Neighborhood Associations are volunteer groups, typically with paid membership, representing a specific area. They are usually registered as 501c3 nonprofits, although it's not a requirement.
Neighborhood associations are hugely influential for getting things done in your ward. Their influence varies, but since Chicago was built on the unwritten rule of Aldermanic Prerogative, your alder typically has final say over what does and does not happen in your ward. If your neighborhood association has influence with the alder, which they often do, that means a relatively small group of people has the power to speak for the neighborhood at large.
On its own, this isn't a problem, but neighborhood associations typically have trouble recruiting new members. They might be unreliable at responding to email, or have unpredictable meeting schedules. Sometimes this is even done on purpose, although that's not always the case.
You live in your neighborhood. You should have a say about what happens there.
We're doing our best to compile as much information as we can find about the neighborhood associations within Humboldt Park, Logan Square, and West Town, including: