Building a Better Chicago: Race and Community Resistance to Urban Redevelopment

Teresa Irene Gonzales' book "Building a Better Chicago" explores how local Black and Brown communities can resist gentrification and fight for their interests, focusing on Little Village and Greater Englewood. She shows how philanthropists, non-profits, and government agencies struggle for power and control, often against the interests of residents. However, Gonzales also shows how these communities have advocated for themselves and demanded accountability from politicians and agencies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 29 June 2021
Publisher: New York University Press

Despite the promises made by politicians, non-profit organizations, and government agencies, Chicago's most disadvantaged neighborhoods continue to face severe poverty, inadequate schools, and gang violence. In her book, "Building a Better Chicago," Teresa Irene Gonzales sheds light on why these promises have yet to be fulfilled, revealing the tensions between neighborhood residents and the institutions that claim to represent them. Gonzales focuses on two communities: Little Village, the largest Mexican immigrant community in the Midwest, and Greater Englewood, a predominantly Black neighborhood. Through her on-the-ground exploration of these communities, Gonzales exposes the power struggles between philanthropists, non-profits, and government agencies, often at the expense of the interests of the residents they aim to help. However, she also highlights the resilience and advocacy of these communities, as they fight for their rights and demand accountability from the politicians and agencies in their midst.

"Building a Better Chicago" delves into the numerous high-stakes battles unfolding on the streets of Chicago, offering a glimpse of a more promising path toward empowering communities of color in the twenty-first century. The book explores the challenges faced by these communities, including gentrification, displacement, and limited access to resources. Gonzales provides a comprehensive analysis of the policies and practices that contribute to these issues and offers practical solutions for community empowerment.

One of the key themes of the book is the importance of community-driven development. Gonzales argues that communities of color should have a greater say in the planning and implementation of programs and policies that affect their lives. She highlights the need for grassroots organizations and community leaders to be at the forefront of the fight for social justice and equity.

Gonzales also emphasizes the importance of building alliances and partnerships between different stakeholders, including politicians, non-profit organizations, and business leaders. She suggests that collaboration can lead to more effective and sustainable solutions to complex problems.

Throughout the book, Gonzales provides case studies and examples of successful community-driven initiatives that have resisted gentrification and fought for the interests of marginalized communities. These examples serve as a source of inspiration and hope for communities facing similar challenges.

In conclusion, "Building a Better Chicago" is a powerful and insightful book that offers a roadmap for empowering communities of color in the face of gentrification and other social and economic challenges. Gonzales' book provides a valuable contribution to the ongoing conversation about urban inequality and offers practical solutions for building a more just and equitable city.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479839759