Vanishing Black infrastructure
Carlos Nelson, executive director of the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corporation on the city’s Southwest Side said disinvestment in Black community infrastructure over the past 50 years has led to current conditions young men are facing. He calls it an “almost strategic” disinvestment. His group partners with local public and private partners in development projects to improve and invest in the neighborhood.
“When we were younger, there were a lot more service oriented employment opportunities for young adults,” he said. But today, huge losses in commercial and business districts happened when major retailers moved out. Private sector businesses turned their back on Chicago’s Black communities.
There is also competition from the older work force who need jobs young people typically could get he told The Final Call.