Gentrification, Covid Evictions, Obama Library CBA, Dislocation, Rent Control. These and other housing issues might be confusing or even meaningless to those of us who never deal with them. They are very meaningful to our Black and Brown neighbors and have everything to do with the vitality of our city which has seen 300,000 Black people move away since the last census .


Jawanza Malone serves as the Executive Director for Kenwood-Oakland Community Organization (KOCO) located on Chicago's Southside. KOCO's legacy as the oldest Black-led, membership-based community organization in Chicago is the result of decades of organizing low-income and working families around issues most critical to their daily lives. Jawanza brings over 27 years of organizing and community-based leadership development experience to his role. Joining KOCO in 1997 as a board member, Jawanza later moved into a staff role where he led the organization's housing justice work.

In 2012, Jawanza rose into the executive role and began guiding the organization toward its current stature as Chicago's progressive frontline fighting back regressive policies that continue to negatively impact the quality of life for working people in Chicago and across the state of Illinois. Jawanza is currently focused on two critical campaigns: winning a Community Benefits Agreement for the Obama Presidential Center, and; for Illinois to become the next state to repeal a statewide prohibition on rent control and establish rent regulations through the Lift the Ban Coalition. HIs campaign leadership is elevating KOCO's local policy influence to regional and national levels.

You can submit questions in advance to info@skylinevillagechicago.org