We believe people working together have a great capacity to produce positive changes in communities and the country.
Through our affiliation with United Power for Action and Justice, All Saints was invited to serve as leaven for a housing and community organizing initiative on the west side of Chicago. All Saints responded with the Greenlining Campaign.
Since then the All Saints United Power Ministry continues the persistent and patient work of transforming “the world as it is” into “the world as it should be.” We envision life in a city and a neighborhood where ALL of God’s people can thrive and work to address the systemic issues that are cause inequity and injustice.
In early 2019 All Saints joined United Power for Action and Justice, part of the Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF). In September 2019, 136 parishioners were among the 1,251 people who met with Chicago’s new Mayor to hold her accountable on policies to address gun violence, racial inequity, and economic investment on the south and west sides of Chicago. Thanks to United Power we have seen impactful progress toward these goals.
Fast forward to 2024, we have taken the critical step in building our public relationships with elected officials to show our commitment and organized power. In the fall of 2024 we met with the Alderpeople who represent us with an ambitious goal to meet with seven alderpeople in the wards where we live.
In 2024, we met with:
- 49th Maria Hadden
- 47th Matt Martin
- 48th Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth
- 33rd Rossana Rodriguez Sanchez
In 2025, we will be scheduling meetings with:
- 46th Angela Clay
- 40th Andre Vasquez
- 50th Debra Silverstein
All Saints continues to work with United Power for Action and Justice (United Power) on the Reclaim Chicago campaign. Reclaim Chicago’s goal is to build 2000 affordable starter homes in four historically disinvested south and west side neighborhoods.
In the Spring of 2024 a 12-month organizing effort by United Power members culminated with the Chicago City Council committing over 500 city-owned vacant lots to the Reclaiming Chicago effort. With this commitment, United Power member institutions will be working to build and rehab 125 homes each year, for the next four years.
As we ended 2024, United Power closed on 81 lots so that construction could begin. Over 80 homes were sold with families living in them or scheduled to be sold by the end of the year. Working together, there is no limit to what we can do.
Learn More
If you want to learn more about building power or have issues you think we should work on, contact All Saints’ parishioner-leader Barbara Manley.
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