caffeine, please.

Albany Park

I love the Albany Park neighborhood.  I first started driving up through Albany Park in 1996 when I picked up one of the young men I was working with through Inner City Impact.  My favorite Chicago restaurant is in Albany Park (no its not Arun's).  And since September my kids have been going to Neptune swim class at NEIU so I've been driving through the neighborhood every week.

Last night the entire family was along for the swim class drive and we were stopped at Kimball and Lawrence.  As we sat at the red light, about 12 people crossed the road.  Asian, Latino, African-American, Caucasian and Mediterranean heritage was reflected in those 12 people. 

I commented on it to Gil--it just was so striking.  And in my heart was a stir that this community needs life-giving communities of faith interacting with its incredible diversity.  I'm praying and asking God for an increase in the burden if this is from Him. 

Check out this amazing photo collage of Albany Park Signs:

Hope Meadows

I had a great conversation today with John K., a man who is moving to Philly to work with foster kids as a counselor and therapist.  John told me about a great program for foster and abused children called Hope Meadows.  The concept is creating a village where at-risk children can be raised with surrogate grandparents, a sense of community and family stability, all of which are very elusive to children in foster care.

Hope Meadows is located in former military officer housing that was purchased for next to nothing and left plenty of room for growth.  John reports that they've now replicated this work across the country in over 10 places.

I was intrigued and moved by the concept.  It was founded by non-Christian sociologists but many of the families who move there are Christian and it is that aspect that the founders point to as their key element of success.

Here's what struck me--why couldn't this concept be employed to revitalize a place like Lathrop Homes?  What if Lathrop Homes were a Hope Meadows village where foster families, surrogate grandparents and single people live together in an environment that brings urban stability to children at risk?  Wouldn't that be better than tearing down Lathrop homes and making more condos? 

I'm intrigued by the idea but also considering that it is a longshot at best.  The city wants big money for that property.  Something to pray for--who knows what God could do through a thing like this.