HPKCC Mission and History

In partnership with the Community since 1949

President: Jay N. Ammerman
Vice Presidents:
Jane Ciacci (1st),
Brenda Sawyer
Secretary: Trish Morse
Treasurer: Mark Granfors

Other Directors: Lenora Austin, Nancy Baum, Amy Becker, Gwen Bonds, Richard Buchner, Peter Cassel, Mike Doss, Judy Dupont, Irene Freelain, Amy Girst, Wallace Goode,Camille Hamilton-Doyle, Anita Hollins, Gail Isenberg, David Nekimken, Brenda Sawyer, Jack Snapper, Jack Spicer, Ismail Turay, James Withrow, George Cooley (emeritus)

Contact us at Telephone: 773 288-8343
1525 E. 53rd St. #907
Chicago, Il 60615

E mail General Information
Issue master HPKCC
Webmaster HPKCC



Copyright © 2003
Hyde Park-Kenwood
Community Conference

HPKCC Mission

The Hyde Park - Kenwood Community Conference  is a community organization dedicated to maintaining and enhancing an attractive, secure, diverse, and caring community.  It promotes participation of its residents, businesses, institutions, and organizations in programs and activities that advance the interests and concerns of the community. It serves the community as a watchdog, independent voice, and clearing house in the comunity's ongoing conversation and decisions about those matters which affect and define community life.

Membership Form. Informational brochure

HPKCC is a dues-paying membership-based neighborhood association. Most of our work is done by our committees and collaborations. Won't you join us or our one of our committees?

Visit also HPKCC sections of the Home Page. Click here for brief descriptions of our programs/committees (on one page).
About and Membership home, More about, HPKCC in Urban Renewal Context, Committees, 60th Anniversary,
2008 Retrospective and 60-year Retrospective

In this page:

History and about

1949: A Community in Crisis

In 1949, a group of urban pioneers in Hyde Park-Kenwood, facing a radically changing neighborhood, deteriorating property, and increasing crime, banded together to reverse the tide of physical and social deterioration. To do so, the residents formed the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference (HPKCC). The major focus of the new organization was urban renewal, stabilization, and neighborhood safety.

As part of the strategy, the conference formed 20 block clubs in 1950 to help residents in their relationships with each other, diagnose neighborhood problems and take action, and build a greater sense of community.

Although HPKCC concentrated its earliest efforts on upgrading property and zoning codes, it soon became apparent that the community had other needs. As a result, the Conference organized committees to improve the schools, the appearance of the community, the parks and recreation facilities, and the communities youth services.

Over the years, the Conference identified more community problems and developed new and specific programs to work toward solutions:

  • Tenant/landlord relationships
  • School volunteers
  • Safety, rights and justice
  • Women's rights
  • Medical Care
  • Air and water pollution

Once a problem was identified, and a program established, HPKCC members took the steps necessary to attack the problem, whether it meant working with city officials on needed ordinances, organizing a tenant's union, working to establish good relationships with varying community groups, developing medical services, or pressuring the city agencies for action.

These activities were carried out in addition to HPKCC's ongoing programs in the areas of schools, urban planning, jobs for teens, parks and beautification.

Down through the years, the continuing goal of the Conference has been to meet the needs of an ever changing community.

Today: A Community Beyond Crisis

Today, the Conference continues working to meet the community's changing needs for maintaining diversity, ensuring neighborhood safety, promoting the welfare of the community, and beautifying the environment.

Our efforts in building community in our second half century may be seen in our wide array of programs.  All participants in the Hyde Park - Kenwood Community are invited to be part of our program activities and to join the Conference.

To each HPKCC Program and Committee home pages with chairs and contacts

Some of these are our own action and activity groups, others are organizations for which we serve as fiscal agent and umbrella-supporter. In addition we have several administrative committees including Editorial, Financial, Membership and Fundraising, and Nominating- more about these in the HPKCC About and Membership page.

Click here to view brief descriptions of our program committees.

The following program descriptions introduce you to the programmatic committees of the Conference. Click the links to see full reports for each committee's activities.

Chicago Academic Games League
Monthly games during the academic year provide an opportunity for school children to increase their math skills and have fun. Under management of the University of Chicago Service center. Liaisons Judy Dupont, Wallace Goode.

Condos / Co-ops / Plus
Provides information through lecture/seminars and classes with attorneys, discussion, and the Conference Reporter, regarding the law, insurance, and other matters relevant to owners of these dwellings. If you are interested in participating on this committee or for details contact hpkcc@aol.com or 773 288-8343. Chair Jay Ammerman.

Forums
HPKCC sponsors ongoing community forums on topics of special interest to the neighborhood. Liaison Gary Ossewaarde at hpkcc@aol.com.

Development, Preservation and Zoning. Committee.
Monitors, engages collaboratively with other organizations, officials and agencies and holds public forums and surveys on development and planning issues, community character, and University of Chicago and other institution and organization policies that affect the neighborhood. Chairman Gary Ossewaarde at hpkcc@aol.com.

Disabilities Task Force of Hyde Park.
A collaborative inter organizational task force that works for a physically and socially friendly community and to see that the rights of persons of disability and all residents are honored in our community and places of business. Liaisons George Rumsey and Lenora Austin.

Friends of Blackstone Library. Chair Brenda Sawyer.

Garden Fair. Committee page.
Twice a year the Garden Fair sells plants, bulbs, and garden equipment-Friday and Saturday after Mother's Day and 3rd Saturday in September unless a religious holiday conflicts. Proceeds benefit the Hyde Park Community Conference and garden projects in the Hyde Park - Kenwood Community. May 31 the GF celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a gala at Rodfei Zedek 2 pm.

Nichols Park Advisory Council
An affiliate programmatic committee of the Conference, Nichols Park Council advises the  Chicago Park District  on the maintenance, care, and landscaping of the park.  It oversees the wild flower meadow and more. President Stephanie Franklin.

Parks. Committee page.
Works cooperatively with local and citywide groups to enhance our parks maintenance, landscape design, park activities and good planning as well as  improve our environment. Chair Gary Ossewaarde.

Schools
Follows school issues in the community, works for strong LSCs and afterschool programs ensuring our youth develop the skills and assets needed to succeed, and schools and community engagement. Chair Nancy Baum.

Southside Preservation Action Fund
Formed to work to provide quick funds for a large range of small preservation action and study needs. Jack Spicer.

Transit and Accessibility Task Force. Transit pages home.
Works to improve transit [particularly bus transit and the Gold Line Metra upgrade] to and from the community and parking in the community.  Chair James Withrow.

Whistlestop/Safety
Whistlestop promotes street safety and crime prevention through individual and neighbor whistle alerts.  Whistles are available at neighborhood events and various community venues.  Bulk whistle purchases are possible.  All whistles include program information.  If you are interested in participating on this committee or for Whistlestop details contact hpkcc@aol.com or 773 288-8343. Chair Vicky Suchovsky


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Copyright Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference. The non-graphics materials on this website regarding the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community Conference, its history, and its purpose, are available for noncommercial use without permission, as long as the source is properly cited.