Changing the Narrative. Inspiring Our Community.
Light Up Lawndale
A tax exempt, grassroots, nonprofit organization built to support the residents in need of resources. We deliver targeted community outreach, disaster assistance, youth development, violence prevention, case management, and advocacy exclusively for the Lawndale, Garfield Park, Austin, and surrounding communities. Support an organization dedicated to achieving real results!
Our Mission & Purpose…
Light Up Lawndale is a certified 501(C)(3) nonprofit headquartered in Chicago’s Lawndale community. Our mission is to change the narrative of Chicago’s West Side communities through education, empowerment, engagement, housing, and economic development. We collaborate closely with residents and organizations in Lawndale to foster a healthier, more cohesive, and flourishing community.
Our approach is hands-on, involving active engagement and tangible efforts to effect positive change and empower underserved communities. We are deeply committed to making a meaningful difference through direct involvement and grassroots initiatives. We are truly a nonprofit representative of the communities we serve. For us, by us is true for us!
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“As a community-based nonprofit, focused on economic empowerment, we sincerely appreciate everyone and their continued donations to our year round efforts to make Lawndale a great place.”
— Princess Shaw, Founder & Organizer
Support Services
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Violence Prevention
We support and deliver violence prevention services and trainings for communities in need. From conflict mediation and resolution to alternatives to gun and firearm violence, we equip our youth and residents with peace-building solutions and activities.
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Community Building
Community building is at the heart of everything we do. From our annual holiday lighting event to Juneteenth and Father’s Day picnics to physical activity like our “Let’s Move Lawndale” event, we keep communities engaged, empowered, and most of all, connected!
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Youth Development
We invest in our youth, our future. From professional development to skills training to career education, we do it all. We teach our youth life skills to prepare them for productive lives and employment skills to ready them for successful careers and a better life.
Advocacy
Light Up Lawndale 🌟 Joins the City of Chicago’s New and Innovative Office of Homelessness Prevention led by Sendy Soto. Light Up Lawndale has the pleasure of collaborating to bring about change through a PLE (Person with Lived Experience) lens.
We are asking our community to take a few minutes to take the survey that is being used as a tool toward reshaping what it looks like to be homeless and to make memorable impact!
To learn more about the new City of Chicago Office of Homelessness Prevention. Please visit the website below.
Upcoming Events
Light Up Lawndale, as part of the Westside Long Term Recovery Group and in collaboration with the Chicago Park District and Illinois Answer Project, has been able to reach 100 seniors with our seminar. We are changing lives through hosting seminars for our community elders about seasonal home care, generational wealth, and controlling the narrative for themselves and their families!!!!!!
Join us for food and great conversation about how to preserve the memory of our elders and a chance to connect with your community!
Any and all donations are greatly appreciated and go toward assisting with the cost of the series of events (lunch and healthy snacks for the elders, transportation, etc.)
2024 Top Event Sponsors
On behalf of Light Up Lawndale, we would like to recognize and thank our top event sponsors and contributors of 2024.
We thank you for your sponsorship and for assisting with making Light Up Lawndale’s 5th Year an extraordinary success.
2023 Top Event Sponsors
On behalf of Light Up Lawndale, we would like to recognize and thank our top event sponsors and contributors of 2023.
We thank you for your sponsorship and for assisting with making the Westside of Chicago, especially Lawndale, great again.
Past Sponsors
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Past Events
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Meet Our President
Schanel “Princess” Shaw
”Da Community Connector”
I am a life-long Lawndale-an that developed into a Community Connector. My passion is to bring revitalization to forgotten communities. In 2020, I proudly created and spearheaded the “Light Up Lawndale” Campaign to promote a sense of unity and harmony during the holiday season. As President, my goal is to continue to highlight causes that matter by galvanizing community, business, and political support to uplift inner city communities.
