Cook County Land Bank Authority

03/22/2023

Nicole Davis, owner of PJDI Property Management, manages the upkeep of vacant lots for CCLBA. This partnership helped her build her business portfolio and hire more people from the community. She says while the landscaping industry tends to be male-dominated, more women are entering the field and shattering stereotypes.

03/20/2023

Cassandra Sneed was inspired to go into real estate after experiencing challenges with property. She wanted to gain knowledge to ensure the same thing didn’t happen to her clients. Now, that knowledge-sharing includes informing aspiring developers and nonprofits about the benefits of working with CCLBA. makes her reflect on those who came before. “My mother's and grandmother's perseverance is the reason why I understand the importance of Women's History Month and what we bring to the table. We are assets to any industry we enter and society will benefit much greater once this is better understood and embraced.”

03/17/2023

Asiaha Butler thought something needed to be done about the perceptions of her neighborhood, Englewood, so she founded the Resident Association of Greater Englewood (RAGE). In addition to offering educational and developmental programming for residents, RAGE also partnered with CCLBA to give away land to neighborhood residents and build community wealth. According to Asiaha, she is standing on the shoulders of strong women in her family who also are committed to social justice. “I could not be in this space I am in without having dynamic women pave the way, and for that I am forever grateful for past, present and future movements led by women.”

03/16/2023

Artist Tonika Johnson says continues to be important as it highlights people who have historically been ignored. Her artwork explores the segregation she experienced growing up in Englewood and the disinvestment she sees in predominantly Black Chicago neighborhoods. Alongside CCLBA, she charted out data sets that show the correlation between discriminatory land sale practices in the ‘50s and ‘60s and areas with vacant land today. “Being a woman has heightened my awareness and understanding of how historic systemic segregation and racism impact people.”

03/15/2023

EJ Williams fell in love with flipping houses with her husband, but her entrepreneurial spirit led her much further in the industry. She also runs a brokerage firm, an interior design company, a construction company and a platform called Building Her Legacy where she mentors other women in the real estate space. In fact, Ultimate Homes Chicago, which EJ Williams owns with her husband, was the first small development company to partner with CCLBA back in 2013. They helped us prove our model that community developers could solve issues of vacant land and blighted property in their communities. EJ says she not only wants to break glass ceilings herself, but reach behind and bring other women forward with her.

03/13/2023

Freda Madison says she appreciates because she feels valued and learns something new every year, as well as grows her business. Freda and her husband started giving back to the community through rehabbing buildings in 1985. She says CCLBA makes it easy for women developers to get started because of the resources and networking we offer. “As a female, it’s great to learn and feel good about being a part of an industry that was once dominated by men.”

03/09/2023

Saadia Shah appreciates because it’s a reminder to connect with the fundamentals of womanhood: “support, respect, love and, above all, strength.” She shows these qualities every day through her work revitalizing communities with Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), a nonprofit that is using land received from CCLBA to bring its holistic wellness model for Chicago neighborhoods to life.

03/08/2023

Photos from Toni Preckwinkle's post

03/07/2023

Kathy O’Brien’s extensive experience in architecture and construction includes acquiring blighted properties from CCLBA so she can rehab them and help maintain the fabric of Chicago’s neighborhoods. Her 30-plus-year career includes many times when she was the first woman in an architectural office or construction site. “I learned very early on that for every person you encounter who will stand in your way, you will find one willing to help you.”

03/06/2023

Tiffany Smith views as a time to honor how women get important work for their communities done. Before joining Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, Tiffany Smith worked a corporate job where she was often the only woman and person of color at the table. She’s delighted that isn’t the case in her nonprofit work to revitalize homeownership in communities. She advises women entering the workforce to believe they have the right to be at the table, and to not always put others' needs first.

03/03/2023

We’re still feeling inspired by our deed distribution event in partnership with R.A.G.E - Resident Association of Greater Englewood, where local residents received deeds to vacant lots to help bring them back to life. We can’t wait to see what community assets the recipients create on their land!

03/03/2023

Sharnell Curtis-Martin, Associate Managing Director at CIBC US, believes in providing entrepreneurs opportunities to grow their businesses while investing in their communities. As a woman in finance, she says mentors have been essential to her career growth. “It’s much easier now than it once was,” she says. “With more women in authority now, doors are open wider for the next generation.”

03/01/2023

We are constantly inspired by the strong women who came before us and those who continue to make a difference in our world. This , we’ll be highlighting some women role models in our county who work with CCLBA.

02/27/2023

For CCLBA partner Ananias Granger Jr., is about celebrating Black perseverance through trials and tribulations. He credits the sacrifices of his predecessors for the success of his business. Granger built his company, A&D Property Services, out of his car and now services, maintains and inspects properties and lots across Chicagoland, including for CCLBA.

02/24/2023

Delilah Morgan, who provides landscaping services to CCLBA properties, brings pride in her Black heritage to everything she does. She named her company, Phoenix Solutions Management Group, after her father, who instilled her with her work ethic and her sense of pride as a person of color. She thinks of as a time “to reassess my personal contributions to our culture and society as a whole, to ask myself, ‘What more can I do?’ and commit to making the world a better place.”

02/23/2023

We’re thrilled to partner with community organizations like R.A.G.E - Resident Association of Greater Englewood and local residents to give new life to vacant lots in Englewood. Watch the full WGN TV coverage here: http://bit.ly/3xHYglj

02/23/2023

Broker Todd Stephenson wants to make sure that for , people see all the positive growth in Black communities in Chicago, like in his native South Shore. He works with Premier Chicago Real Estate to value properties that CCLBA acquires and believes in our work to help revitalize neighborhoods through working with community developers.

02/22/2023

Our new executive director, Jessica Caffrey, hit the ground running with a tour of properties developed through the Cook County Land Bank. She was inspired to see how these community developers are investing in the neighborhoods by turning vacant lots into new and revitalizing blighted properties to build .

02/22/2023

It’s a family affair for CCLBA partner Joseph Dochee—the biggest African American builder of single family homes in Chicago. He learned how to develop properties through his parents and now takes his children to see the before/after of his projects. One son is even studying real estate development! Dochee also talks about his heritage with his children, and sees as a way to make sure the next generation doesn’t forget their forefathers.

02/20/2023

For our partner Leodus Thomas Jr., is a time to acknowledge African American contributions that often go unnoticed. Leodus himself is making a big difference in Chicago. An Austin resident, Leodus strives to develop the “best apartment buildings in the neighborhood” on land he purchased from the CCLBA.

02/17/2023

CCLBA Executive Director Jessica Caffrey says joining the team gives her an opportunity to help create community wealth in Cook County — particularly given the area's history of housing inequity. " reminds me to continue the unfinished work of the Civil Rights Movement. As Langston Hughes said, 'Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair,' but when I look at those brave Black women, entrepreneurs, businessmen and women who came before me, I am inspired.”

02/16/2023

Kashonda Milliner and her husband use real estate development to make a positive difference on Chicago’s West Side. As one of the small developers that works with to revitalize neighborhoods, Kashonda believes “that real estate can be a key to break the chain of poverty and help bridge the gap of generational wealth.” She says is about recognizing the sacrifices of her ancestors that have allowed her to fulfill her dreams.

02/15/2023

We’re always thrilled to see partners like L3C in the news for their efforts to revitalize Chicago communities. Learn about how this local developer is building community wealth in West Humboldt Park.

https://bit.ly/3JZuQq7

02/14/2023

CCLBA partners Kesha Forrest and Khalilah Johnson, who run real estate development company Citi Holdings, see as a time to honor Black homeownership: “It was hard for Black people to buy and own a home as little as 50 years ago, and now for two sisters to sell houses, especially in our own community, is a testament to how resilient we are as a people.”

02/13/2023

For Comella Sledge, who works with CCLBA in demolition and preservation of our properties, is important to fight historical erasure. “While it is IMPOSSIBLE to sum up the struggles and triumphs of my culture in one month, Black History Month does provide the world with an intentional highlight and glimpse into ‘our world’ and the many nuances that go along with being Black in America. We are what makes America cool. We are who many cultures around the world imitate. This will always be a fact in February and beyond.”

02/09/2023

For Real Estate Developer Prentiss Allison, represents the start of Black History Year. “It reminds us each year to remember who we are and whose we are and that nothing and no one can stop us.” Prentiss is one of the many developers CCLBA works with to redevelop blighted and vacant properties and land. He says he’s most proud of his work beautifying the West Side of Chicago.

02/09/2023

Craig Morton takes pride in revitalizing neighborhoods in the South Side of Chicago, where he grew up. As the principal of Morton Construction & Development, Corp and Quality Construction & Development, Craig is a contemporary changemaker through his partnership with the CCLBA to rehab distressed and abandoned homes in these primarily Black communities.

01/20/2023

01/20/2023

01/18/2023

We're hiring! If you're passionate about empowering community development within Cook County, join our dedicated CCLBA team as an Asset Manager.

https://bit.ly/3ZMLChy

01/01/2023

Happy New Year from the CCLBA! Wishing you and your families a healthy and prosperous 2023 full of new possibilities.

01/01/2023

For each day of Kwanzaa, is honoring our partners who make a meaningful impact in Cook County.

Today we honor the work of community partners like IFF who work with the CCLBA to build affordable housing for residents across the Chicago area. Every day, our community partners have faith in their mission, knowing that the work they do is for the greater good.

12/31/2022

For each day of Kwanzaa, is honoring our partners who make a meaningful impact in Cook County.

Today we honor the incredible creativity of our community developers. They look at vacant, run-down houses and see promise and potential. Their vast creativity turns neglected properties into homes where family and love can flourish for generations to come. Thank you to our creative, visionary developers!

12/30/2022

For each day of Kwanzaa, is honoring our partners who make a meaningful impact in Cook County.

Developer Candice Payne embodies the principle of Nia. She gained recognition for renting hotel rooms for homeless Chicagoans in extreme winter weather and has since started Action for a Cause, an initiative to provide housing for the homeless. We’re proud to work with Candice as she lives out her purpose.

12/29/2022

For each day of Kwanzaa, is honoring our partners who make a meaningful impact in Cook County.

The principle of Ujamaa, or cooperative economics, is embodied by local developers Bonita Harrison, Sean Jones, Keith Lindsey, Dajuan Robinson and Derrick Walker, who pooled their resources and talents to buy back the block with help from CCLBA. This powerful collective purchased 12 vacant lots in Woodlawn and is building a community of new, state-of-the-art homes.

12/28/2022

For each day of Kwanzaa, is honoring our partners who make a meaningful impact in Cook County.

R.A.G.E - Resident Association of Greater Englewood pools the power of residents, public officials and business owners to make a stronger Greater Englewood. We’re proud to partner with R.A.G.E. to help return land to productive use for the benefit of the entire community.

12/27/2022

For each day of Kwanzaa, is honoring our partners who make a meaningful impact in Cook County.

We’re proud to partner with small business owners, like Starnella Johnson of Roseland’s Ambassador Floral, who purchase their own property so they can scale and grow their businesses, build a stronger financial future for their families and their communities.

12/26/2022

For each day of Kwanzaa, is honoring our partners who make a meaningful impact in Cook County.

Today, we recognize the principle of Umoja by honoring each member of the CCLBA community who makes our work possible. From the community developers and first-time homebuyers to the municipalities and government agencies that partner with us to bring new assets to residents like improved transportation and housing, we’re grateful for the shared mission that brings us all together.

12/25/2022

There’s truly no place like home for the holidays. At CCLBA, we’re proud to have helped turn over 1000 vacant lots and abandoned buildings into homes to fill with memories with loved ones and Christmas cheer. Merry Christmas from all of us at CCLBA

12/22/2022

The CCLBA is proud to partner with the Chicago Transit Authority to help make the long-imagined Red Line Extension a reality, bringing greater transportation equity to the South Side.