A place for neighbors to share their ideas so we can work together to make them a reality.
SWAN is a neighbor-led organization on the SW Side of Chicago focused on building community by providing economic opportunity, improving health, bettering education, encouraging civic engagement, and celebrating our SW Side culture.
Builds community identity and pride by celebrating the diverse cultures, histories, and traditions of Southwest Side residents through events, art, and shared experiences.
Vanessa R.
Daniel R.Promotes the physical, mental, and social well-being of residents by connecting people to resources, services, and activities that support healthy lives.
Equips residents with the knowledge, tools, and opportunities to engage in civic life — from voting and elections to understanding their rights and local governance.
Leonardo R.Supports the financial stability and growth of residents and businesses by connecting people to employment resources, local commerce, and economic development.
Cynthia G.Strengthens the community's future by supporting access to learning opportunities, academic resources, and educational programming for residents of all ages.
Andy G.We help our communities by being a consistent presence, being accessible to all community members, and responding to needs specific to each community.
Southwest Side, Chicago · Pulaski Orange Line Station
Every SWAN project starts the same way: a member brings an idea, a committee forms, and the work begins.
See Upcoming Events
SWAN General Meeting
Join Us
SWAN exists because the people who live here understand this neighborhood better than anyone else.
SWAN's mission is to improve the quality of life in our community by addressing the needs of residents of the Southwest Side and working together to create meaningful, lasting change.
We focus on nine neighborhoods so we can build real trust, coordinate with local partners, and grow leadership from within the community — rather than applying one-size-fits-all solutions from the outside.
Attend at least 2 in-person activities a month. Stay informed, share feedback, and get to know how SWAN works.
Attend at least 4 activities a month. Vote on project proposals, start a Project Committee, or serve as a Project Lead.
3 steering meetings plus 3 more activities a month. Shape structure and strategy, and become eligible to chair a Pillar.
Want to learn more? Email us at [email protected], or ask a Steering Member at any meeting or event.
What SWAN members are actively working on, organized by pillar.
A weekly walk at Marquette Park, Sundays at 9 AM. Welcome to all community members — meet at the field house.
A welcoming space for Spanish speakers at all levels. Meets Sundays at 11 AM at Marquette Park, behind the field house — short readings provided the day of, read aloud together.
A bike safety event held at the end of every month. We give away bike equipment, share bike safety information, and bring in a CTA bus to demonstrate bike racking.
A series of community meetings to educate residents and encourage engagement around the closing of Ford City Mall — what it should be replaced with, preventing it from becoming a warehouse, and working together to make our vision a reality.
Held once every three months, inviting the local community for an open, inclusive conversation about what they think of the community and what can be done to improve it.
Held monthly, connecting community members to other local organizations — SWAN invites partner orgs to the event to make those connections directly.
Every ongoing project can always use more hands. Reach out and we'll point you to the right committee.
Get Involved
Every SWAN project starts with a member raising their hand at a meeting. Here's how it actually happens — and where we need help right now.
Any Active Member can propose a project — a one-time event, a recurring activity, or an ongoing initiative — with a short summary of what it is and why it matters.
A Project Committee of 2–6 people forms to plan and run it, including at least one Active Member as the point of contact.
The committee lays out a timeline and a feasibility outline — outreach, logistics, materials — then gets to work.
Every project and every committee on this page started with one person willing to take it on. That could be you.
Bring It to a Meeting
We welcome all Southwest Side residents to our general meetings! First, fill out our contact form and we'll reach out.
Coverage of SWAN's work from local outlets, partners, and community media.
Covers SWAN's community meeting at the West Lawn Library, where residents were canvassed for ideas on what should replace Ford City Mall — from green space to a WWII aircraft museum — and shared concerns about a proposed warehouse development on the site.
Reports on a community meeting hosted by two Southwest Side groups, including SWAN, to gather resident feedback as the mall's closure nears and organizers push back on a proposed industrial campus for the site.
Reach out and we'll get you in touch with the right person at SWAN.
Contact Us
Whether you want to join, volunteer, or just ask a question — this is the place.
Email: [email protected]
Area served: Garfield Ridge, Clearing, West Lawn, Ashburn, Scottsdale, West Elsdon, Archer Heights, Chicago Lawn & Gage Park