CHICAGO, IL – Cultivate Collective is proud to announce the completion of the first phase of their new community hub on the southwest side of Chicago. Elected officials, community leaders, and project partners will join together to celebrate the $53 million first phase of construction at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 10th. Cultivate Collective will house the Academy for Global Citizenship’s existing K-8 public school, an early childhood Head Start center, community health care center, three-acre urban farm, neighborhood marketplace, six teaching kitchens, and a range of community wellness programs and amenities.
“This celebration is the result of nearly two decades of collaboration and dedication among thousands of individuals who have dreamed of a more sustainable and equitable future for all,” said Sarah Elizabeth Ippel, CEO of Cultivate Collective and Founder of the Academy for Global Citizenship. “We’re so thrilled to see our collective vision for cultivating a resilient, just and thriving community come to life.”
Cultivate Collective is a national model for holistic community revitalization that unites education, wellness, sustainability and economic vitality to enable greater racial equity, improved health outcomes, and upward mobility. Located on the site of a former Chicago Housing Authority community (LeClaire Courts) that was disbanded in 2011, this hub is directly adjacent to a proposed mixed-income housing and retail development that will contain 700 units of housing, the majority of which is allocated for low-income and affordable housing eligible residents.
“My family has lived in the LeClaire Courts neighborhood for five generations, and we often discuss how we have to drive 15 minutes to access basic necessities due to the lack of resources and disinvestment in our area. The Cultivate Collective development will provide a gathering point for our residents and bring essential services and amenities,” said Niquenya Collins, President of Cultivate Collective.
Additionally, Cultivate will meet the world’s most ambitious standards for sustainability through the Living Building Challenge, which most notably refers to net-positive energy and water to ensure climate resiliency. Cultivate’s community wellness hub seeks to provide an evidenced-based and integrative model for addressing systemic inequality by providing health care, fresh food access, community gardens, nature-based playscapes, neighborhood walking trails, vital services, whole child education, and wellness programming, particularly for those who have been historically marginalized and underserved. Adjacent to our 71,000 square foot facility are ample outdoor community spaces, community gardens, and walking trails for convening and programming.
“Turning long-vacant spaces into thriving community hubs is one of the cornerstones of our Rebuild Illinois infrastructure plan, and I’m pleased to see the Academy for Global Citizenship mark another milestone in its journey to advance educational, environmental, economic and health justice for Illinois residents. The Academy is already proving itself a leader in ensuring the green economy is accessible for all communities, and I’m grateful for the organization’s partnership in bringing new jobs and opportunities to Chicago’s Southwest Side,” said Governor JB Pritzker in a 2022 groundbreaking press release.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to bring this innovative project to the southwest side of Chicago. Not only does it directly address community needs by expanding learning opportunities, increasing healthy food access, and adding public green spaces; it will also be a meaningful driver of economic growth through job creation and serving as a training hub,” said Alderperson Michael D. Rodriguez, 22nd Ward.
Cultivate Collective is also launching their second phase which will place a strong emphasis on economic development and community wealth generation focused on equitable inclusion in the growth of the clean economy, and will also include an environmental learning lab and teacher training institute. Over three acres of the six-acre site will be dedicated to nature, food production, regenerative agriculture orchards, and beautification. The Cultivate Hub is projected to welcome over 10,000 visitors on an annual basis to learn from its community revitalization framework, innovative educational methods, and unparalleled sustainability features.
All community members are welcome to join an upcoming open house on Wednesday, October 18 from 5 pm – 8 pm at 4942 W 44th Street, Chicago, IL 60638.
About Cultivate Collective
Cultivate Collective is community-based non-profit that has worked hand-in-hand with an array of collaborators and local partners to develop a vision for revitalizing six currently vacant acres within a larger 40-acre Chicago Housing Authority project site into a thriving community wellness, learning and sustainability hub. Cultivate’s mission is to unite education, wellness, sustainability and economic vitality at the community level to drive meaningful, generational impact. Learn more about Cultivate Collective at https://www.cultivate-collective.org/.
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