlight the wonderful things that happen in North Lawndale when people stick together!