Ujima, Inc., a resident driven community based organization, shares the CHA’s commitment to addressing the needs of CHA residents by providing more effective services to increase housing residents’ potential for long-term economic success and a sustained high quality of life. 

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Specifically, Ujima’s mission is: 

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To build awareness and monitor growth in order to promote economic change through life skills training, assessment, case management, referrals and sustaining the community’s historical value by stimulating culture and the arts in order to promote self-sufficiency for families in a transforming community. 

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Founded in 1997 by three resident leaders, Ujima began as a pilot family support program for public housing residents directly affected by the HUD required revitalization efforts in the Madden/Wells Housing Communities (now Oakwood Shores), assisting families in  their transitions from welfare to work. The organization, which is currently located at 3867 S. Ellis, was officially incorporated by the State of Illinois as a nonprofit in 2001. 

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Ujima has a solid history of community engagement, resident advocacy, and interagency collaboration. From 2001 to the present, Ujima has actively participated in various public and private partnerships4 which supported CHA’s work requirement for its mixed income and public housing communities5. With technical assistance and using best practice methodologies, Ujima has designed, developed and delivered workforce development programs that facilitated greater resident engagement in employment, education, job driven training, and community service activities to increase residents’ self-sufficiency. The organization has received local and federal funding and has delivered services to more than 3,000 families. Ujima has consistent track record of quality performance in engaging and supporting employers seeking to hire public housing residents and has secured placements with the businesses