40 Things DePaulians Want For Their Chicago Community In 40 Years

On February 19, NHS Chicago partnered with DePaul's African Student Association and the DePaul Community Service Association to put on an event appropriately titled House Party! to celebrate our 40th anniversary. We invited members of the DePaul community to learn a little bit about their own neighborhoods, find out what NHS Chicago is all about, and tell us what they want for their Chicago community or what they want it to be in the next 40 years. Some of the answers were pretty inspiring:

1. "More urban farms."

2. "Cancer-free."

3. "More students enrolled in college."

4. Less black violence."

5. "A more musical and technologically advanced society."

6. "Not in debt."

7. "Less littering & no bullying."

8. "More jobs & lower income housing."

9. "More opportunities for [the] less fortunate."

10. "Equity."

11. "Less stratified in terms of income, housing, and access to quality food."

12 and 13. "Mutual respect between residents" and "improved education".

14. "A safe environment for teens to access resources."

15. "Lower Taxation, more multicultural, better governance, and the end of the democratic machine."

16. "A center of culture and music."

17. "Peace and freedom."

18. "Integrated social communities."

19. "Comprehensive health ed in ALL CPS schools."

20. "More record shops."

21. "Student debt a part of history."

22. "Budgeting more $money$ for CPS."

23. "Less violence."

24. More "accepting."

25. "More local businesses."

26. For "all CPS schools [to] have a library!"

27. Some people are looking forward to a greener Chicago.

28. Or "better schools"...

29. ...specifically on the South and West side...

"Better school systems on the South & West side."

30. ...and less food deserts.

"Better schools, super neighborhoods, less food deserts."

31. "Teen dating violence & domestic violence prevention programs in every CPS school"...and something else.

32. Some are hoping for a world where the Brown Line is a little faster.

"Faster Brown Line."

33. More parks.

"I hope Chicago has more parks throughout the city."

34. "More community events (/love)."

35, 36, & 37. "No gangs", "less violence", and "more dog parks".

38 & 39. "Less poverty", "less crime, more love".

40. Lastly, but definitely not least (especially as we celebrate the last week of Black History Month) "less segregation".

Check out this video from the event...stick around 'til the end to see an awesome candy-pong shot!

youtube.com