Insurgent Planning on the South Side of Chicago: Engaging and Growing Community through Regenerative Neighborhood Development

This paper critically examines the development of insurgent planning (IP) efforts on the South Side of Chicago, and their implications for effective resident engagement. For a better understanding of these insurgent planning efforts in Chicago, this paper examines the case study of Sweet Water Foundation (SWF), a non-profit neighborhood revitalization organization on the South Side. SWF's practices are contrasted to three municipal plans developed for the South Side in order to analyze how the organization's planning strategy serves as an insurgent alternative to traditional forms of resident engagement. This research contributes to IP theory by arguing that states are capable of incorporating insurgent strategies for resident engagement into their own initiatives, a claim evidenced by recent shifts in local governance and the significant role of grassroots community organizations in municipal planning endeavors. Finally, policy recommendations are offered for the City of Chicago in order to bolster their resident engagement efforts.