Disrupting Segregation: Experiencing a “Twin Neighborhood” in Chicago

Chicago has long dealt with a history of segregated neighborhoods due to policies like redlining and land sale contracts that divide the city along racial and ethnic lines. What does it take to bridge these gaps? And how can Chicagoans in every zip code understand more about other communities and people who don’t look like them?  

The Folded Map Action Toolkit aims to break down some of those barriers. Created by Tonika Johnson as part of the “Disrupting Segregation” tour she co-leads with Sherman “Dilla” Thomas, the premise of the toolkit is simple. Find a friend or colleague living in a “twin neighborhood” to your own and spend a day touring both communities. Take time during the tour to notice the differences in amenities and services and reflect on how those contrasts affect the residents living in each community.  

To experience the toolkit in action, two Trust staff members used it to tour each other’s neighborhoods. Elizabeth Weber, content specialist on the Strategic Communications team, led a tour of Edgewater, and Lauren Woods, Building Collective Power program manager, led a tour of South Shore.  

In this Q&A, Elizabeth and Lauren reflect on their experience and how it will inform their work at the Trust and their commitment to disrupting segregation. Click on the video below to hear a more extended version of the conversation in their own words.  

What surprised you about the tour of your “twin” neighborhood? 

LW: I immediately noticed parallels. They are both right next to the lake, and we happened to find libraries, convenience stores, and grocery stores in each. The physical structure of the neighborhoods was so similar, but there was such a stark difference in the investment or disinvestment in the community.  

EW: People with a passing knowledge of Chicago’s history know that the South Side was the city’s economic engine for a very long time. It’s not anymore, but it has so much history. I loved seeing the older buildings. I do believe that vibrancy can come back if we are willing to work collectively toward that goal.  

How was shopping at a neighborhood convenience store different in each neighborhood?  

LW: There were marked differences between the two neighborhoods. One example was the convenience store we entered in South Shore. It did not have a lot of products on the shelves, which to me indicates that the consumer needs of residents aren’t being met. There was also so much product sitting on the floor waiting to be shelved that it was difficult to move through the aisles.  

EW: That struck me as well – how unwelcoming the experience was. Most consumers don’t realize that when you walk into a store, everything from item placement to music to lighting is all about marketing and experience. When people live in an area with a more welcoming experience – a nice parking lot, warm lighting, more product availability – you can take that for granted.  

What was the grocery shopping experience in each neighborhood?  

EW: The Local Market in the South Shore was really nice and had a lot of great options. The one caveat was that there was a section where items were locked up behind a counter. I understand why liquor is often locked up, but there were also amenities like baby formula behind the case, which was frustrating to see—people need those staples. Overall, I could see myself shopping there.  

LW: Absolutely. And to your point, the Local Market is a beautiful grocery store. Up until 2019, there was a six-year gap in which the South Shore didn’t have a grocery store. Residents fought for that store to exist to make sure that the South Shore wasn’t a food desert, and now the store is highly profitable because it doesn’t have a lot of competition.  

How can this toolkit bring us together as Chicagoans?  

EW: The toolkit made me wonder, as an Edgewater resident, how we support our own communities and go out of our way to support other neighborhoods. Can I take the excitement and passion of my neighbors and influence them to travel to the South Shore?  

LW: I think a toolkit like this is helpful because so many people want to do something. We want to get out of there, but sometimes, you need an excuse, a roadmap, and a little bit of direction on how to do that. It is very easy to stay in your neighborhood, but a toolkit like this brings foot traffic to neighborhoods that might not receive many residents outside of their community.  

What is another way others can engage in this type of work if they don’t have time to carry out the full toolkit?  

LW: No one is satisfied with a lack of amenities in their neighborhood. Wherever there is in a Black or brown neighborhood, there is also a community group or advocacy group working to bring those resources back into their neighborhood. As Chicagoans, we should use our influence to shine a light, add an extra microphone, or show up in solidary with a neighbor and say, “You’re right; there should be more than one coffee shop in this community, you should have more than one option for buying basic necessities.” 

EW: I think it comes down to spending your dollars intentionally. When we visited South Shore, there was a very walkable corridor on 71st Street that had bakeries, restaurants, and businesses to support. Dilla always ends the “Disrupting Segregation” tour by reminding people that all it takes to make a difference is spending $25 in a neighborhood different from your own. And with that, I think it is also an opportunity to meet new people.  

Click here to learn more about “Disrupting Segregation,” including how to access the Folded Map Action Toolkit.