In the good old days, “projects” and “poverty” didn’t mean the same thing.
Not so long ago, the ricochet of gunfire didn’t rip through the hallways of the Chicago Housing Authority. Indeed, to say that you were from Cabrini-Green or Altgeld Gardens or Henry Horner was a point of pride.
There were role models. Intact families. Folks who were making it.
But most of all, there was hope.
Today, hope is in short supply in the CHA. But there are those who remember fondly when things were better. And so, on Tuesday, at the Skyline Stage at Navy Pier, the alumni of CHA gathered to celebrate their successes–and spread a little scholarship money around–to make sure the next generations understand that “You Can Make It” too.
Gospel singer Kim Stratton, a CHA alumna of LeClaire Courts, made a cameo performance, belting her hit “You Can Make It” over a taped tract.
Chicago’s popular Black Ensemble Theatre–directed by Cabrini-Green graduate Jackie Taylor–performed excerpts from its musical “Doo Wop Shoo Bop.”
The upbeat atmosphere prevailed, despite the news earlier in the day that Artensa Randolph, president of the CHA’s central advisory council and a longtime CHA resident, had died.
Dozens of alumni, CHA workers and current residents crowded the stage, beaming and clapping their hands, as they honored college-bound students Constance Johnson, Joann Lawson, Siobhan Penter, Aishia Strickland and Anthony Youngblood with $1,000 scholarships.
No matter that some of the CHA’s more illustrious alumni weren’t there–Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Curtis Mayfield and superstar singer R. Kelly, for example.
“The best memories of my childhood came from CHA. For real,” said Theresa Kinkle, project coordinator for the CHA’s Safe Summer program, who lived for five years as a child at Prairie Courts. “This gives the CHA a different image.”
Backstage, members of the Black Ensemble Theatre stretched their vocal cords, their voices blending, twisting, turning and swelling, working their warmup as WVEE radio personality Herb Kent, the evening’s emcee and an Ida B. Wells alumnus, sat in his dressing room, talking of days gone by.
“Life was wonderful back then,” Kent said. “Homes were neat. There were gardens. People had Cadillacs. There was history and tradition.”
Today, he said, shaking his head, “It was heartbreaking when I went back to my old apartment. It didn’t look like it did when I lived there.”
