Evolution of TARGET Area

Assessing past successes and challenges; rethinking organizational structure, resource management, and board development

Theory of change - Many community problems are fortified and proliferated by unconstructive state, federal, and local policy. In addition, these problems are reinforced through a continuous system of structural racism and the invisible hand of the media.

It is currently our belief that long-term sustainable solutions must be led by a broad-based grassroots collaboration that reaches across the lines of ethnicity, religions, class, income, and social status.

Course of Action - Relationship building across ethnic lines; creating a broad-based policy agenda; exploring race and class based problem solving; incorporating citywide and statewide grassroots organizing;

Tools to be Employed

• Community & academic research (e.g. door-to-door surveys; commissioned research)
• Creating and joining collaborations and partnerships (focusing on ethnicity, class, and race)
• Alliances with public officials (based on shared agenda)
• Strategic media (Influencing public opinion)

Looking back in order to move forward with more knowledge and experience

Theory of change - Residents can solve stubborn problems but they need to be empowered with knowledge and trained how to lead the process of identifying, researching, and resolving problems that negatively affect the community.

Course of Action - Researching issues that impact the larger African American community understanding the complexities and interconnectedness of issues such as unemployment, low academic achievement, violence, crime, substance use, drug trafficking, recidivism, gang activity, poverty, homelessness, and blight. Working to define the root cause of these stubborn problems and seeking solutions through advocacy for policy changes, open dialogues with public officials, and program development.

Tools Employed

• Leadership development among African Americans (Professional organizing training)
• Commissioned academic and applied research reports on issues that largely affect Blacks.
• Grassroots and direct lobbying and advocacy around African American issues of concern

The birth of TARGET Area Development Corporation

Theory of change – The best solutions to stubborn community problems are created within the neighborhoods experiencing the problems. People need to be taught how to gather available resources for community development projects (safety, economic, education). Mostly everything that is needed is in the community or available to the community.

Course of Action - Researching conditions in the community; working to define stubborn problems; and finding neighborhood-level solutions.

Tools Employed

• Community research (e.g. door-to-door surveys)
• Organizing people (meeting, discussing, planning)
• Develop demonstration projects (SSPRAY, CISAP, 78th St. Gang & Drug Initiative)