Wednesday, August 24, 2016

building community in Chicago by hiring Community Builders

Proposal: Chicago citizens should be empowered to elect Community Builders for their community areas. (Chicago has 77 community areas.)

Assumption: Increasing connectedness will benefit communities in various ways. While Alan Mills comments on crime was the catalyst of this idea, I see more connectedness benefiting Chicago communities in various ways. As Rudy Lozano, Jr. said, there's no alternative to defending communities other than organizing communities.

Where?
Each community area would decide whether to implement this plan by vote.
Who can run? 
Anyone (irrespective of citizenship) who lives in the community sixteen years or older 
Who can vote?
Everyone age twelve & up who lives in the community area, including homeless people who identify with the community
What will the duties of Community Builders be?
The nominal duties will be to get to know people in the community and broker introductions between people in the community. But the duties will get defined by the Community Builders and the members of the community.
How much will Community Builders be paid?
$1,500/month (proposed)
How many Community Builders will each community area have?
Two plus one per every 3,000 residents in the last census
How will it be paid for?
Property tax increase for the community area

building community in Chicago by hiring Community Builders

Proposal: Chicago citizens should be empowered to elect Community Builders for their community areas. (Chicago has 77 community areas.)

Assumption: Increasing connectedness will benefit communities in various ways. While Alan Mills comments on crime was the catalyst of this idea, I see more connectedness benefiting Chicago communities in various ways. As Rudy Lozano, Jr. said, there's no alternative to defending communities other than organizing communities.

Where?
Each community area would decide whether to implement this plan by vote.
Who can run? 
Anyone (irrespective of citizenship) who lives in the community sixteen years or older 
Who can vote?
Everyone age twelve & up who lives in the community area, including homeless people who identify with the community
What will the duties of Community Builders be?
The nominal duties will be to get to know people in the community and broker introductions between people in the community. But the duties will get defined by the Community Builders and the members of the community.
How much will Community Builders be paid?
$1,500/month (proposed)
How many Community Builders will each community area have?
Two plus one per every 3,000 residents in the last census
How will it be paid for?
Property tax increase for the community area