Mission

Greater Chatham Initiative is proud to serve as a convener, collaborator, advocate, and fundraiser for Chicago's four Southside African American neighborhoods with the purpose of continuing to make the area one of opportunity and choice. The neighborhoods are Avalon Park, Auburn Gresham, Chatham, and Greater Grand Crossing.Our purpose for this project is place-keeping by showing the history of one Greater Chatham trail blazer-Mahalia Jackson. This project would tell their stories, which are often obscured by majority culture. This tribute will serve to lift-up ordinary African Americans who achieved the extraordinary while they lived and worked in historic black neighborhoods.