JCUA Blog - Jewish Council on Urban Affairs

Voting, Civic Engagement, and the Parsha

February 11, 2019

| By Rabbi Fred Reeves

When contemplating the portion Tetzaveh in terms of voting and elections, at first blush few portions would seem more at odds with democracy. The portion starts with instructions for lighting the Menorah regularly then proceeds to describe the various elements of clothing of the High Priest. Of course, the High Priest is the head of …

JCUA Announces its Newest CVP Loan to LUCHA for the Humboldt Park Residence

February 5, 2019

| By Hannah Wolod

Categories: CVP

JCUA is pleased to announce its new Community Ventures Program (CVP) loan to Latin United Community Housing Association (LUCHA). LUCHA received a $100,000 loan to cover a portion of the predevelopment costs for the rehabilitation of Humboldt Park Residence (HPR), an existing 68-unit single-room occupancy (SRO) development on Chicago’s West Side. JCUA has a longstanding …

#ErasetheDatbase Campaign Update

February 1, 2019

| By Anna Rubin

Categories: #ErasetheDatabase, Immigrant Rights, Immigration Reform

Hello! I wanted to update you on our organizing work with the campaign to #EraseTheDatabase. As a reminder, we are working with the Campaign to Expand Sanctuary, as part of the Immigration Policy Working Group, to eliminate the use of the Chicago Gang Database. The Gang Database is a tracking and targeting tool for people of …

Civic Engagement: It Is About Power.

February 1, 2019

| By Marla Bramble

Categories: Civic Engagement

As the municipal elections approach, JCUA has been taking action to make sure civic engagement is a priority for Chicago’s Jewish community. We keep saying, because it bears repeating, If we want a city council and mayor that will support our campaigns for a more equitable Chicago, we need to work to elect representatives who …

Police Accountability Campaign Updates

January 18, 2019

| By Avra Shapiro

Categories: Police Accountability

Hello! I wanted to check in and update you on our organizing work with the Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability (GAPA). As a reminder, we are working with GAPA to pass an ordinance through City Hall that would create a Community Oversight Commission for the Chicago Police Department. Our goal is to make our neighborhoods safer, …