This presentation summarizes the Community Arts Program Tom Tresser organized for Peoples Housing in 1993. It went for three years and concluded when Peoples Housing shut down in December of 1995.

1. “How Do the Arts
Build Communities?”
The Community Arts Program
at Peoples Housing
tom@tresser.com
www.tresser.com
First presented in 2008, revised May 2021

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Tom’s background…
ACTOR
INTERNET MARKETER
COMMUNITY
DEVELOPER
PRODUCER
EDUCATOR
“The Artist As Activist” –
Loyola & DePaul
EXEC ED
DESIGNER/
FACILITATOR

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Tom’s Public Work
www.wearenotbroke.org
www.nogameschicago.com
www.civiclab.us
www.wesavedlincolnpark.org

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Global Cardboard Challenge
Building hydroponic growing kits!
Working @
The Lab…

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Launched in June 2017…
www.powerinstitute.us
"How Do the Arts Build Communities?"

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8. “Nonprofit Management” 8

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Community development corporation
Non-profit
Founded 1979
Mission: “To create in east Rogers Park a hospitable
community, where every person’s full potential is realized
and basic human needs are met.”
Program: “Peoples Housing carries out it mission
through a three-pronged program of resident controlled,
low-income housing, community organizing and
cultural development.”

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In April 1993 Tom went to work for Peoples
Housing as Director of Cultural Development.
The organization had recently purchased the
Howard Theatre (built in 1917).
My task: to use the arts to advance the work of
the organization – to help “develop” north east
Rogers Park – and to bring the old theater back
to life.

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Primary service area
CHICAGO BORDER
“NORTH OF
HOWARD”
COMMUNITY

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Primary service area
Total African-
American
White Latino
6,309 48.4% 23.5% 27.1%
1990 demographics of Census Tract 101 –
North of Howard neighborhood
Median household income was $18,617 (just 60% of Chicago median)

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1. Development, rehab & property
management
2. Community organizing efforts
After I got there…
3. Community Arts Program
Primary services

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1. Development, rehabbing & management of
multi-unit apartment buildings
Peoples Housing developed
and managed 21 properties,
with 600 families.
Primary services

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Peoples Housing’s
development projects
totaled over $22,000,000!
Primary services

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Located on
Howard Street,
in heart of our
neighborhood

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BUILT IN 1917 –
CLOSED SINCE 1977!

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Mass transit
elevated station
and bus terminal
Storefront businesses
Theater unsafe
and closed off
Lobby was
sound, heated,
4,000 sq. ft.
Facing Howard Street

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We took a grassroots,
creative and fun approach
to building awareness,
attracting talent and
getting stuff…

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How to get chairs to fill up
the newly opened Howard
Theater Lobby Space?
OVER 100 CHAIRS
DONATED IN ONE DAY!

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Lobby Theater
• Open Mic
• Festivals
• Special events
• Meetings
Upstairs Space
• Dances
• Rentals
• Classes

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First floor of our
HQ office bldg.
On the street
Nearby vacant lot

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No budget – no history? No problem…
• Sat in front of theater w. model
• Visited community organizations
• Signs asking for collaboration
• Built stage in lobby up against glass doors

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• April 1993 to December 1995
• Staff of 7
• Budget of $225,000
• Serving approx. 12,000 community residents/year
• Stories in local papers, radio, magazines & TV

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EXAMPLES OF
COMMUNITY ARTS PROGRAMS

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FESTIVALS

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Class leads to tile
making/installation
crew, becomes a
co-op business

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Watch video @
https://youtu.be/1dkDRLwJP2M

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Drum class students form
performance ensemble
for paying gigs

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Malik Yusef was part of the Howard
Street Community Arts Program, with 2
tracks on “The Best of Howard Street.”
Do you
watch
Def
Poetry
Jam?

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START SMALL, FIND WHAT WORKS AND BUILD…
• Started as one-time event
• Monthly, then weekly
Talent Show
Cable TV
Record album
Writing class
Newspaper
Served as “point-
of-entry” gateway

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312-804-3230
tom@tresser.com
www.tresser.com