Workshop Organization

Organizers held the workshop in the Canter School cafeteria. The room had 15 tables set for groups of 10. Every participant received a table assignment and an electronic key pad. Each table had a facilitator. Organizers recruited facilitators in advance. CMAP provided an hour of training to facilitators prior to the workshop.

After an overview of the day, participants completed a ‘warm up’ exercise called, “Who’s in the room?” utilizing the key pad devices to find out the demographics of the participants.

Each group then completed a table exercise where individuals answered questions about “where they live, work, shop and play.” what they value about Hyde Park, and why do they leave Hyde Park. The responses to these questions are summarized earlier in this document. The facilitator then asked a few groups to share responses.

Mr. Sam Assefa, Deputy Commissioner for the City of Chicago, Department of Planning and Development gave a presentation called, The Benefits of Density.

Then everyone in each group answered the following questions on worksheets:

• What should the street look like?
• What should go in the buildings?
• What should the buildings look like?
• What activities will people engage in?

Facilitators lead brief discussions of each question and noted responses to each question on a flip chart. Then each group utilized colored dots to vote for their top choices. This was repeated for each question.

When all the groups completed the exercise, CMAP staff then reviewed the top choices from each group, summarized and reduced the responses to each question to a list of with ten choices. Then the entire group used the keypad devices to identify their first choice from the listed options. This exercise was repeated, to identify people’s second choice by eliminating the ‘winner’ as an option in the next vote. The results were visible to the group instantaneously. The questions and all of the responses from the polling questions are available.

Feedback & evaluation - Participants were given an opportunity to provide written feedback and comments for the organizers. The vast majority of the comments were enthusiastic and positive.   There were six comments critical of the workshop that generally pertained to last question, lack of transparency and a perception that there was a hidden agenda.

There were six comments critical of the workshop that generally pertained to last question, lack of transparency and a perception that there was a hidden agenda.

Suggestions- There were additional comments that reflected further thoughts on the following topics and attitudes:

• Next steps: People wanted to know what are next steps? People want to see something happen. Some voiced concerns regarding the potential for piecemeal development. Others expressed interest in seeing an overall development plan. 

• Audience demographics – People noted and recognized the need for more African Americans and young people to accurately reflect the demographics of the community. For example:

• More discussion needed: Attendees commented that they would have liked more discussion on the following issues: transportation, parking, environment and economic viability of proposals. Some requested a more in-depth look at density specifically in terms of Hyde Park.

• Business viability - Concerns about the viability of small independent businesses. 

• Promote Change!