Why Join Unity in Community Citizens Convening? We're All Paying for the High Cost of Segregation in Chicagoland

Greetings Neighbors!

As Unity in Community continues to move forward, a question that is asked is why should I be part of Unity in Community Citizens Convening (What's Unity in Community? See below for more info)? There are many reasons. Here's one of them.

According to a study released this week by the Chicago Metropolitan Planning Council, "the answer is that segregation is not only an issue in low-income communities or communities of color. Everyone pays a price, measured in lost income, lives and education."

Of the many items covered, the report notes that the Chicago region has the 5th highest combined racial and economic segregation in the United Stages.

The report goes on to say that in Chicagoland, 45% of whites, 20% of blacks and 12% of hispanics achieve a bachelor's degree. Earning a bachelor's degree is important because the lifetime earnings gap between a person with a high school diploma and a person with a four-year college degree is $1,078,446. Yes, that's one million dollars of earnings lost per person.

The MPC research found a correlation between lower levels of segregation and a higher percentage of the population holding a bachelor’s degree, for both African Americans and for whites. This means the Chicago region is losing out on some $90 billion in total lifetime earnings as a result of our education gap. This would translate into tax revenue that would benefit all of us.

You can read the full report here: http://www.metroplanning.org/c...

If you've been thinking about joining Unity in Community, maybe this begins to answer your question as to why you should do just that. If you're ready to work together with our neighbors to create a better future for all of us, join us on Thursday, April 20, 2017 from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM.

The location is to be determined (we move the meetings around the Northwest Area). Email Jac Charlier at jac.charlier@gmail.com or Adele Bach at adelebach@earthlink.net and we’ll send you more information once we have selected our next location.

More info on Unity in Community is below...

**What is Unity in Community?

Unity in Community is about being part of the solution to better neighbor relations in our Northwest Area?

**How did it start

On Monday, January 16, 2017 over 45 citizens from the Northwest Area (NW) gathered at the Wildwood Tavern in Niles to bring to life the Inaugural Northwest Area Martin Luther King Jr. “Unity in Community” Dinner held to honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Citizens from both the city and suburbs overflowed the room and said they wanted to be part of the solution to better neighbor relations. From this, the Unity in Community Citizens Convening was born.

**How can I get involved?

First, Save the Date for the 2nd Annual 2018 MLK NW “Unity in Community” Dinner on
January 15, 2018. More information to come.

Second, join us to keep going on our next Action: neighborhood mixers we’ll be starting in July 2017
When: Thursday, April 20, 2017 from 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM

**How do I get more info?

Email Jac Charlier at jac.charlier@gmail.com or Adele Bach at adelebach@earthlink.net and we’ll send you more information once we have selected our next location.