A Note from TRC: MLK Day 2025
Dear Friends,
January 20, 1986 marked the first national observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The Historic Former Wabash YMCA and its adjoining apartments, now 73 years old, would not re-open its doors to people in need of a new home and a fresh start for another 14 years.
Largely confined to what is known as Chicago’s “Black Belt”, the majority of Black and African-American men and women coming to Chicago from the turn of the century to the late 1940s lived and worked in a community that includes The Renaissance Collaborative’s home, Bronzeville. Post-WWII relocation and systemic discriminatory housing practices stalled the free movement and economic progress of American families with repercussions still seen in Bronzeville and across Chicago’s neighborhoods today.
In Dr. King’s lifetime, our country underwent marked transformation, with many milestones – the first national color TV broadcast aired in 1954, paving the way for the American public to see the far-reaching impact of the Supreme Court’s ruling in Brown v. Board of Education that same year; the Civil Rights Act was signed into law in 1957, clearing a path for the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965; the Chicago Freedom Movement, led by Dr. King and other civil rights leaders in our community, is credited for its importance in the 1968 enactment of the Fair Housing Act.
Now 39 years since our first national celebration of the work of Dr. King and his contemporaries, we keep our eyes on the prize, commemorating the dedication of those who came before us.
The Renaissance Collaborative strives to build on the past by continuing to steward Bronzeville’s place in history as an epicenter of cultural and economic progress for African-Americans in Chicago. Growing from the Wabash Y’s legacy as a neighborhood hub and resource for those seeking a better life, TRC continues today to provide affordable, supportive housing and a network of programs and resources, always willing to evolve and expand our work to meet the changing needs of those in our community.
As you walk into the lobby of the Wabash Y, a banner hangs that reads, “Remember the past, restore the promise.” Together we continue to work to build a world where the promise of equal opportunity means all people feel safe in a home and have access to the tools they need to achieve their goals, with hope for a better future.
We thank you for your partnership.
The Renaissance Collaborative Team
