The Neighborhood Connection Project: Then (March 2010) and Now (July 2015)

Greetings Neighbors!

I am pleased to announce that the Neighborhood Connection Project (NCP) has begun for Summer 2015. Beautification work will continue through mid-August at which time NCP will finally be compete. Once done, NCP will be the largest outdoor public art bricolage mural on Chicago’s NW side.

To recognize the tremendous progress that has gone into this citizen-led initiative to build community, I’ve attached then (March 2010) and now (July 2015) photos. They are the same shots with my son, Jean-Luc, taking center stage in the photos. He came with me on that day 5 1/2 years ago and it was he who suggested to do something more with the underpass than just repair it “How about decorating it or something Dad?” he said to me...and so NCP was born!

All citizens, suburban and city, are welcome to be part of NCP by donating their time, talent and treasure. Contact Jac Charlier at jac.charlier@gmail.com or Gina Metelica at gina.metelica@gmail.com on how you can make a donation or get involved. NCP will recognize each and every citizen of any age who is part of NCP in anyway.

***Want to know more about NCP? Scroll down and keep reading***

Started in Spring of 2010, the Neighborhood Connection Project (NCP) is a citizen-led initiative to build community by repairing and beautifying the Metra railroad underpass located at Kinzua, Hiawatha and Lehigh. Upon completion, NCP will be the largest outdoor public art bricolage mural on Chicago’s Northwest side. Thanks to funds raised and the tremendous financial support of After School Matters (ASM), NCP will again employ 30 local teen apprentices for the project.

After securing the input and support of a diverse (and still growing!) cross section of the citizens, civics, businesses, the 41st Ward Aldermanic Office and other community organizations, we were joined by our ongoing partners, Green Star Movement (GSM) and ASM. GSM worked with ASM’s teen apprentices, our local artists and community volunteers to produce the mural on the East side of the underpass, which was completed as part of Phase I in Summer 2013. Phase II was completed in August 2014 when the West wall work was finished.

During summer 2015 we will finish the project by joining the two bricolage murals together in the center. The joining of the East and West sides of the mosaic will be done in the same way our American railroads were completed...by meeting in the middle with a golden stake. In the case of NCP, we will use golden tiles.

The themes of the mural were decided by the community and the actual art reflects both our neighborhood’s history, as well as the greenery and vegetation of the area. Special homage is paid to our Native American predecessors and the famous Hiawatha train that ran on these very tracks.

So far, the NCP community includes:

* 300+ citizens
* 60 teen apprentices
* 23 businesses
* 7 artists
* 4 local civics
* 2 government agencies
* 1 Alderwoman
* 1 Chamber of Commerce
* 1 Public Library
* 1 Railroad Historical Society
* Green Star Movement
* After School Matters

For more information about the Neighborhood Connection Project, contact Jac Charlier at jac.charlier@gmail.com or Gina Metelica at gina.metelica@gmail.com. You can also check us out on Facebook and stay tuned to Nextdoor.com and EveryBlock.