Communities United

Communities United (CU) is a survivor-led and community-based racial justice organization that was founded in 2000 by a committed group of community residents. CU has grown to be nationally recognized for its dynamic approach to youth and intergenerational organizing that has impacted systems change at the community, city and state-levels. CU has evolved our organizing model over the years to what our members now call “Healing Through Justice.” This organizing approach builds a strong, sustainable leadership pipeline of community members of color impacted by historic and present day trauma, and structural racism to advance healing through the process of creating change. Throughout our history, CU has organized more than 20,000 individuals and families through coalition-building with over 60 other organizations to advance change. An intergenerational, grassroots, community-based organization, CU serves the neighborhoods of Albany Park, Austin, Belmont-Cragin, Roseland, and West Ridge, on the northwest, west, and south sides of Chicago. Through a transformational approach to youth and intergenerational leadership development and community-driven systems change, CU focuses on advancing health equity, affordable housing, education justice, youth investment, immigrant rights, police accountability, and shifting resources from the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems into restorative justice alternatives.