by Alex Morales
Published: February 10, 2010
On Tuesday, February 10, The Resurrection Project and Pilsen Planning Committee were awarded The Chicago Community Trust Outstanding Community Strategy of the Year award at LISC/Chicago’s 16th Annual Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards (CNDA) ceremony.  The CNDA praises innovative community development and planning designed to improve the quality of life of our communities in an event held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago; hundreds of professionals from the private and public sectors, community developers and public officials braved the snowstorm to be in attendance.
The Chicago Community Trust Outstanding Community Strategy of the Year award recognizes community strategies that understand the importance of comprehensive development and the much needed improvement to our neighborhoods.  The Pilsen Quality-of-Life-plan exemplifies these strategies and showcases how the coordination of local non-profits, schools, churches and local public officials can lead to comprehensive community development.  Created in 2006, the plan led to the creation of the Pilsen Planning Committee, a coalition of around 2 dozen non-for-profit organizations actively collaborating to promote education, affordable housing, safety, health care and balance economic development with TRP as the lead agency overseeing implementation of its unique programs and initiatives.
Father Charles Dahm from St. Pius V Parish (Chair of TRP’s Board of Directors), Elvia Rodriguez from ProsArts Studios,  and Teresa Fraga from Alivio Medical Center and Pilsen Neighbors Community Council joined TRP’s Chief Executive Officer Raul Raymundo as he accepted the award, stating “I am proud to accept this award recognizing the comprehensive community planning process we embarked on in the neighborhood, which has led to substantial success in the neighborhood, including bricks and mortar projects as well as human capital development.”
During the panel discussion Raymundo took the opportunity to advocate for comprehensive reform and how it could help us straighten our economy. “We need to unleash some of the talent that is out there, but so many people are unable because of their immigration status,” he said. “In Illinois in 2008, the Hispanic population generated $40 billion; $370 million of that was in Chicago. This is important information to understand how to build a strong economy.”