Project H.O.O.D. Hosts First of Three Community Meetings: Making Our Community Better Together
(l-r) Mrs. Eliza Sanders celebrated her 88th birthday on the same day as our first meeting! She’s with Arenda Troutman, our Director of Government and Community Affairs. Arenda went to party with Mrs. Sanders after the meeting. Happy 88th Birthday, Eliza Sanders!
On Saturday, September 18, 2021, Project H.O.O.D. held the first of three monthly community meetings: Making Our Community Better Together. Former 20th Ward Alderman Arenda Troutman, who now serves as Project H.O.O.D.’s Director of Government and Community Affairs, hosted the meeting.
Making Our Community Better Together community meetings are for Project H.O.O.D. to expand its outreach and service by understanding the residents’ current wants and needs, the issues they are facing, and how Project H.O.O.D. can help.
The community residents relayed concerns that were related to community safety and stability; jobs and business opportunities, crime, mentoring programs for children, help for seniors, and home purchases. One attendee, Elizabeth Harris, said Project H.O.O.D. can help by “creating resources in the community for all by age groups, by needs, and creating more family community events.”
Well, it just so happens, Project H.O.O.D. is working on just that!
This year, Project H.O.O.D. is celebrating our tenth anniversary and Pastor Corey B. Brooks gave an exciting presentation. Pastor Brook’s exhibit included Project H.O.O.D.’s past, present, and future, which includes a state-of-the-art community center.
In attendance were area pastors, real estate agents, hotel owners, and other business people. Also in attendance were Congressman Bobby Rush’s representative Mary Datcher, Ta’rhonda Jones from the Black Village Foundation, and Iris Heard, Project Coordinator for the City of Chicago.
Former Alderman Arenda Troutman said, “It has been great seeing the warm and welcoming members of our community. We are all wanting the same thing; a great Woodlawn and a great city for all. I look forward to working with them a lot more.”