DOE West Ridge Full Report_1

Research Report
Submitted by: Environment, Culture, and Conservation (ECCo), a Division of Science at The Field Museum
To: The City of Chicago Department of Environment
COMMUNITY #5: WEST RIDGE’S SOUTH ASIAN COMMUNITY
Engaging Chicago’s Diverse Communities in
the Chicago Climate Action Plan
City of Chicago
Richard M. Daley, Mayor
Department of Environment

tableofcontents
Sponsored by
1 PROJECT OVERVIEW
4 COMMUNITY OVERVIEW
6 STAKEHOLDERS, PARTNERSHIPS,
AND RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING
8 AWARENESS OF CLIMATE
CHANGE AND INTEREST IN
ADDRESSING IT
11 COMMUNITY CONCERNS:
SPRINGBOARDS FOR CLIMATE
ACTION
16 ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY
PRACTICES, VALUES, AND
TRADITIONS
19 COMMUNICATION AND
DISSEMINATION
20 CREATIVE MODELS FOR
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
21 CONCLUSION
22 COMMUNITY ASSET MAP
23 REGIONAL ASSET MAP
24 OUR TEAM
BIBLIOGRAPHY
LIST OF PARTICIPATING
ORGANIZATIONS
This research was commissioned by the
City of Chicago Department of Environment.
Research was conducted by:
Environment, Culture, and Conservation (ECCo),
a Division of Science at The Field Museum
with our partners:
City of Chicago Department of Environment
Chicago Cultural Alliance
Indo-American Center
Indo-American Heritage Museum
May 2011
Visit our Web site to download the Community and Regional
Asset Maps, and reports about other communities:
http://fieldmuseum.org/climateaction

Environment, Culture, and Conservation (ECCo) • The Field Museum • Research Report 1
project overview
Engaging Chicago Communities in the Chicago Climate Action
Plan—Community #5: The South Asian Community of West Ridge is
the fifth community study commissioned by the City of Chicago Department
of Environment (DOE) to identify strategies for effectively engaging diverse
communities throughout the city in the implementation of the Chicago Climate
Action Plan (CCAP). This report presents the results from one site of a two-
sited mini study that also included the Mexican community of Chicago’s Pilsen
neighborhood.
Our first two studies had a geographic focus, one on South Chicago––a
working class, racially diverse area on Chicago’s far South Side––and the other
on North Kenwood-Oakland/Bronzeville, an economically diverse, African-
American area of the city situated just three miles south of Chicago’s downtown.
The third study was the first to focus on an ethnic group––Chicago’s Polish
community––and was concentrated in three Chicago regions with large Polish
populations. The West Ridge and Pilsen studies are the first to be delineated
by both neighborhood geography and ethnicity, and they are also the first to
incorporate community-led storytelling as a data gathering technique.
All of our studies are participatory action research projects that have been
conducted by a team including The Field Museum anthropologists, staff from
the Chicago Department of Environment, and leaders of community-based
organizations in the research communities. In this study, our research was
designed and conducted collaboratively, in English, Urdu and Hindi, by a team
including anthropologists from The Field Museum’s division of Environment,
Culture, and Conservation (ECCo), the Chicago Cultural Alliance (CCA),
and leaders from the Indo-American Heritage Museum (IAHM), a cultural
organization in West Ridge. While the anthropologist from CCA collected
qualitative data through traditional ethnographic methods, the anthropologists
from The Field Museum trained leaders from IAHM in story collecting
techniques and worked with them to facilitate focus groups throughout the
study.
Located just off of Devon Avenue where the Indian-Pakistani business district
defines the character of the area, the Indo-American Heritage Museum is a
relatively new organization that was formed by board members of the Indo-
American Center (IAC), a center that serves hundreds of South Asian clients
daily through classes in ESL, civics, computers, immigration assistance, as well
as senior and youth programs. The Indo-American Heritage Museum offers
cultural programs that promote understanding of the diversity, history, and
culture of Indian Americans in the Chicago area. IAHM is currently located
at the Indo-American Center on California and Devon, where they offer
educational programs and display a modest collection that represents life in
members’ homelands and their Chicago diaspora. IAHM’s programs include
cultural performances, inter-ethnic dialogues, tours of Devon Avenue, and
workshops about the Indian American immigration story for educators and the
general public. While they expand their space and build their collection, IAHM
has launched a “virtual museum” where website visitors can explore Chicago’s
Indo-American culture and community members can share personal stories on
selected themes.
West Ridge
RESEARCH AREA

2 Environment, Culture, and Conservation (ECCo) • The Field Museum • Research Report
This research project combined traditional ethnographic methods, such as
interviewing and participant observation, with the innovative technique of
community-led story collecting. Through workshops, sharing research tools,
and personal mentoring ethnographers at The Field Museum worked closely
with staff members at Indo-American Heritage Museum to develop their skills as
story collectors. This collaborative approach allowed us to pair complementary
methods of gathering data. While the project ethnographer was working to
complete a rapid inventory of both the West Ridge and Pilsen neighborhoods,
our community partners were busy collecting stories from their clients and peers.
Touching base regularly along the way, the ethnographer and local leaders
supported one another’s work through the exchange of contacts, leads, ideas,
and tools. For the duration of the fieldwork season, both the ethnographer
and local partners used a variety of creative tools developed by ECCo to learn
about how residents relate to the environment and climate change, such as
using objects and photos to prompt discussion.
Incorporating the methods of story collecting has enhanced both the research
product and the resources and knowledge of our community partners. Story
collecting techniques enriched the study by contributing narrative stories
to semi-structured interview data gathered by the ethnographer. This has
provided a more nuanced and holistic understanding of community dynamics
and has broadened the contribution of community members and leaders
in the research process. In addition, learning and applying story collecting
techniques strengthened the social capital of our community partners, who
said that gathering stories has improved their understanding of community
concerns and resources. Modhurima Mukherjee of IAHM told us that she has a
deeper understanding of the community as a result of her experience collecting
stories. Just as importantly, she says, the merchants and residents whom she
talked with are now more aware of the resources and events offered by IAHM.
Ultimately, the experience of collecting stories, identifying community assets,
and strengthening organizing skills will help our community partners to create
programs and services which better address community concerns including
environmental issues and climate change.
Field research for this project lasted four months, from May through August
2010. During this time, The Field Museum researchers and community
partners conducted interviews, gathered stories, and held focus groups to
better understand research participants’ beliefs and practices related to the
environment and climate change. Because these study communities are
defined by participants’ ethnic identity as well as their geographic location, we
recruited participants who fall into one of three main categories. Our primary
focus was South Asian residents of the West Ridge neighborhood. Secondarily,
we spoke with a number of Chicago-area South Asians who work, shop, or
use services in West Ridge but who reside elsewhere. Thirdly, we spoke with
neighbors, workers, and community leaders who live or work in West Ridge,
but who are not of South Asian origin. This recruitment strategy recognizes that
our target populations do not live in any single urban area, but are socially
integrated into Chicago’s multi-cultural metropolitan region. It also allows us
to gain perspectives from local residents and leaders that helped to deepen our
awareness of neighborhood dynamics.
One of our goals in studying ethnic communities is to better understand the
ways in which cultural values and traditions in communities of origin might
facilitate or hamper participation in climate action strategies in Chicago.
Another goal is to understand how ethnic heritage intersects with community
activities and creates patterns of interaction that reach from Devon Avenue to
Delhi. As a result of having both an ethnic and a geographic focus, this study
also highlights the social networks that connect urban immigrants with Chicago
communities.
The majority of this research was ethnographic, with the goal of gaining an
understanding of people’s behaviors and attitudes by studying them in the
context of their everyday lives. Like most research, ethnographic research aims
to identify patterns and linkages between issues; but it is also based on the
notion that people are experts on their own lives and, as such, aims to highlight
local knowledge and practices as the building blocks for creating more
sustainable communities.
PROJECT OVERVIEW

In total, we directly engaged approximately 135 people through interviews,
focus groups, surveys, and story collecting that included residents, business
owners, civil leaders, and leaders of community organizations. Our research
included:
• 23 semi-structured interviews;
• 3 focus groups with a total of 64 participants;
• 72 surveys;
• Over 50 stories collected; and,
• Participant-observation at 9 community events and meetings that involved
approximately 250 people.
Due to the high concentration of immigrants among the adult population
of West Ridge and because of the organizational networks that we used for
recruitment, an overwhelming majority of our study participants were first
generation immigrants. All were adults and many were clients of the Indo-
American Center.
The goals of this study were to:
1. Document attitudes and knowledge related to climate change;
2. Identify climate-friendly practices and values;
3. Describe community concerns that link environment to quality of life;
4. Identify key organizations that can act as catalysts for larger scale adoption
of climate action strategies;
5. Highlight creative models of engagement that can be adopted for climate
action;
6. Determine effective communication strategies for disseminating information.
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Engaging the Community Our partners at the Indo-American
Heritage Museum participated in community meetings, focus groups, and
interviews to gather stories from a wide variety of West Ridge residents
and business owners. In these pictures, West Ridge residents share stories
about themselves, their culture, and their concerns, as well as their
aspirations to create a sustainable community.

community overview
West Ridge on Chicago’s far North Side has a rich tradition as an
immigrant community. Historically known for its large Jewish population, West
Ridge has become home to many different ethnic groups over the past half
century. Nearly half of its current residents are foreign-born, making it one of
the city’s most ethnically diverse neighborhoods. As we heard from residents of
West Ridge, this diversity is a great asset that attracts customers to the area’s
vibrant commercial corridors and enhances its cultural life. Yet, residents also
say that ethnic diversity presents challenges; community members with divergent
origins, customs, and habits must learn how to work together toward common
community goals.
The area is home to Devon Avenue, one of the city’s most popular commercial
corridors. The Devon corridor, also known as “The International Marketplace,”
is lined with ethnic retail shops, grocery stores, and vegetarian restaurants. It is
the commercial and symbolic center of Chicagoland’s South Asian population,
with a concentration of businesses and organizations that cater to members of
Chicago’s Indian, Pakistani, and Bangladeshi communities. The neighborhood
also features strong commercial corridors along Touhy and Western Avenues.
Along with its ethnic diversity, West Ridge is also very diverse socio-
economically. While West Ridge is popularly identified as a relatively
prosperous, middle-class neighborhood, residents have a wide range of
income and living conditions. Nearly ten percent of West Ridge residents live in
households with an annual income under $10,000, while the top ten percent of
households earn over $100,000 annually. Within the South Asian community
more broadly, there is a bifurcation in regards to socioeconomic status, where
more affluent South Asians tend to be longer-term U.S. residents, who often
live in Chicago’s suburbs. Conversely, working-class and poor South Asians
are more likely to be new immigrants and to live in apartments near the Devon
corridor and on the margins of the neighborhood.
These socio-economic factors influence what residents are able to do regarding
the environment, with wealthier residents having more control over the decisions
that shape their home environments. While some low-income West Ridge
residents still find ways to invest in eco-friendly practices such as gardening,
recycling, and composting, they often live in apartment buildings with strict
regulations on these practices. In contrast, residents who own their own homes
have greater financial and regulatory freedom to bridge the built and natural
environments.
WAVES OF SOUTH ASIAN
IMMIGRATION TO CHICAGO
1940 1960 1980 2000
pre-1946:
no significant immigration of
South Asians due to restrictive
quotas (called “Asian
Exclusions”) and “racially
ineligibility” for citizenship
1946-1965:
India allotted 100 visas annually;
Indian population of Chicago grew
to approximately 350 by 1960
1965- mid-1980s:
restrictions on Asian immigration lifted;
dramatic increase in South Asian immigration,
facilitated by family reunification visas and H-1
visas for skilled workers; worked in medicine,
infrastructure, and research
1950 1970 1990 2010
mid-1980s-present:
rise in low-skilled and unauthorized
migration; rapid suburbanization
One local business
owner told us that
she has invested a
great deal of time and
effort into beautifying
her restaurant. She has
installed flower boxes
and planters in front and hopes that
this will motivate neighboring merchants to invest in the
appearance of their storefronts as well.

COMMUNITY OVERVIEW
There is a large senior population of South Asians in West Ridge. As
established South Asian professionals send for their elderly parents under family
reunification visas, the proportion of newly arrived seniors in the South Asian
community is large and growing. Many of the services provided by area civic
organizations are geared toward helping these new arrivals adjust to life in the
United States, and they offer classes in civics, English, and computers, as well
as space where seniors can be part of a social and cultural community. The
stories of these elders reveal that age also influences local residents’ ability to
initiate or maintain eco-friendly practices. West Ridge also has a large youth
population among South Asians, as middle-age residents are likely to have
children under the age of eighteen.
While constricted due to building and association
policies, one man described several ways that he has
been able to live a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle.
His routine includes drying clothes next to the windows
instead of spending money at the laundromat. He also
recycles old and unused items instead of throwing them
away.
One community organizer told us that the
mobility of her elderly clients is constrained
by a lack of transportation options that
link the suburbs and the city. She said
that one of her clients, who is 76 years
old, broke down and sobbed when he
informed her that his son had bought a
house in the suburbs. The distance
would make it impossible for the man
to socialize with his friends near Devon.
Rec ommendation:
Develop initiatives that help West Ridge elders to build community
while engaging in eco-friendly activities. Create and support
spaces that can link the ethnic diversity of the West Ridge area
to green efforts, such as recycling, walking, gardening, and
beautification.
COMMUNITY OVERVIEW

For many South Asian immigrants the City of Chicago served as
a temporary home where they could get settled enough to establish work
and support their families. After spending years or decades in the city, a
large number of affluent South Asians immigrants have chosen to migrate
to surrounding suburbs. This has resulted in dispersed community resources
throughout Chicago’s city and suburbs. Social service resources for new
immigrants tend to be concentrated near working-class residences in the city,
while large temples and heritage centers have followed more affluent South
Asians to suburban locations. More affluent South Asians donate time and
resources to many of the civic and service organizations that cater to newer
waves of immigrants concentrated near Devon. Relatedly, while Indian stores
and places of worship are increasingly common in Chicago’s suburbs, Devon
Avenue remains a primary commercial hub of South Asian goods and services.
In all, the South Asian community of greater Chicago is connected by social
and professional networks, an extensive civic sector, and a thriving business
district along Devon Avenue.
The shops along Devon Avenue are identified as particularly important for
Chicago-area South Asians, many of whom regularly travel from the suburbs to
Devon to shop for food and clothing, and to get news and entertainment from
the various video shops, bookstores, and restaurants. Devon is not just for South
Asians, however; ethnic restaurants attract diners from all over Chicago who
are looking to enjoy Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani, and vegetarian cuisine. This
region-wide investment in Devon helps to sustain West Ridge residents, which
includes patrons, business owners, and workers.
West Ridge is home to much more than just commercial businesses. It is also
a hub of civic organizations that service new South Asian and Middle Eastern
immigrants through ESL classes, computer classes, job training, assistance
with immigration status adjustment, and media and information in Hindi and
Urdu, among other languages. Because of the large elderly population in the
South Asian community, organizations such as the Indo-American Center and
Metropolitan Asian Family Services also provide health care, free lunches, and
social events that cater to seniors. The Indo-American Center also has a youth
program that takes advantage of local assets, such as the West Ridge YMCA
and neighborhood parks, to engage South Asian children in outdoor activities.
In addition to these service providers, South Asian residents in West Ridge
have cultivated extensive social networks that supply crucial resources for their
financial security and emotional well-being. Hometown associations, such as
the Punjabi Cultural Society and Gujarati Samaj Chicago, bring together first
and second generation South Asians from particular Indian states to participate
in cultural events such as dinners, dances, and festivals. Organizations for
South Asian students and alumni have formed on the nearby campus of Loyola
University and downtown’s University of Illinois at Chicago and provide not only
social support, but educational resources as well. Social networks also provide
a means for South Asian residents to participate in Devon’s business community,
as interest-free or informal business loans are made by established business
people to select network members, enabling them to open small businesses and
to maintain Devon’s ethnic enclaves.
stakeholders,
PARTNERSHIPS, AND RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING

Religious beliefs and practices among South Asians are as diverse as the South
Asian community itself, and West Ridge is home to several centers of worship
that serve Chicago’s South Asian population. Though the largest Hindu temples
are located in Chicago suburbs, there is a Hare Krishna temple, a Sikh temple,
an Indo-Pak Methodist Church, and several mosques located in or around
Devon Avenue. Our study participants also noted that, while many South Asians
visit temples to celebrate religious holidays, most frequently they worship in
private or with family and friends at home. Religious worship is thus also social
interaction that bolsters the informal networks that are critical for the well-being
of Chicago’s South Asians.
STAKEHOLDERS, PARTNERSHIPS,
Rec ommendation:
Work with area organizations including hometown associations,
civic organizations, centers of worship and Devon’s business
community for developing a West Ridge climate action plan.
Encourage leaders in all of these arenas to model eco-friendly
living for others in the community, and create networking
opportunities that highlight what local green leaders are
already doing.
STAKEHOLDERS, PARTNERSHIPS,

Many of our study participants were aware of climate change and
expressed an interest in addressing it. We found a broad range of beliefs
regarding climate change and the environment, with many participants
reminiscing about living “naturally” in India but also concerned about what they
consider to be more immediate problems in the United States. Younger study
participants routinely expressed a higher degree of awareness and interest in
climate action programs than their elderly counterparts, who frequently said
that climate change was not among their most pressing concerns. Nevertheless,
older study participants were enthusiastic in recounting stories about
environmentally-friendly lifestyles and practices in India.
When discussing the environment, participants frequently spoke of
environmental issues in India, with far less attention to environmental
concerns in the Chicago region. Many remembered their childhoods in India
and expressed concern about how changing weather patterns are affecting
traditional life ways. For example, participants worried that changes such as
rising sea levels, waste, and water contamination have already had serious
impacts on both the health and economic activities of people who live in South
Asia. Older participants often linked climate change to the scarcity of local
resources like clean water, rather than to global environmental changes. As one
participant observed, “In India [climate change] is a big concern, but here it is
less of a concern because it’s so much better here in terms of clean water and
the environment.” Another noted that people use rain barrels in India, but since
there is no apparent water shortage in Chicago, there is no perception of a
need for water conservation here. This story reveals a deeper trend: many South
Asians in West Ridge see the threat that Climate Change poses to India, but not
to the Chicago area. For these residents, perceptions of resource abundance in
Chicago can make conservation efforts seem superfluous.
There was broad recognition among our study participants that climate change
is caused by human activities. However, participants diverged on the question of
who is responsible for taking action to address it. While the majority of younger
interviewees asserted that all global residents share in the responsibility to be
environmentally responsible, many of our older participants identified industry
and government as the major polluters and felt that individual responses to
climate change are largely insignificant.
awareness
OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND
interestIN ADDRESSING IT
One young staff person at a local community
center said that she tried to pilot a program
to reduce paper waste, but she encountered
obstacles from her organization. Her manager
believed that initiating a recycling program would
incur extra cost to their organization. Thus,
she now separates the paper in her office and
takes it to a recycling center across the street.
One immigrant from a coastal town in India told us that
many people in his home community survive by fishing. He
worries about the impact that depleted fish stores will
have on his hometown economy and said that his family
members in India are growing
concerned about rising sea
levels and changes in the weather.

AWARENESS AND INTEREST
WHAT THREE WORDS COME TO MIND WHEN YOU HEAR “CLIMATE CHANGE”?
Participants were asked this
question during our interviews. In
this word cloud, words that were
most often mentioned appear
larger. This reveals significant
patterns:
1. RISING TEMPERATURES:
Respondents frequently
associated climate change with
changes in the composition
of the earth, as triggered
by warmer temperatures.
Concerns about these shifts
are represented in the high
occurrences of “Global
Warming,” “Sea Levels,” and
“Glaciers” in participants’
responses. Also prominent
were responses like “rising,”
“hot,” and “melting.”
2. HUMAN AGENCY: It is clear that many participants believe that humans can have an impact on Climate Change. Words like “Recycling,” “Education,” and
“Structural Policy” reflect respondents awareness of the positive actions people can take in the face of climate destabilization. Additionally, participants pointed
to a “lack of government support.”
3. FUTURE DANGERS: Respondents frequently drew a link between climate change and the potential dangers it holds for our future. They regularly invoked the
following words, “famine,” “starvation,” “children,” “doomsday scenario,” and “animal habitat extinctions.”

AWARENESS AND INTEREST
RANKING THE CCAP STRATEGIES
improved
energy15
waste22
reduction
transportation
efficiency
adaptation
14
19
Respondents ranked waste reduction and improved
transportation highest, which makes sense for a high-traffic areas
with high levels of consumption. Adaptation ranked last, reflecting a poor
understanding of the concept and/or the higher cost that participants fear
that adaptation strategies would incur.
Research participants were asked to rank each of these CCAP strategies
according to their level of interest:
Rec ommendations:
1. Work with local leaders to make Climate Change feel local
among to the South Asian community, promoting its potential
impacts on the Chicago area. Take advantage of popular
awareness regarding resource scarcity and conservation
practices in South Asia, and work with organizations along
Devon to promote opportunities for taking climate actions.
2. Identify young community members through the Indo-
American Center, YMCA, and other local agencies. Connect
them to climate educators and organizers who could help
them to see themselves as climate action leaders.
AWARENESS OF CLIMATE CHANGE
AND INTEREST IN ADDRESSING IT

Our research identified a number of important community concerns
in the South Asian community of West Ridge that could serve as springboards
for community involvement in climate action. The concerns that we highlight in
this section include:
1. Immigration
2. Economic development
• Small Business Viability
• Housing
• Jobs
3. Heritage/identity
4. Health
5. Use of public space
Immigration was a serious concern of many of our study participants,
particularly those who live and work near Devon Avenue. Undocumented
status and English-language difficulties were cited as serious barriers to upward
mobility and social well-being for many new South Asian immigrants in West
Ridge. Immigration is a theme that was mentioned by study participants in
relation to all of the following concerns.
Our participants see the ability to have successful businesses that provide jobs
as key to community stability overall, from creating steady work to alleviating
crime and the problem of abandoned buildings. Study participants linked
their financial concerns with a variety of more specific preoccupations, such
as crowded and abandoned housing, underemployment of new immigrants,
as well as economic development along West Ridge’s commercial corridors .
These corridors – along Devon, Touhy, and Western Avenues – are all important
sources of revenue for the neighborhood. Residents expressed concern about
economic decline of small businesses along these corridors, concerned with the
impact that the current economic recession is having on the financial health of
West Ridge. Several interviewees were also very concerned about disinvestment
in the community on the part of local politicians.
SMALL BUSINESS VIABILITY
In particular, participants are concerned that Devon’s poor appearance, traffic
congestion, and lack of parking will drive customers elsewhere, as South Asian
stores become more prevalent in the suburbs. Business owners and residents
offered many suggestions for beautifying Devon and making it more accessible,
including the addition of more parking, trees and green spaces, planters, more
attractive street lamps, and “plazas” where shoppers can sit in comfort. Though
congestion is already a problem, interviewees also offered ideas for further
increasing visitors to Devon. Several suggested capitalizing on the area’s ethnic
diversity and creating an “Indian Village” akin to Chicago’s Chinatown or
Greektown, with a formal gateway and pedestrian paths. Such a beautification
plan would draw “tourists” from outside the neighborhood and emphasize the
community concernsSPRINGBOARDS FOR CLIMATE ACTION
IMMIGRATION
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

South Asian assets of the Devon corridor. Participants would also like to see
more diverse offerings among the shops on Devon, citing a lack of variety as a
source of unhealthy business competition and high business turnover.
HOUSING
West Ridge is known for its comfortable homes on tree-lined residential streets,
and is sometimes referred to as a “suburb within the city.” Yet, West Ridge
residents who live near the Devon corridor often live in crowded apartment
complexes, far away from the parks and trees that make the community so
attractive. Crowded housing complexes were disdained by several of our study
participants, who identified them as hubs of crime and poverty, while others
noted that these buildings offer affordable housing for low-income families
in the area. Several participants also complained that developers had begun
converting neighborhood apartment buildings to condominium units, but
abandoned the projects when the housing market contracted in 2008, leaving
behind a glut of unfinished and deserted buildings.
JOBS
Underemployment and low wages for workers along the Devon corridor was
a source of concern for many of our study participants. Many new immigrants
from South Asia face serious barriers to upward mobility when they arrive
in Chicago, including limited English proficiency, low or obsolete job skills,
unauthorized status, and advanced age. Many of these new immigrants become
engaged in informal labor practices within Devon’s ethnic enclaves, where
they earn low wages and have little job security. Even when new immigrants
held skilled or semi-skilled jobs in India, these skills are not always easily
adaptable to the job market in Chicago. To help with the integration needs of
new South Asian immigrants, the Indo-American Center offers literacy classes,
computer classes, and job training programs. Moving forward, it will be vital
for local businesses and agencies to create green training and employment
opportunities, ideally in ways that strengthen local businesses relationship to the
environment.
The ethnic diversity of West Ridge is considered both an asset and a challenge,
depending in part on who is offering their opinion. While the diversity of
shops and restaurants is one of the main attractions of Devon’s “International
Marketplace,” neighborhood residents are still learning to relate to one another
across divergent beliefs and practices. Other participants noted that longer-term
demographic change in the community presents a challenge for older or more
established West Ridge residents. One interviewee said, “People don’t recognize
this neighborhood. It used to be an Irish neighborhood, then Eastern European
Jews came, now South Asians, most of the Anglos have moved out. There is
some tension about these changes in the neighborhood, and there has been
gentrification for the last four to five years.”
Several participants expressed concern about the loss of Indian heritage and
identity among second-generation Indians in Chicago. Participants worried that
their children are losing their Indian heritage as they assimilate to American
culture. “In India, the young people cover their skin more and do not spend so
much time on the street,” one mother said, explaining her concern over a loss
of modesty and tradition among the second generation. Yet, young participants
explain that social organizations and events for young South Asians, such as
“Desi Nights” at Chicago restaurants and clubs, help second generation youth
deal with their “in between” status as both Americans and Asians. Programs
and events sponsored by the IAHM highlight Indian culture and heritage and
promote linkages among South Asian community members in the wider
Chicago area.
Many study participants mentioned that the relative affluence of South Asian
immigrants compared to other immigrant groups has contributed to a “model
minority” stereotype of South Asians as upwardly mobile, educated, and
well-to-do. While this reputation can be a source of pride, many participants
SPRINGBOARDS FOR CLIMATE ACTION
HERITAGE/IDENTITY

described it a “burden” as well. In particular, widespread perceptions of South
Asians as upwardly mobile contribute to a reticence to acknowledge and invest
resources in a growing population of poor and undocumented South Asian
immigrants. Interviewees who work closely with immigrants who live and work
near Devon told us that a greater awareness of the problems and obstacles
facing new South Asian immigrants is critical to a more nuanced understanding
of the South Asian community as a whole.
Health was one of the most important concerns cited by study participants.
Interviewees noted that conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure
occur at very high frequencies among South Asian immigrants. While genetic
factors play a role in the onset of these diseases, participants also said
that high-fat diets, an aging population, and sedentary lifestyles contribute
to community health concerns. While the vegetarian diet of many Hindu
participants provides a healthful dietary foundation, some interviewees
noted that deep frying vegetarian dishes exacerbate heart disease among
South Asians. Among new and poor immigrants, health problems are often
exacerbated by a lack of access to medical coverage and affordable health
care. One interviewee told us that an acquaintance returned to India to have
surgery because the cost of the procedure here was prohibitively expensive.
Participants also noted that there are serious mental health concerns in the
community––particularly among the elderly. A move from South Asia to the
United States is frequently associated with a loss in social status, isolation,
and boredom for elderly immigrants. This problem is particularly acute for
seniors who live with their adult children who are working full-time, leaving
them alone for long hours during the day. One participant explained, “There
is a lot of senior dependency which leads to mental health issues; these have
to do with the kinds of opportunities that are available here and with moving
down in status. Seniors often have a sense of isolation and boredom when they
come here.” Elderly South Asians who live near Devon can take advantage
of programs offered by the Indo-American Center and Metropolitan Family
Health Services, where they receive free lunches and participate in social events.
The free lunch program at IAC alone services between fifty and eighty seniors
daily. Suburban seniors have limited access to these centers, leading many
interviewees to emphasize the importance of having affordable and convenient
public transportation that links the suburbs and the city.
A group of three women told us that their families
practiced numerous environmentally-friendly activities
in India, such as raising chickens and air drying
clothes. They have found it difficult to continue these
practices in Chicago due to space constraints and
strict policies in the buildings where they live. They
further fear that their neighbors would perceive them
as uneducated and incapable of behaving in American
society if they resumed these practices. Without this
fear of judgment they were all interested in returning to
these traditional activities.
HEALTH

There are several neighborhood organizations that provide free health care
services for the South Asian community. For example, the Indo-American
Center and Metropolitan Family Services regularly bring in doctors who screen
their clients for various conditions. Asian Family Services on Peterson Avenue
provides medical care for low-income West Ridge residents, about eighty
percent of whom lack health insurance and about twenty percent of whom are
of South Asian origin. These organizations are thus vital sources for information
and assistance with health issues for the entire South Asian community and its
elderly population in particular. While study participants touted the benefits of
accessible health care, our participants also noted that rapid diagnoses without
any long-term follow-up do not always lead to improvements in their clients’
health.
Study participants who work and shop along Devon frequently commented on
its appearance, and in particular expressed concern about garbage and litter
along the street and sidewalks, a lack of shade and trees, and parking problems
and traffic congestion. Nevertheless, many of our study participants also noted
the popularity of the Devon corridor among Chicago-area South Asians who
enjoy browsing, shopping, and socializing there. Several interviewees pointed
out that the benches along Devon were particularly popular spots for sitting and
socializing, but also said that shade trees would enhance the benches’ usability.
Many participants felt that there were adequate garbage cans along Devon for
trash disposal, and many expressed appreciation for the solar compactors that
have been recently installed. However, several also said that Devon’s trash cans
do not get emptied frequently enough and are often overflowing with garbage.
Similarly, one business owner said that bins for clothing donations located in
his parking lot are emptied very rarely, and, as a consequence, there are often
bags spilling over with clothing littering the lot. “It is a nuisance,” he said,
adding that, rather than being an asset, the donation bins actually contribute to
the dirty appearance of Devon.
While many participants expressed appreciation for area parks such as Indian
Boundary Park and Rogers Park, they also commented that illicit activities in the
parks––and drug dealing in particular in Warren Park––make them unusable in
the evenings. Some participants also felt that park equipment, such as courts
and playgrounds, suffer from a lack of upkeep. Still, many of our participants
use the parks regularly for exercise and recreation, and the youth program
coordinator at IAC frequently takes the children to the park during the summer,
where they can play games and engage in physical activities.
One man reminisced about his beautiful farmhouse in
India, where he had a variety of flowers and cereals. He
says he misses that here, and he laments that space-
constraints and age-related ailments have prevented him
form taking up gardening in Chicago.
USE OF PUBLIC SPACE

1. Invest in green spaces projects along Devon Avenue that bring nature to the corridor.
2. Provide incentives to empty lot owners, especially along Western Avenue where many car dealerships have closed down, to lease private property to
community organizations for beautification and gardening.
3. Support local organizations that:
• Implement programs that encourage outdoor activities, such as walking and using the nearby parks.
• Provide educational support to families, especially to seniors related to healthy eating and exercising, and eco-friendly practices like water
conservation, repairing and reusing equipment, and energy reduction.
4. Work with hometown and civic organizations and businesses to:
• Increase awareness and knowledge of green options for energy conservation practices, including reducing Styrofoam, using energy efficient
appliances, and repairing instead of replacing broken items.
• Promote vegetarianism and the myriad of restaurants along Devon Avenue that specialize in vegetarian dishes.
5. Appeal to traditional values regarding conservation and living “naturally” and help develop parallel practices that can be undertaken in Chicago.
Offer inter-generational programming between seniors and youth, where traditional cultural knowledge is exchanged with fresh perspectives on
contemporary needs and the environment.
COMMUNITY CONCERNS SPRINGBOARDS FOR CLIMATE ACTION
ec ommendations:R

Study participants engage in a variety of environmentally-friendly
practices. Participants often linked environmentally-friendly habits to broader
cultural and geographical contexts, including their experiences living in a more
“natural” way and adapting to resource scarcity in India. Additionally, many
study participants are motivated by the cost savings certain practices confer.
However, other participants expressed reluctance to engage in certain practices,
such as hanging clothes out to dry or raising chickens, that might affect the
ways they are perceived by their neighbors. Finally, the concentration of
resources along Devon lends itself to certain environmentally-friendly practices,
such as walking, eating vegetarian food, and buying locally, that are particularly
popular among the South Asian community.
Interviewees drew a strong relationship between environmentally-friendly
practices and lifestyles in South Asia. They emphasized:
• vegetarianism,
• water conservation,
• cooking methods (pressure cooker, solar cooker, etc), and
• repairing, reusing, or repurposing equipment.
Vegetarianism is hallmark of the Indian diet, and Devon is home to many
restaurants that feature meat-free cuisine. This diet is free of the carbon
footprint associated with the livestock industry, and is among West Ridge’s most
popular environmentally-friendly practices. Our study participants noted that
local concerns surrounding pollution, scarcity, and water contamination in India
led many of them to adopt environmentally-friendly practices that they would
like to continue in Chicago.
Among our study participants, resource access and distribution was often
discussed as a political issue and not necessarily an environmental one.
For example, the poor in India frequently lack access to clean water but the
wealthy do not, leading many of our study participants to identify resource
scarcity as a result of inequality or poverty. In the United States, this translates
into consumption practices that tend to reflect class position. This may help
to explain why several interviewees said that they would hesitate to do certain
practices, such as hang clothing out to dry or use second-hand items, because
of associated stigma.
environmentally-
friendly
PRACTICES, VALUES, AND TRADITIONS
One woman described how she could use a solar
cooker to prepare large meals for her family,
and to heat water for baths. Back in India this
was an essential technology for her, allowing her
to turn her roof into a functional stove on hot days.
It also helped her to conserve energy and time. Because
of differences in temperature and space, she has not
continued this practice in Chicago.
VEGETARIAN RESTAURANTS ALONG DEVON AVE.
Vegetarian Restaurant
Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurant

ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY PRACTICES,
VALUES, AND TRADITIONS
In major Indian cities like Deli there are countless scrap dealers where you can
sell household items like plastic and glass. Without the same incentive system
here, this gentleman has felt little motivation to go out of his way to recycle.
Other community members shared similar stories. A woman from Pakistan
shared that she used to store her bottles and newspapers separately in order to
sell them to a scrap dealer. Several community members suggested that scrap
dealers who purchase recyclable materials should be encouraged, as they are
in India and Pakistan. They agreed this would be a strong motivating factor for
South Asian immigrants to recycle, as recycling confers economic benefits in
their homelands.
Participants drew a strong connection between energy conservation and
frugality, lamenting U.S. consumption practices that make wastefulness
normative and resource conservation difficult and expensive. For example,
several participants remarked that it is often easier to replace broken equipment
than to have it repaired. While many of our interviewees said that they do not
have enough information about the cost savings related to energy efficient
practices, others said that they planned to take advantage of government
rebates and tax credits toward the purchase of energy efficient appliances in
their homes.
Our research revealed the following community patterns, in relationship to the
practices listed in the box:
1. The most popular practices combine several advantages: they are cost-
effective, convenient to do, and widely socially acceptable among the South
Asian community. These include: walking as transit, buying local, using
curtains/drapes, and using energy-efficient light bulbs.
2. Other practices that rank high among our West Ridge study participants are
linked to conservation habits that deal with resource scarcity in Asia, such
as water conservation and turning off appliances.
3. Using energy-efficient appliances and retrofitting homes appear near the
middle of the list, indicating that the initial capital investment required for
these practices may be a barrier to some. Also, this positioning may reflect
a need for greater awareness regarding the economic benefits of energy-
saving devices, as many of our participants stated in interviews.
4. The least popular practices are the most difficult and expensive to
undertake: green roofs, building green, and using renewable energy.
An elderly community
member said that he used
to recycle regularly while
living in India. When he did
so, he was rewarded with
payments from nearby garbage
collectors and recyclers. Since moving
to the United States, he has not discovered
any recycling programs that compare to India’s system.
One study participant told us that she believes that
people in the U.S. have a “throw away” mentality that
exacerbates waste production. An elderly man agreed and,
pointing to his watch, said that it is easier to buy things
new in the United States than it is to have them repaired.

ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY PRACTICES,
VALUES, AND TRADITIONS
ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY
PRACTICES IN WEST RIDGE’S SOUTH
ASIAN COMMUNITY
1. Using Curtains/Drapes to Control Temperature
2. Turning Off Lights, Appliance, TV
3. Using Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
4. Opening Windows
5. Walking as Transit
6. Buying Local
7. Outdoor Relaxation/Recreation
8. Conserving Water
9. Riding Public Transportation
10. Recycling
11. Repairing Instead of Replacing
12. Using Manual Instead of Power Tools
13. Exchanging or Sharing Used Items with Family/Friends/Neighbors
14. Using Energy Efficient Appliance, Devices
15. Car Pooling
16. Bringing Your Own Shopping Bag
17. Buying Organic
18. Living Close to Open/Natural Space
19. Hanging Clothes to Dry
20. Reusing/Re-purposing
21. Beautifying the Community
22. Gardening: community, school, home
23. Biking as Transit
24. Retrofitting Homes/Buildings
25. Capturing or Diverting Rain Water
26. Using Renewable Energy
27. Green Roofs
28. Preserving Historic Buildings/Places
29. Raising Chickens
30. Restoring Native Habitats
31. Building Green
32. Other (Vegetarian )
33. Driving and maintaining a speed of 55 mph
LEAST MOST
Environmentally-friendly practices are listed below in order from most to least reported by
residents and representatives of businesses, schools, and community organizations. Many
reflect inherent community values that may be building blocks for further involving residents
in CCAP implementation.
BARRIERS TO ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY PRACTICES
Our research revealed a number of barriers that study participants face in
attempting to engage environmentally-friendly practices. These include:
• Financial constraints, particularly for practices with up-front costs;
• Cultural norms that make certain practices, such as hanging clothes out
to dry or bicycling, unappealing or difficult. Some study participants said
they did not think these practices would become popular with middle-class
South Asians even if they were made more convenient.
• Inconvenience, especially associated with recycling;
• Preoccupations with concerns that are more apparent or immediate; and
• Lack of information related to environmentally-friendly practices, especially
in languages other than English.
Rec ommendations:
1. Create an educational campaign that validates traditional
practices that can be challenging to maintain in an urban
environment, such as water conservation, frugality, reusing
and repurposing, and spending time outdoors.
2. Encourage the greening of the Devon Corridor, building
upon the area’s tradition of eco-friendly food preparation.
Highlight the potential environmental benefits of a vegetarian
diet, finding public ways to explain its ecological benefits,
and bolstering the efforts of local vegetarian restaurants.
ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY
PRACTICES, VALUES, AND
TRADITIONS

South Asians in West Ridge have access to a variety of sources of
information. Many of these sources do not focus on climate change per se, but
offer news and information related to the environment. Still, many of our study
participants felt like they were lacking information on climate change and the
environment and, in particular, about the economic benefits of climate action
programs.
There are a number of newspapers––such as the India Times and Indian
Tribune––that are geared toward the South Asian community, free of cost, and
widely available on Devon. Most of these are published in English to appeal
to a wider readership among South Asia’s diverse language speakers, though
some are also published in Hindi and Urdu. Videos and movies that are sold
in ubiquitous video and bookstores along Devon are also popular sources of
entertainment and communication among elderly members of the South Asian
community.
Service organizations, such as IAC and Metropolitan Family Health Services,
as well as cultural organizations and religious institutions are also places
where information is disseminated. While much of this information is centered
around financial and immigration assistance, the cost-savings benefits of
environmentally-friendly practices could be integrated into center programs.
Many South Asians rely on their informal social networks, including family
members and friends, for communication about local events and transnational
community concerns. Devon Avenue itself is also a rich source of information,
as South Asians socialize with each other here on benches and in restaurants
and stores, and browse notices in retail shops along Devon.
communication
AND DISSEMINATION
1. Take advantage of the local organizations and businesses
along the Devon corridor to disseminate information
throughout the South Asian community, including suburban
residents who shop on Devon.
2. Provide information related to climate change and climate
action programs that is printed in Hindi and Urdu and that
is easy to read quickly or scan––such as bulleted text. Create
attractive posters that can be displayed in shop windows.
3. Engage local organizations in a conversation on the
community’s stake in addressing climate change. Identify ways
that the organizations can communicate and engage residents
around climate action, emphasizing the potential cost-savings
associated with environmentally-friendly practices.
COMMUNICATION AND
DISSEMINATION
Rec ommendations:

FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
MODEL ONE: LINKING FORMAL AND INFORMAL RESOURCES
Devon’s business community is linked both by common interests and by social
and kinship networks. There are established organizations in place, such as
the West Ridge Chamber of Commerce, that work to advance the interests of
businesses along Devon; there are also more informal resources, such as family
loans, that business owners tap into to improve their businesses. Together,
formal and informal networking have created a well-established system of
communication and resource distribution in the Devon business community.
These resources and networks could be mobilized to reduce the carbon
footprint of the businesses on the corridor.
MODEL TWO: INDIA IN CHICAGO
The Devon corridor is a hub for Indian and South Asian heritage practices,
as seen through local festivals, events, clothing, and cuisine. These practices
are potentially powerful allies of climate change action. As the South Asian
community engages in heritage celebrations, there is tremendous potential
to promote environmentally-friendly practices like vegetarianism, walking as
transit, and eating locally. For many of our interviewees, these practices were
already a source of great pride.
MODEL THREE: ECONOMIC EDUCATION
Most of the institutions that serve immigrants, seniors, and low income residents
in West Ridge offer information and resources related to financial assistance to
large numbers of South Asians. Many of our study participants who lamented
a lack of information in the community surrounding the cost-benefits of energy
conservation also noted that integrating climate change information into these
institutions’ programs is entirely consistent with their missions. The outreach of
these institutions could be utilized to educate community members about the
economic benefits of environmentally-friendly practices.
creative models
1. Promote the CCAP by stressing the connection between
climate action and community and individual well-being.
Use this connection to develop the “India in Chicago” model,
creating a heritage corridor that emphasizes a holistic view of
the natural environment and a healthy community.
2. Foster linkages within West Ridge’s business community
to help business owners share information and implement
collective projects, such as to beautify and “green” the spaces
in front of their businesses along major commercial corridors.
3. Mobilize the resources and networks of West Ridge’s business
community to reduce the carbon footprint of the businesses
along the Devon corridor, to help businesses stop using
environmentally-toxic materials such as styrofoam.
CREATIVE MODELS FOR
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Rec ommendations:

conclusion
With its thriving business district, the West Ridge neighborhood is a cultural and
commercial hub of metropolitan Chicago’s South Asian community. Though
socio-economically and ethnically diverse, West Ridge business owners, service
providers, and residents broadly agree that climate action strategies could
enhance the attractiveness, livability, and financial vitality of their community. By
linking their efforts to climate action and the CCAP, West Ridge organizations
can address shared concerns and core values—like beautification, health, and
safety—as they mobilize West Ridge’s human and cultural resources around
climate action projects.

Businesses
1. Daata Darbar
2. Money Dart
3. National Republic Bank
4. Punjabi Dhabha
5. Raja Vegetarian Fast Food
6. Sahil Boutique
7. Salvation Army Store
8. Udupi Palace
9. Uru Swati
10. Viceroy of India
Community Organizations
1. High Ridge YMCA
2. Indo-American Heritage
Center and Indo-American
Heritage Museum
3. Metropolitan Asian Family
Services
4. Muslim Women’s Resource
Center
5. Patel Brothers
Public Parks/Natural Areas
1. Indian Boundary Park
2. Warren Park
1. Arya Bhavan
2. Charmin Fine Dining &
Grill
3. Copal Kabob & Steak
4. Dasaprakash
5. Devon Pizza
6. Ghareeb Nawaz
7. India Garden
8. Motimoti Mahi Restaurant
9. Mysore Woodlands
10. Sabri Nehari
11. Sher Punjab Indian
Restaurant
12. Tahoora LLC
13. Usmania Fine Dining
Albion Ave
NWESTERNAVE
NCALIFORNIAAVE
W ARTHUR AVE
W LUNT AVE
W GRANVILLE AVE
NROCKWELLST
NWASHTENAWAVE
NCAMPBELLAVE
W ROSEMONT AVE
NARTESIANAVE
W JARVIS AVE
W FARGO AVE
NFAIRFIELDAVE
NMAPLEWOODAVE
NMOZARTST
W BIRCHWOOD AVE
W NORTH SHORE AVE
W SHERWIN AVE
NHOYNEAVE
W MORSE AVE
NVIRGINIAAVE
ESTES AVE
NRAVENSWOODAVE
NWOLCOTTAVE
NFRANCISCOAVE
NOAKLEYAVE
NWINCHESTERAVE
NCLAREMONTAVE
NSACRAMENTOAVE
DEVON
PRATT
TOUHY
PETERSON
KEDZIE
50th Ward
Bernard L. Stone
40th Ward
Patrick J O'Conner
49th Ward
Joe Moore
5
4
3
2
1
2
1
9 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
10
4
2
9
8
7 6
5
3
1
13
1211
10
5
4
3
2
1
2
1
9 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
10
4
2
9
8
7 6
5
3
1
13
1211
10
5
4
3
2
1
2
1
9 8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
10
9th Ward
aret Laurino Legend
Community Organization
Public Parks/Natural Are
Businesses
Chicago Park District
community asset map

CHICAGO
138TH
55TH
119TH
47TH
103RD
71ST
87TH
T
WESTERN
63RD
MADISON
YN MAWR
111TH
HALSTED
95TH
PULASKI
NORTH
FULLERTON
DEVON
PERSHING
79TH
NARRAGANSETT
ROOSEVELT
STONYISLAND
CERMAK
127TH
COTTAGEGROVE
ASHLAND
TORRENCE
CENTRAL
31ST
CICERO
HARLEM
KEDZIE
31ST
3
2
1
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
24
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
25
23
26
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
1
3
2
1
1
Legend
Businesses
Community Organization
Schools/Universities
Government Agecy
West Ridge
Businesses
1. Air India
2. Etihad Airlines
3. Globetrotting Engineering
1. American Indian Center
2. Arab American Action
Network
3. Balzekas Museum of
Lithuanian Culture
4. Bronzeville Children’s
Museum
5. Bronzeville/Black
Chicagoan Historical
6. Cambodian American
Heritage Museum and
Killing Fields Memorial
7. Casa Aztlán
8. Casa Michoacán
9. Changing Worlds
10. Chicago History Museaum
11. Children’s Memorial
Hospital
12. Chinese American
Museum of Chicago
13. Chinese Mutual Aid
Associon
14. DANK Haus German
American Cultural Center
15. Ethiopian Community
Association
16. Filipino American
Historical Society of
Chicago
17. Greater Chicago
18. Institute of Puerto Rican
Arts & Culture
19. Irish American Heritage
Center
20. Jane Addams Hull-House
Museum
21. Jesse White Tumbling Team
22. Korean American Resource
and Cultural Center
23. Latvian Folk Art Museum
24. Peggy Notebaert Nature
Museum
25. Polish Museum of America
26. Project on Civic Reflection
27. Pullman State Historic Site
28. Serbian Cultural and Arts
Center St. Sava
29. Swahili Institute of Chicago
30. Swedish American
Museum
31. The Field Museum
32. Ukrainian Institute of
Modern Art
33. Ukrainian National
Museum
Government Agencies
1. Toni Preckwinkle-Cook
County Board President
Schools/Universities
1. Center for International
Studies (University of
Chicago)
2. North Park University
3. Student Activities & Greek
Affair
ASSETS OUTSIDE OF THIS
MAP
Businesses
1. Asian American Hotel
Owners Association
2. Big Cinemas Golf Glen 5
3. Desi Junction Radio
1. Bengali Association of
Greater Chicago
2. Chicago Zoological
Society--Brookfield
3. Gujarati Samaj Chicago
4. Illinois Saint Andrews
Society
5. Italian Cultural Center at
Casa Italia
6. Maharashtra Mandal
Restaurant
7. Mitchell Museum of the
American Indian
8. Punjabi Cultural Society
9. Science of Spirituality
10. Shree Jalaram Mandir
Other Non-profit
Organization
1. Federation of Indian
Associations
2. Sardar Patel Foundation
regional asset map

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS
Our research with Indo-American Heritage Museum involved leaders and residents affiliated with
over 30 organizations, which represent a diversity of geographic areas, sectors, and issues.
These include:
Indo-American Heritage Museum
Indo-American Center
West Ridge YMCA
Punjabi Cultural Society
Gujarati Samaj Chicago
Metropolitan Family Health Services
Asian Family Services
Devon Bank
Uncommon Ground Restaurant
Indian Garden
Hansa Chaharia
BIBLIOGRAPHY
* All image rights reserved. Visit fieldmuseum.org/explore/department/ecco for more information.
OUR TEAM
Chicago Fact Finder: Your Census Information Resource for Chicagoland Communities. Area 2: West Ridge.
Institute for Latino Studies, University of Notre Dame, 2005. Web. June 2010.
Holi, Melvin G., and Peter D’Alroy Jones. Ethnic Chicago: A Multicultural Portrait. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans
Publishing Co, 1994.
Indo-American Center. Images of America: Asian Indians of Chicago. Arcadia Publishers, 2002.
Kalayil et al. Developing Devon. Self-published manuscript.
University of Illinois at Chicago. The West Ridge Community Survey. Self-publishedmanuscript.
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:
Dr. Jennifer Hirsch, Environment, Culture, and Conservation (ECCo), The Field Museum
Commissioner Suzanne Malec-McKenna, City of Chicago Department of Environment
PROJECT MANAGER:
Dr. Rosa Cabrera, Environment, Culture, and Conservation (ECCo), The Field Museum
PROJECT TEAM:
Mannan Bandukwala, Indo-American Heritage Museum
Nafisa Bandukwala, Indo-American Heritage Museum
Dr. Ruth Gomberg-Muñoz, Chicago Cultural Alliance
Ryan Lugalia-Hollon, Environment, Culture, and Conservation (ECCo), The Field Museum
Lisa See Kim, Environment, Culture, and Conservation (ECCo), The Field Museum
Modhurima Mukherjee, Indo-American Heritage Museum
Rebeccah Sanders, Chicago Cultural Alliance
Dorothie Shah, Indo-American Heritage Museum
Mimosa Shah, Chicago Cultural Alliance
Renuka Sharma, Indo-American Center
Sarah Sommers, Environment, Culture, and Conservation (ECCo), The Field Museum
INTERNS:
Izabela Grobelna, Alyssa Pfluger, Hannah Porst, Ylanda Wilhite, Juliana Wilhoit

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