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Group preparing to organize a Chicago Hyde Park Village

This page is presented by Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference and its website www.hydepark.org. HPKCC is a founding partner of the HP Coalition for Equitable Community Development and a collaborator with the Older Women's League.
Join the Conference, support our work.

A group of Hyde Parkers, including members of the Older Women's League of Hyde Park, seeks to organize a "Village" cooperative services provider aimed at making it easier for people to remain based in their own home (or home of their choice)--while being able to get about-- as they age. At least five such localized groups are in planning or fully operational in the Chicago area. It is estimated the one-call service needs at least one full time staffer and requires a minimum of 150 members at a stated amount per year or month.

Contacts, HPVillageGoogleGroups
Related meetings
TAKE THE SURVEY P-L-E-A-S-E It's at http://tinyurl.com/hpvillage0419 By early fall 2011, so the steering committee can move!
April 15 report
Summer 2010 activities
Update November 14 2010
Allison Hartman answers some questions (Allison and Sue also gave a full explanation and update to the HPKCC Board December 2.)
New servicing service starting- help-village. see below

More about below. Links to web information about villages. More on various co-housing and aging-in-place options is in the Affordable Housing homepage. From their brochure. By George Rumsey for the August 2010 Conference Reporter.

(Be sure to visit South Side Health Collaborative's directory to all kinds of health and other services at http://www.southsidehealth.org/.)

Email questions the village: http://hydeparkvillage2010@gmail.com. (As for their easy to read brochure and/or to take their survey). or 773-752-6587. Webpage when available: http://groups.google.com/group/hyde-park-village, or from Google Groups site search Hyde Park Village. Watch Hyde Park Herald for announcements.
To opt into new google group: jay.mulberry@hpvillage.org or jaymulberry@gmail.com about/to join.
THE WEBSITE IS APPRENTLY http://hpvillage.serality.com. LOOK FOR CALENDAR AMONG OTHER THINGS.
Go directly to the calendar at http://hpvillage.serality.com/calendar.

There is also an affiliated Google Groups hydeparkvillage for information sharing. Contact jaymulberry@gmail.com to be signed up to be able to post.

The new website is sharing carpooling (as to worship services), snow removal services, and more.

Active Walking Groups-You guys are walking and so are we.

There is also the Tuesday Salon - meets 2nd Tuesdays at Nile Restaurant (1600 block of 55th) about 4 pm. Discuss anything from politics to seniors issues or...

Relevant meetings etc.

February 25, Saturday, 10 am. Coalition for Equitable Community Development Annual Meeting and Forum: The Rental Market in Hyde Park-Kenwood: Who Can Afford to Live Here Anymore? Augustana Lutheran Church, 5500 S. Woodlawn.

Time Bank Hyde Park:

Laura Shaeffer and those at the bottom write: A lot of progress has been made towards setting up a time bank for Hyde Park, and we want to update everyone who is interested and extend a special invitation.

We have figured out the fundamental logistics of this process and have both an online and in-person way to sign up for and participate in time banking. (Visit timebanks.org to see the site. The in-person material is available at SHOP.) We are now looking for around 20 people to begin the time bank, to sign up and give and ask for services.

For folks new to the time bank idea, the web site above does a nice job of describing the concept (in the "about" section). There's also a nice story on a time bank in action on the same page. It is essentially a way of developing an alternative economy where we are exchanging services based on the value of our time instead of money. We are available to go into greater detail - just contact us if you would like to know more.

The idea of beginning to exchange with each other outside of the traditional economy appears deceptively simple. To actually engage in such a process beyond the ways that are "built in" to our lives (maybe you already watch the neighbor's dog when she's on vacation and she helps you with your taxes) is more challenging than it may appear. Just thinking about what one can offer and what one wants in terms besides money can be a pretty enlightening exercise. Right now, we are gathering people motivated to go through this bit of introspection, and then participate in pioneering time exchange.

Would you like to be a Hyde Park Time Bank pioneer? Please reply to this email. If you think you might be interested in helping to launch this project but have misgivings of any kind, please feel free to contact us. Undoubtedly, your concerns are shared by many of your neighbors and will help us make this service more accessible. We look forward to your questions, to your advice, and if you feel ready, to your full participation.

Please contact us with any questions you might have. We will continue to fill everyone in on our progress.

Michael Eastwood
eastwoodm@gmail.com
Gabriel Piemonte
gabrielpiemonte@gmail.com

Take the Survey June 2011 https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JGFBQJN

Dear Friends and Neighbors:

As you may be aware, the Steering Committee for the Chicago Hyde Park Village is conducting a community survey to help us in planning for a Village in our neighborhood. The mission of our Village will be to help our members remain in our homes and engaged in our community as we grow older.

The survey will help us:

(1) determine the characteristics of older individuals residing in Hyde Park, Kenwood, and nearby neighborhoods who are most likely to be interested in joining our Village, and

(2) assess the need for the type of services and activities that could be provided through such a Village.

We apologize that you may receive this invitation multiple times. We are making every effort to canvass the neighborhood; and we are working through many Hyde Park organizations. Feel free to share this invitation with others who might be interested.

We sincerely thank those of you who already filled out the pilot survey. Your assistance helped us improve the questions for the current survey, and there is no need for you to complete this current version. If you were not part of the pilot survey and have not already filled out the current survey, we invite you to complete the newly finished questionnaire that can be accessed on-line through Survey Monkey through the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JGFBQJN.

The information that you give us will be kept confidential. All analysis and reports about the survey results will be based on aggregated data to protect individual privacy.

We value your comments and your time. The questions are easy to answer and should not take you more than about 20 minutes, maybe a little more if you write detailed comments.

If you prefer to have a paper copy to fill out, please contact Kathy Huff at: kathy.huff@hpvillage.org or 773-241-7141. She will provide one for you and also arrange to have it picked up when you have completed it.

We would be grateful if you would share information about the Chicago Hyde Park Village survey with other individuals or organizations and refer them to the Survey Monkey link or to kathy.huff@hpvillage.org.

Thank you for your interest in Chicago Hyde Park Village and for participating in our survey.

Mary J. Rogel and Kathy Huff

 

he Survey

 


Updates November 14 2010, April 22, 2011

April 22 2011 about 30 gathered at the Op Shop for potluck, discussion, and sign up for fun activities, outreach, and doing service to and with each other. A report will be issued. This event was organized by Jay Mulberry's Hyde Park Village google group and Laura Shaefer of the Op Shop.

November 14 2010:

•We are working on follow-up studies and a strategic plan with a goal of being able to open our doors within a year
•We organized a community picnic in Nichols Park in mid summer.
•Three representatives from our Steering Committee will attend a national Village conference in Philadelphia, Nov. 11-12.
•We expect to launch our web site by the beginning of next year. Watch for announcements!

 

Update from Sue Alitto July 30 2010

It is probably no surprise that most of us thought "Transportation services" should top the list as most needed and desired! "Health and wellness services" and "Referral services" were also highly rated. Most were very enthusiastic about the concept of a "Village" in Hyde Park.

The steering committee and subcommittees continue to meet, work and plan over the summer. We expect to have some interesting programs in the fall. Watch for announcements! If anyone would like to become more actively involved in our efforts, please let me know.

The Chicago Graduate School of Business student volunteers are working very hard on a business plan for us. They gave us a promising mid-project presentation last Saturday and will present the final project in late August.

Toward a Hyde Park Village--a neighborhood organization designed to enable members to remain comfortably, safely, and happily in their own homes and apartments whatever their age or physical abilities.
They are currently in the committee work and meet-small-groups phase having held four successful larger meetings. Organization work is underway with students from Chicago Booth.

 

Susan Alitto, leader of the group, explains in her call for the second planning meeting April 6 2010, Tuesday, 7 pm, Treasure Island lower level: (their contact: hyde-park-village@googlegroups.com.)

We hope you will join us for our second meeting to discuss and plan for the creation of a Hyde Park Village designed to enable us to remain comfortably in our homes for the second half of our lives. Bring friends, neighbors, questions and ideas. I've attached a brief announcement that you can pass on to others.

We've been working on creating a Hyde Park Village Google Group where we all can share ideas and information, but it's not quite ready. In the meantime, the following are some links to media coverage of the Village concept.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/08/AR2010020802459.html?sub=AR
http://www.usnews.com/money/blogs/the-best-life/2010/2/8/how-to-build-your-own-retirement-village-.html
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/14/health/14aging.html?_r=3&scp=4&sq=Villages+and+Jane+Gross&st=nyt
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/11/AR2008101101426.html
http://www.asaging.org/at/at-302/pdfs/AT302_Cohen.pdf://bulletin.aarp.org/yourworld/yourhome/articles/declaration_of_independents.html
www.beaconhillvillage.org
http://www.lincolnparkvillage.org
http://vtvnetwork.clubexpress.com (Village to Village Network)

[another: http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-07-26-aging26_ST_N.htm]

And we'll have some handout information available at the meeting.

Toward a Hyde Park Village

A village will give community members “one phone number” access to whatever services, support, and connections they may need to remain comfortably, safely and happily in their own homes. It can also provide social, educational, travel and cultural programs.

A model for such a community began in Beacon Hill, Boston,* about 9 years ago. It has spread rapidly to nearly 100 communities across the country, including 5 in various stages of development in the Chicagoland area. Some villages have specified a minimum age for participation; others have not. All “Villages” share a common mission of providing resources and support for members, but each is unique based on local needs and characteristics.

Our Hyde Park Village can be whatever we decide we want it to be.

Come participate in its creation.

[monthly, 1st Tuesdays], 2010, 7 pm
Treasure Island Meeting Room, lower level

Questions? Contact: hyde-park-village@googlegroups.com

*Check out: www.beaconhillvillage.org
http://www.lincolnparkvillage.org
http://vtvnetwork.clubexpress.com (Village to Village Network)


Susan Alitto added in a letter to the Herald April 28 2010:

Thank you [Herald] for your fine article on our effort to organize a Hyde Park Village to provide resources and services which wil enable community residents to remain comfortably and securely in their own homes and apartments as they grow older. I would like to elaborate on some aspects of our work and the discussion in your article.

Our conversations so far are based on examples from other villages around the country. While these provide useful guidelines, our own village can take quite a different form based on the needs and wishes of our own community. For example, it is our hope that membership fees will be as modest as possible and that we wil be able to offer assistance to participants who need it. Most important, we hope our village will reflect the interests and diversity that we know and value in Hyde Park.

We are still at early planning stages. We welcome everyone who is interested to join our discussions and help shape the kind of village we will become. .... Top

More about villages:

Beacon Hill is a membership (dues $500 to $800 a year) organization with ideas and initiatives that partner with agencies and businesses for discounted rates and services. This includes escort or driving services to the doctor, store etc., deliveries, even handy- or trades persons. The sky seems to be limit, and some places are already providing these services to the less affluent under pilot programs, according to the boomer-senior research institute Civic Ventures.

Hyde Park Herald, April 21, 2010. Aging gracefully- Hyde Parkers form group to aid elderly. By Sam Cholke

It may take a village to raise a child, but for Hyde Parkers it also takes a village to grow old. Members of the Older women's League and like-minded neighbors have begun discussing forming a new nonprofit to help connect seniors living at home with services, a system based on the Beacon Hill, Boston, "village" project.

"It's one phone number that gives you access to whatever you need to stay in your home comfortably as you get older," said organizer Susan Alitto at the group's second meeting April 6. "We're a neighborhood taking care of each other -- maybe our parents had that, but we don't.

There are about 64 "villages" nationwide, all with slight variations on the same mission to help seniors grow old in their homes. In Chicago, the North Shore, Lincoln Park, Streeterville and Lake View neighborhoods have all formed villages. "Part of the village concept is it is whatever we want it to be." Alitto said.

Options for village member services include arranging transportation, finding reputable home repair contractors, arranging social gatherings and being a repository for best practices. It is a sort of institutional memory, "rather than each of us reinventing the wheel on our own," Alitto said. "And so we know we're not taken advantage of by the roofer downstairs ringing the doorbell."

Though still in the early planning stages, the Hyde Park village would operate under the Older Women's League until it could establish itself as an independent nonprofit. The group would need roughly 2509 members to be sustainable and ideally would have 400 members, according to Alitto. For the Lincoln Park village, fees range from $400 to $900 for an individual yearly to $600 to $1,000 for a family, according to Alitto.

The group has not yet determined and estimate for dues to join a Hyde Park village and is still in the process of determining boundaries and what services to pursue. "It's no something we're going to create and you're going to join, it's something we're all going to create," said Betsie Zerlin, another organizer for the group.

For more information, email Susan Alitto at salitto@dacc.uchicago.edu.


Report on findings and issues from the April 2010 meeting of Hyde Park Village

Toward a Hyde Park Village
Report to the Chicago Area Village Network
April 15, 2010


Hyde Park is off to a very promising start. As we look ahead, we see a number of challenges that we look forward to meeting. Fortunately, we have been able to recruit some exciting new members to help us in our endeavors.

Achievements:
• We have had two successful community meetings, one at a home (March 2) and one at the local Treasure Island (April 6). Each meeting attracted different participants, with some overlap. [Attendance list is attached]
• We are compiling a list of many who wish to be kept informed of developments and meetings.
• We are in the process of setting up a Hyde Park Village Google Group as a secure site for members to access information and discuss issues.
• We have recruited 10 members for our organizing committee, which meets regularly to develop strategy and plan meetings.
• OWL Illinois has agreed to act as a fiduciary agent for us so we can start collecting donations even before we have our own 501(c)(3) status.

Early issues:
• How can we keep a momentum without seeming to move too quickly?
• Research questions: How have others proceeded? What steps are necessary?
What proved most effective? What didn’t work?
• How can we best share and disseminate information?
• How can we best engage potential participants/meeting attendees?
• Should there be an age minimum/maximum?
• Should we have boundaries and if so, what should they be?

Next steps:
• Currently we are working on a draft vision for a Hyde Park Village, a suggestion at our last meeting, as a means to eliciting ideas, desires and discussion.
• Our goal is to create an inclusive process that takes advantage of all the enthusiasm and good ideas of those who are interested in creating a Hyde Park Village.
• We hope to keep up monthly meetings at least through June.


Reporters/Editors: Susan Alitto, Margaret Huyck, Ken Schug, Betsie Zerlin

Top


From Hyde Park Village brochure:

A VILLAGE IS... a community with its own "concierge" which provides access to activities & to members suggested services so that members can live safely and comfortably in the home of their choice.

EXAMPLES OF POSSIBLE CONCIERGE SERVICES. One telephone call arranges access to whatever you might need or enjoy

- HOME
Transportation to appointments
House cleaning, yard work
Suggested service providers
Arrangements with trades people
Home and personal security
Computer and digital tech
Money management, bill payment

-HEALTH
Exercising, walking, cycling
Medical advocacy}Affiliation with medical clinics
Visits, meals for the homebound
Caregiver support
Government and public assistance programs

-DIVERSIONS
Activities, classes, day trips
Photography, nature groups
Discussions, lectures, music
Theater and sporting events tickets
Links with local groups
Dinner clubs, restaurant trips

-VOLUNTEER REGISTRY
Volunteer assistance
Volunteer opportunities

VILLAGE KIND OF PEOPLE. Those for whom Concierge Services might prove especially attractive are people who need support to age in place, busy working people, those with unusual needs, people mindful of the benefits they may need down the road, and people whop want to get together with others who are interested in the same recreational, cultural or educational pursuits.

Village life can secure independence and provides activities, support, advocacy, companionship and fun, through the varied services it offers.

BENEFITS AND COSTS VARY WIDELY ACCORDING TOTHE CHOICES VILAGES MAKE

Top

By George Rumsey for the August 2010 HPKCC Conference Reporter (Vol. 16, No. 2)

Toward a Hyde Park Village

There is a new local group in process of forming called the "Hyde Park Village." A "village" is a "community with it own 'concierge' which provides access to activities and to member suggested services so that members can live safely and comfortably in the home of their choice" (quoted from the working group's brochure). It is modeled on the Beacon Hill Village (www.beaconhillvillage.org), and has formed working relationships with other Villages in eh chicago area, including in Lincoln Park and Evanston.

The organizing group, spearheaded by a wide variety of South Siders and pulled together by Sue Alitto, has been working steadily since February to frame how a Village might work in Hyde Park. Examples of possible services being examined include transportation, house cleaning, home adn personal security, caregiver support, exercising, medical advocacy adn referrals, classes, day trips, dinner clubs, and a wide variety of volunteer opportunities.

The kinds of people who could benefit from a Village include those who need support to age in place, busy working professionals, those with unusual needs, and people who want to join others for shared interests.

Financing depends on fund-raising, obtaining grants, finding volunteers, size of the membership, and services to be provided. A yearly cost would be passed on to members.

For more information, visit the groups website at http://groups.google.com/group/hyde-park-village. You can also email hydeparkvillage2010@gmail.com or call (773) 752-6587. Top


Summer-Fall 2010 activities

June- last introductory meeting. Helped Lincoln Park celebrate ist first year and heard author Gail Sheehy
July- A set walked the 4th on 53rd parade and distributed material and a survey.
Booth School students prepared and analyzed paper and online surveys and a cost and pricing analysis.
August 1 picnic in Nichols Park.


Allison Hartman, co-convener, answers some questions from a very savvy new member

Some of the questions you ask are a little hard to answer, and I'm sure we do
not all agree on things(this is Hyde Park) but since no one Else has answered
here is my take on your questions.

1)It is hard to know your definition of responsibilities. It could mean who
would be responsible if there was a problem. In that case:
Villages are set up as not-for-profit corporations. They have at least a paid
executive director and a Board of Directors. They also have very complete
insurance coverage and do a great deal of work to investigate all volunteers
and vetted services before they endorse them.

2)The same way anybody participates. By joining the organization and joining
the events they would enjoy and by calling the one phone number that is part
of the ease of access all Villages offer. I am very familiar with the people
at DARE and find that they want to be like everybody else. The fact that
transportation is part of a Villages services makes it easier for disabled
folks to join with everybody to do things.

3) Once we are ready to become an official corporation with a director and
hopefully an office, you join by paying a years dues and having an interview
so the village will know what you are interested in doing either as a
volunteer or as a member who would like services. You leave by not renewing
your membership.

4)This is an activity. So are the meetings. if you think membership
organizations come with the waving of a wand you have a better wand than I
do.

We need to raise money to pay for an executive director,and sign up enough
members (around 100) to finance the first year before we can offer anything
except the opportunity to help choose how we will form and run. Right now we
are starting to incorporate in the best configuration possible at the first of
next year. We also will need to have an excellent and probably expensive
insurance policy in place. We need time to vet enough volunteers so when
members ask for a ride or someone to come into their home we can feel secure
in who we recommend.

FYI we are now well enough known to have organizations interested in
"partnering" with us. We listen but certainly will not make up our mind until
we have our own identity. Most of us beginning members like the Village
because we are able to decide what it will be like.

So as you can see - we have been doing for quite a while already, One of the
most important thing for us to do is talk to every person we meet hoping that
they are one of our 100 members.

6) Only if you do something personally criminal or hurtful. As I keep
mentioning we as a NFP Corporation will be both un-sue-able as volunteers and
well covered by insurance. Volunteers, to be sued, must do something that is
in lawyereese "Willful and Wanton" mindfully hurting someone on purpose.

Hope this at least answers some of your questions.

Allison Hartman
co-convener of the Hyde Park Village

New! Help-Village

Jay Mulberry of Hyde Park Village Google Groups writes:

[Note, help-village email has a hangup- use s_borgeson@yahoo.com.

A month (or so) ago we began to set up a system where members can help other members with this and that. Well, we have a great coordinator, Sara Borgeson, we have volunteers and we are ready to work.
 Say you need someone to drive you somewhere, pick you up somewhere, contact someone, visit you or a friend who needs it, read to you or a friend who would enjoy it, help with house cleaning, help setting up a new piece of equipment for your home, shop for you, go to the drug store for you, look after an animal for a short time . . . or, or, or . . .
 Contact Sara Borgeson, the coordinator, by writing to help-village@googlegroups.com. (I suggest you put that in your address book. Don't know how to put it in your address book? Ask for HELP!)
 If possible, do this two or three days before the date you need the help.
 The coordinator will get you a helper, who will contact you and set a schedule.

 That's all there is to it. It is a way that we can help each other, and anyone who wants to be a helper and hasn't signed up just let Sara know
(help-village@googlegroups.com)
 There are a few things to remember:
•Do not contact us in a medical emergency, or in any situation where you need help urgently. We cannot guarantee the speed of our response.
•Think "short term" when you make a request. If you need service day after day, or week after week for a very long time we might not be able to accommodate you. (But, maybe we could find some way to get the help, so don't just give up.)
•Do not request professional advice.
•Understand that we are a small community group using community volunteers and we will do the best we can. No money-back guarantee is included.