People’s Action’s roots are as Chicago as the Blues, deep dish, and Michael Jordan.
We were founded in the late 1960s during a moment of division: demographics of cities were changing, panic peddling ran rampant, and discrimination in lending shaped neighborhoods not just in Chicago, but across the country. Gale Cincotta, Shel Trapp, Otto McMatch, and others came together to form National People’s Action – a people’s organization on a mission to build bridges across race to address the root causes of social and economic inequality.
Today, People’s Action has evolved into a 21st-century multi-racial working-class people’s organization. The ruling class still aims to pit working-class people against each other, and we still aim to deliver the transformative change we need. But in the face of complex global challenges and unprecedented stakes, People’s Action has taken on the unique role of bridging across race and place, across urban and rural, to build a bigger “we.”
The journey to justice is not a sprint. It’s a marathon. That’s why we have a long-term strategy to win the battle of big ideas, build governing power for the people, and rewrite the rules of who does and does not have power. It’s why we are building relationships and bringing powerful partners into our movement. And it's why we purchased a beautiful space in Chicago to serve as our permanent home as we launch the next era of People’s Action.
OUR VISION
This isn't a moment, it's a movement.
We decided to embark on this project because we knew it was time to invest in a home base that would help generations of organizers win the long-haul fight for justice.
People’s Action owns 1130 North Milwaukee outright – now we just need your help to build out the space. We are raising $1.2 million to renovate the building to meet the needs of a national organizing network.
Investing in a permanent home won't just strengthen our work, it will strengthen our financial health. Comparable rented space costs upwards of $150,000 a year, meaning the investment will have paid itself off in just four years. Renting our space to community partners will diversify our revenue streams. Plus, our redesign will increase the value of the property beyond our initial investment to the tune of at least $2.5 million dollars, providing the organization with a safety net that will protect us in case of future economic instability.
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
What makes our home, our home?
CONTACT THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN TEAM
ANDREA FRYE, Operations Director
MARY KRUSE, Development Associate, Individual Giving
GEORGE GOEHL, Director of People's Action
HANNAH KRAUS, Operations Manager
LUPE LOPEZ, Managing Director
MARLENE PAEZ, Events Manager & Capital Campaign Lead
For any questions about the Sweet Home Chicago Campaign, please contact Marlene Paez at [email protected] For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Mary Kruse at [email protected]
CREDIT
Pizza icon by HeadsOfBirds from the Noun Project