1/14/26 - Outreach Planning Meeting

Location:

22nd Ward Office

Description:

On January 14, 2026, NeighborSpace and Human Scale hosted a stakeholder outreach planning meeting at Alderperson Rodriguez's 22nd Ward office. The meeting brought together 22 participants including residents, local nonprofits and government offices. Participants were invited to explore ways to reach out to the neighbors and get them involved in the project site.

Goals:

• Look at precedents to generate ideas for the space

Presentation:

Takeaways:

• Group 1

  • Use partnerships with local schools since they provide core educational, health, financial, and public‑service resources to Little Village residents 

  • Participants envisioned on‑site workshops such as: carpentry, financial literacy, and other skill building programs to support youth and community learning 

  • Residents expressed a strong desire for programming that serves all ages and accommodates people of all abilities 

• Group 2

  • Highlight the cultures and heritage of Little Village across time

  • Use the site as a welcoming point due to it being an access point to Little Village 

  • The site needs to be cared for and maintained long term 

• Group 3

  • Create a neighborhood destination that hosts musical events, carnivals, and markets 

  • Create a large welcoming sign facing 26th Street 

  • There is excitement about the development of this space but residents are also concerned about the effort needed to activate it 

“Little Village is an attraction”