The MAA is a nonprofit consortium of artists, cultural organizations, and creative businesses sharing resources and building relationships to address the needs and opportunities on Milwaukee Avenue between Kimball and Central Park in Chicago’s Avondale neighborhood.
Places
We view our unused storefronts as an asset that we can activate for the greater good by:
• Pairing traditionally underserved entrepreneurs with storefront owners eager to cultivate a new generation of independent businesses.
• Partnering with Accion and other entrepreneurial incubators to support women- and minority-owned small business owners ready to take the next step.
• Turning unused storefronts into venues for local arts organizations.
Projects
We promote unity, equity, inclusivity, and generosity by:
• Initiating projects that support our local businesses and arts organizations.
• Raising awareness of our multicultural past, present, and future, such as the Blue Goose mural.
• Administering programming on Woodard Plaza produced by local arts organizations, such as Moods & Foods.
• Connecting people experiencing housing insecurity to support services.
People
We create space to ask questions, listen and learn from each other through:
• Civil dialogue
• Project-specific work groups
• Newsletter
• Opinion polls
• Social gatherings
Working together…
