Accomplishments

ONE’s first campaign was a successful effort to get the City Colleges to award $1.5 million in construction contracts to local Latino contractors as they built Truman College in the 1970’s. Since that time we have saved the homes of thousandsof low and moderate-income families; improved local schools; changed city and state policies; and brought millions of dollars in resources to the north lakefront communities of Chicago.

In 2001, ONE’s work was recognized by the Woods, Weiboldt, New Prospects and The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundations as they named ONE as the Community Organization of the year.

Recent Accomplishments Include:

• Established a $1 Million Transitional Jobs program for community members returning from prison;
• Created the New Americans Loan- the first loan program in the U.S. for the citizenship application fee- now a national model;
• Established parent mentoring project at five local elementary schools to help over 350 students improve academically;
• Passed the SMART Act with the Developing Justice Coalition to address recidivism and affects of drugs on community;
• Won $200,000 in funding to train and place community members in construction careers;
• Won $30,000 to buy LCD projectors for Senn High School with Voices of Students, an ONE member institution led by Senn students;
• Participated in community action with Rahm Emanuel to develop his understanding of and commitment to immigrant rights;
• Youth leaders conducted participatory action research to investigate and improve relations between youth and police in Rogers Park;
• Established North Side Community Support Advisory Council to facilitate reintegration of community members returning to north side from prison;
• Worked with student leaders at Uplift Community School to establish the student organizing group
• Leaders Involved For Transformation (LIFT);
• Provided leadership training to over 100 parents from local schools;
• Joined with six other community organizations to create the coalition Voices of Youth in Chicago Education (VOYCE.) This coalition has partnered with the Gates Foundation to address the drop out rate in Chicago Public Schools;
• Supported 36 parents and community representatives to be elected to local school councils;
• Established the Grow Your Own Teachers Initiative for the North Side of Chicago;
• Created a partnership with Chicago Public Schools Area 2 to involve parents in improving local schools;
• Initiated a campaign with local churches to host immigrant celebrations and informational workshops for residents;
• Provided community school classes to 600 children and 80 parents;
• Trained community leaders in using participatory theatre exercises to create conversations around criminal justice reform; and
• Assisted over 200 people in applying for citizenship.