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Who We Are:
The Renaissance Collaborative, Inc. is a 26-year old Social impact, 50lc3, Community Development Corporation located in the heart of the historic Bronzeville community. Our goal is to promote self-sufficiency through an innovative and comprehensive network of supportive housing, employment, and educational services. TRC is known for its restoration of the former Wabash YMCA, a landmark building opened in 1913 through the late 1970s, providing housing and job training, to many African Americans migrating from the South to Chicago. Today, the Wabash Y is proudly known as The Renaissance Apartments (101 Single Room Occupancy units) and Fitness for Life Center - continuing the legacy that is rooted in social impact and compassionate care. We also house 71 units of senior living at TRC Senior Village I, a new construction facility located in the Bronzeville community. This affordable state of the art facility provides holistic living to senior citizens to age in place with grace and community involvement to eliminate a sense of aloneness. An average given day more than 200 individuals and 100% of residents served by TRC are classified as low income. The average median income is $15,552 and senior's $8,520. Eighty percent (80%) of TRC clients are people with special needs (HIV/AIDS) and/or physical and mental challenges. Sixty (60%) of TRC residents are individuals between the ages of 19-65 and 40% of TRC senior residents are 65-years of age or older. We are well entrenched in serving the community but with limited resources. One of many challenges are workforce development for our client’s gainful employment as our wrap-around Support Team glean for jobs that will assist with sustaining their stability through the long process of becoming whole again. TRC’s social impact initiatives for building workforce options to our clients are (1) an on-site janitorial training program, (2) front desk reception/customer service reception and (3) in 2009 we began Bronzeville Organic Green Landscaping and Snow Removal business to allow our residents to participate in transitional jobs. We’ve run into snags but we are determined to move forward. |
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