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• 1 2016-04-21T07:10:02-07:00 People For Community Recovery 11 plain 2016-04-26T13:46:39-07:00

  People for Community Recovery was set up in 1979 by Hazel Johnson. This was done after her husband died of lung cancer a few years earlier. This organization was set up to benefit the whole Chicago area, with an emphasis on Altgeld Gardens. The mission statement being “to enhance the quality of life of residents living in communities affected by pollution. PCR educates and advocates policy and programs in an effort to coordinate local residents on issues of the environment, health, housing, neighborhood safety, and economic equity".

      This organization has made many great changes in the lives of residents in Chicago. One of the first things they did was convince the city to test water levels to determine if there were any toxins in the water that could cause illnesses. The results verified that there were. There were traces of cyanide and other toxins. The PCR also stopped inexperienced workers from removing asbestos from buildings in the development. This was done in an attempt to protect the preschoolers that went to school in the building. The inexperienced workers were switched out with professionals.

      PCR worked to ensure fair treatment of the residents in Altgeld. They held community meetings where people could air their grievances. Some of these were related to the treatment they received from *housing authority*. Many experienced harassment, discrimination, and unfair termination of their leases. In these city meeting they learned what their rights were, and what actions they could take. Other grievances were related to the quality of the air, and water that they consumed. They were able to learn from each other, and learn about their resources that they could take advantage of.

      People for Community Recovery has made some major strides in the environmental justice movement, as well as in the lives of people living in inner city chicago. Although the founder Hazel Johnson has passed, the organization has been passed to her daughter Cheryl Johnson. It is clear that she holds the same ideals and values as her mother. She plans to continue supporting communities all over.