Founded in 1952, NCR’s mission is to build and strengthen communities on Chicago’s North Side. We work collaboratively— internally and externally—with other partner organizations to provide the most comprehensive services and resources available to clients, along with information and education, and government-based resource referrals to help clients overcome the most pressing of challenges while helping them become self-sufficient. If NCR does not offer a particular program, clients are referred to external community partner organizations that offer those services.
NCR serves clients from several North Side neighborhoods in Chicago and the immediate surrounding suburbs, which contain some of the most underserved, diverse populations in the area, comprising over 80+ nationalities and languages, and who face numerous challenges and barriers to accessing services. Barriers include language, economics, transportation, disability, gender, and even culture.
Today, NCR’s housing, seniors, and immigrant services programming reflects a diverse client base, with needs that are equally diverse. NCR works conjointly with its subsidiary organization, the Northside Community Development Corporation, whose focus is to foster community development, and to create and preserve affordable and diverse housing opportunities in Chicago through education, training, advocacy, and development.
President
Principle, Lisy Real Estate Management
Treasurer
Certified Public Accountant, ACM Chicago
Secretary
President & CEO, RJ Reliance, Inc.
Director
Director & Deputy Head of Wealth Mgmt. Compliance, BMO Financial Group
Director
Legislative Director, IL State Representative Bob Morgan
Director
Internal Audit Director, LSC Communications, Inc.
Director
Adjunct Professor of Social Work, Loyola University, Chicago
Multicultural Resources Program Consultant
Multicultural Resources Program Director
Multicultural Resources Program Consultant
Multicultural Resources Program Coordinator
Multicultural Resources Program Coordinator
Multicultural Resources Program Coordinator
Senior Services Program Manager
Senior Services Program Coordinator
Fair Housing Testing & Outreach Coordinator
Fair Housing Intake Specialist
Fair Housing Legal Assistant
Fair Housing Program Director/Attorney
Housing Director
Housing Program Assistant
Front Office Receptionist
Development & Communications Manager
Fair Housing Legal Assistant
Executive Director
Rogers Park Community Council was founded in April 1952 when neighbors joined together to stop the private development of the lakefront area. This group of concerned citizens banded together and formed a corporation that worked with neighbors to solve community problems. RPCC’s first win was motivating the City of Chicago to purchase 13 street-end beaches to be used as public lands.
After the success of motivating government forces, RPCC directed its energies to neighborhood housing. RPCC recognized the need to monitor and advocate on behalf of safe housing and established the Housing Resource Center in 1971.
In the mid-1980s, RPCC honed in on the issue of crime, creating several programs such as the Victim Advocacy Support Program, and the Youth Intervention Program, aimed at preventing gang violence before it starts.
Northside Community Development Corporation (NCDC) was founded as the development arm of the Rogers Park Community Council. Initially, NCDC took control of a problematic building on a part of Morse Avenue that was ridden with drug use, crime, and prostitution. The end result was a much needed affordable senior apartment building and office space for the Rogers Park Community Council.
RPCC created the Multicultural Resources Program (MRP) to aid in the settlement and integration process for immigrant and refugee populations arriving in the country. At that time, “Rogers Park, Edgewater and West Ridge were recognized as three of the top community areas in Chicago that were serving as points of entry for newly arriving immigrants and refugees.” Combined, these areas represented more than eighty-two countries and more than 38 languages spoken.
RPCC changed its name and began doing business as the Northside Community Resources (NCR) in order to recognize it’s expanded geographic footprint and role as an access point to critical social service resources—both provided directly by NCR, and also through referrals to peer organizations. Today, NCR’s footprint of service includes many north side communities, including Edgewater, West Ridge, Uptown, Albany Park, North Park, Lincoln Square and the suburbs of Evanston, Skokie, and Lincolnwood.
At the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, government assistance programs were not yet fully in place. NCR acted nimbly, collaborating with the Rogers Park Builders Group, the Rogers Park Community Response Team, and Sullivan High School to raise nearly $100,000 in emergency assistance to help families in the community who were suddenly out of work with no source of income.
The most recent addition to our spate of programs is the Multicultural Resource Program, which provides our immigrant and refugee neighbors with benefits assistance; culturally sensitive advocacy, and direct referrals to educational resources. Today, our housing, seniors and immigrant services programming reflects a diverse client base, with needs that are equally diverse. As our reach now extends beyond the borders of Rogers Park, we renamed the organization Northside Community Resources in 2012. Under this new banner, we are re-committed to serving the great people of Chicago’s North Side.
