OUR VISION

The Hermosa Neighborhood Association (HNA) is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) advocacy group fighting for better quality of life for all Hermosa’s diverse residents, regardless of status, gender, or sexual orientation. We provide action-oriented advocacy for those most vulnerable including women and girls. HNA program advocacy includes: living arrangements, city services, schools, parks, health and safety in Hermosa, Chicago. Our goal as an organization is to provide community resources to the families in Hermosa, and to promote community engagement within our neighborhood. We seek to aid and promote the general welfare of the community through dialogue, empowerment, and direct action.

Dialogue: Uniting people across race, ethnicity and religion to more effectively address the problems impacting Hermosa through social engagement and activities.

Empowerment: Developing leadership skills of community members so that they can address the root causes of the problems facing Hermosa and work towards structural change.

Direct Action: Use our united voice to take back our community through petitions, voting initiatives, community clean ups, town hall meetings, lobbying, fundraising, and community-directed development and planning.

OUR Service Area

For the purposes of the HNA, Hermosa shall be defined as the area in the city of Chicago, Illinois that is bounded by Pulaski Road on the East, Belmont Avenue on the North, Cicero Avenue on the West and North Avenue on the South. This area comprises three self-described neighborhoods: Hermosa Park, Kelvyn Park and Belmont Gardens. 

For a more detailed map of the official Hermosa community boundaries, see hermosachi.com.

OUR IMPACT

The Hermosa Neighborhood Association has made a significant impact on our community, benefiting residents of all ages, race and genders.

Here are some of the projects and initiatives we have accomplished over our years of service:

Raising $275K+ for Nixon Elementary Playground

In the mid 2010s, local residents had raised their voices of the dangerous conditions from the outdated metal playground equipment at their local elementary school. HNA volunteers worked tirelessly to shine a light of the need, raise the funds, and actually installed the playground equipment with local residents that so desperately needed a place for their children to play.

$20,000 for Hermosa Mutual Aid Drives

When the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 hit the Hermosa community, it affected the most vulnerable: those with less instability in their status, shift workers, and government shutdowns creating food insecurities, housing crisis and no financial safety nets. The HNA founded Hermosa Mutual Aid and raised money for food, supplies, diapers and bringing joy to Hermosa families in a toy drive.

other achievments

• Hosted over 100 events since our founding

• Obtained a refugee Island on Fullerton & Keystone

• Organized the first annual Hermosa Fest held at both Hermosa Park and Kelvyn Park. It featured over 40 local performers and vendors from the Hermosa community.

• Planted over 30 trees in the Hermosa community in collaboration with Openlands.

• Encouraged community members to contact the Bureau of Forestry and asked for trees. Planting more trees in the fall of 2016.

• Obtained a Divvy station for Healy Metra station.

• Establishing a community garden for Kil-Parker.

• Participated in Participatory Budgeting wards located in Hermosa

• Established strong partnerships with local organizations, community groups, and politicians committed to our mission and the betterment of the Hermosa community.