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The Back of the Yards neighborhood was originally part of the Town of Lake until its annexation by Chicago in 1889. The expansion of the neighborhood began in the mid–nineteenth century with the establishment of the Union Stockyards and the concentration of railroads in the area. By 1900, the neighborhood had been transformed into a series of Slavic enclaves, dominated by Poles, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Slovaks, largely composed of workingman’s cottages.

Each of these ethnic enclaves had their own church and school, usually housed in the same building with a head priest imported from the motherland as a way to stay connected to their heritage. In most cases, these enclaves also had men’s social clubs, women’s leagues, and sports associations. Prior to the Great Depression, these enclaves handled their population’s problems internally. A colorful story that demonstrates this phenomenon is that of a gentleman who fell down and broke his eyeglasses after a night of drinking. Knowing that the gentleman needed his eyeglasses to work, the men’s Social Club passed the hat around and purchased a new pair for him.

Unfortunately, when the Great Depression hit, poverty and need were so widespread that the enclaves simply could not cope within their individual ethnic communities.

It was this environment that created a need for an organization like the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council. The BYNC was formed in 1939 by Joseph Meegan, the superintendent of Davis Square Park, and Saul Alinski, a colorful, professional organizer.

At this point, the BYNC was essentially a collaboration of all the individual ethnic schools, churches, and various social clubs. The Board of Directors was elected by an annual “Community Congress”, where all these groups were represented. The BYNC motto, “We the people will work out our own destiny”, reflects what it was created to accomplish.

As mentioned earlier, the environment created by the Great Depression demanded a unified force to work for change in the neighborhood. Through advocacy and program development, the BYNC became that force. Notable accomplishments at this stage were securing WPA dollars for the neighborhood and the creation of a school lunch program that became a model for the nation.

In the early years, the BYNC was a confrontational, anti-establishment organization that often conflicted with the Stockyards owners and the government.

Over time, both the community and the organization changed. The community remained Slavic for until the 20th Century, but by the mid-70’s it was a predominately Hispanic neighborhood with a large number of African Americans, as it is today.

The BYNC also responded to the demographic, social, and economic changes of the neighborhood. We have substituted an emphasis on community and economic development for Alinski’s confrontational methods, working closely with local businesses and elected officials to improve the conditions in the neighborhood and create our own community programs.

When Joseph Meegan retired in 1982, Patrick J. Salmon, who was then the Director of the Juvenile Welfare Program, succeeded him as president of the BYNC. Patrick Salmon’s tenure as President of the Council and his legacy are evident in the Yards Plaza, an $850 Million Shopping Center on 47th and Damen, and the creation of the Stockyards Industrial Park on the site of the old Union Stockyards – both projects that he helped bring to the community. Patrick Salmon served as President of the BYNC until his retirement in 2007. Unfortunately, Mr. Salmon died of pancreatic cancer in August of 2008.

Patrick Salmon was followed by the current President, Craig Chico. Mr. Chico has deep roots in the Back of the Yards community and years of experience in community service.

For more information on the history of the Back of the Yards community and the BYNC, here a few good resources and book recommendations:

• Encyclopedia of Chicago article on the BYNC
• Encylopedia of Chicago article on the Back of the Yards
• Encyclopedia of Chicago article on the Union Stockyards
• “The Back of the Yards: the Making of a Local Democracy” by Robert Slayton
• “Pride in the Jungle” by Thomas Jablonsky
• “Back of the Yards: Images of America” by Jeannette Swist

Also, please visit our media page for a video on our history an an extensive gallery of historic photos.

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Afterschool Tutoring

The Back of the Yards neighborhood was originally part of the Town of Lake until its annexation by Chicago in 1889. The expansion of the neighborhood began in the mid–nineteenth century with the establishment of the Union Stockyards and the concentration of railroads in the area. By 1900, the neighborhood had been transformed into a series of Slavic enclaves, dominated by Poles, Czechs, Lithuanians, and Slovaks, largely composed of workingman’s cottages.

Each of these ethnic enclaves had their own church and school, usually housed in the same building with a head priest imported from the motherland as a way to stay connected to their heritage. In most cases, these enclaves also had men’s social clubs, women’s leagues, and sports associations. Prior to the Great Depression, these enclaves handled their population’s problems internally. A colorful story that demonstrates this phenomenon is that of a gentleman who fell down and broke his eyeglasses after a night of drinking. Knowing that the gentleman needed his eyeglasses to work, the men’s Social Club passed the hat around and purchased a new pair for him.

Computer Lab

The Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council is a community organization whose mission is to enhance the general welfare of all residents, organizations, and businesses in our service area. We accomplish this by integrating social service and economic development programs.

Our motto is, and always has been, “We the people will work out our own destiny!”

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Sigatoka Valley
Whether by tour bus or on your own adventure, head inland along the west bank of the Sigatoka river. Either side of the road are the patchwork of flat green fields growing the crops that give the Valley its nickname: “Fiji’s Salad Bowl.” Along the way are the villages of Lawai and Nakbuta, who welcome guests and offer handicrafts and pottery for sale. The drive past Nakbuta is not for those who suffer from vertigo, as the road climbs steeply along a narrow ridge, but the reward is a panoramic view across the winding Sigatoka Valley with its quilt-like fields to the right.

The road then winds to the valley floor and Sigatoka Agricultural Research Station, a popular spot for picnic lunches. From here, the roads get rough and are strictly for the four wheel drives, but even for those who turn back, this trip is a once in a lifetime glimpse at the real Fiji.

Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park

The Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park is located at the mouth of the Sigatoka River. The extensive dune system extends for several miles along the coast with dunes reaching heights of 60m (200ft). Fiji’s first National Park, this is also an archaeological site where pottery some 3000 years old has been uncovered by the shifting sands, alongside stone tools and human remains. The curious should drop into the Visitor’s centre to learn more about this unique natural location.

Kula Eco Park
Just off the Queen’s Road opposite the Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji, Kula Eco Park is Fiji’s only wildlife park.

The park is a cool green forest nestled in a small valley. The trees have names like Dawa, Ivi, Vutu and Vesi and tower above the valley floor filtering the sun. Visitors will hear the call of barking pigeons, the shrill of honey eaters and the constant, pulsing concert of unseen forest dwellers. This is the wild side of Fiji

So far, the Park’s efforts at sustainable ecotourism have been successful. They have recently been involved in the captive breeding of Fiji’s peregrine falcon and crested iguana. In addition, the education program for school children has seen the “graduation” of over a thousand members

Established in the late 80s and purchased by Kula Eco Park Management 1997, today the park is the an environmental showcase of the South Pacific.

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