Today’s environment and public health concerns in Chicago’s Southeast side are a result of deliberate urban planning and policy decisions made since the early 20th century.

Shedding light on these decisions brings context to the land use, industrial, and environmental differences that exist today between Chicago’s segregated North and Southeast sides. Seeing how these past decisions impact present-day circumstances can support the organizing efforts of community-based organizations and advocates, while inspiring policies at both state and local levels that prioritize people over profit.