Working to improve the quality of life in Rogers Park since 1952
About RPCC
Our History Rogers Park Community Council was founded in 1952 when neighbors joined together to stop the private development of the lakefront area. This group of people banded together and formed a corporation that worked with neighbors to solve community problems. RPCC's first win was motivating the City of Chicago to purchase 13 street-end beaches to be used as public lands.
After the success of motivating government forces, RPCC directed its energies to neighborhood housing. RPCC recognized the need to monitor and advocate on behalf of safe housing and established the Housing Resource Center in 1971.
The Community Awareness and Pride Program was created as the organizing arm of RPCC. These activities range from demonstrative actions to an overall plan for the future development of Rogers Park. RPCC has taken public stands relating to zoning, recreational land use, and open housing. In 1990, we lead a citywide coalition that improved the way liquor licenses are issued and renewed. In 1993, we were a leader in the effort to bring community policing to Rogers Park and organized the Rogers Park Block Organization Network.
In 1985, RPCC established the Victim Advocacy Support Program to assist survivors of all violent crime.
In 1987, we expanded our programs to include the Youth Intervention Program, a gang prevention activity. This Program worked with the individual youth, family, schools, and community to prevention criminal activity and gang affiliation. In 1995, we facilitated the development of the 24th District Youth Network to coordinate youth services in the area. In recent years, Youth Programming has concentrated on coordinating after-school activities, recreational services and youth employment education.
In 1993, Rogers Park Home Repair Program was established. This program assists seniors and the disabled with improving their homes. Our goal is to allow for independence and improve accessibility, thereby allowing community "resources" to remain a viable part of our neighborhood.
In 1996, RPCC initiated a new community newspaper, the Rogers Park 2000. This free newspaper is published quarterly and 10,000 copies are distributed throughout the neighborhood. The December issue is mailed to every household in the 60626 zip code.
In January 1997, the RPCC established a new subsidiary corporation, the Rogers Park Community Development Corporation (RPCDC). The CDC's mission is to “create and preserve affordable housing in Chicago’s Rogers Park community; aid individuals and families to obtain decent, safe and sanitary housing; prevent community deterioration; lessen the burden of federal, state and local governments to provide housing and economic development opportunities; provide educational, training, and economic development opportunities for residents of the Rogers Park community; as well as collaborate and network with other non-profit organizations to promote the aforementioned purposes.”
Beginning in 2008, the Multicultural Resource Center began to provide targeted services to the area's immigrant and refugee populations.
Board of Directors Officers President - Roy Witherow 1st Vice President - Jennifer Clark 2nd Vice President - Charlotte Beth Kovacs 3rd Vice President - Jason Schoenfelder Treasurer - Richard Moran Secretary - Lorraine Dostal Members Mary Bao Bryan Cardenas Robert Clarke Jeff Espina Cesar Izquierdo Susan Keyes Tom Lisy Robert Mapes Bill Markle Michael Moore Steve Olson Daphnee Rene Blane Roberts Summur Roberts Amy Scutt Marianne Smith-Geula Baxter Swilley Pam van Giessen Robert Winston
Financial Support
Rogers Park Community Council programs receive financial support from the following government agencies: State of Illinois - Illinois Attorney General - Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority - Victims of Violent Crime Illinois - Department of Human Services City of Chicago - Department of Family and Support Services - Department of Community Development
RPCC's programs are also supported by generous donations from the following local businesses, corporations, private foundations, and individuals:
- 24th District Advisory Committee - Allstate Foundation - After School Matters - Burrows Moving Co. - Loyola University - Shedd Aquarium - United Way of Metra Chicago - Devon Bank - Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant - PepsiCo - S&C Electric Company - US Cellular – Rogers Park - Wendy’s Restaurant – Skokie - Whole Foods – Evanston - Cindy Rogowski - Megan Davis - Jason and Samantha Schoenfelder - Yvonne Taylor
Annual Reports
Rogers Park Community Council . 1530 W. Morse Avenue . Chicago, IL 60626 . Ph:(773) 338-7722 . Fax: (773) 338-7774