History

The idea of a shared space for University of Chicago students and members of the Woodlawn and Hyde Park communities to collaborate on artistic, political, and educational initiatives had its roots in a series of increasingly ambitious student proposals dating back to spring 2006. First conceived as an independent student run theater, then as the "Experimental Culture Incubator" EX-LAB, these projects culminated in the spring of 2007 with "Midway Free City," an event that brought together Chicago artists, students, and residents for an afternoon of collaborative art and political discussion. With the success of "Midway Free City," The University of Chicago agreed to facilitate a search for a long-term location for the project, soon dubbed the Woodlawn Collaborative (WLC). The project ultimately attracted the attention and interest of First Presbyterian Church, a longtime community leader with a history of progressive political involvement and community service, where the Collaborative is now located.

In 2008, students and community members began meeting and organizing as the Ad Hoc Woodlawn Collaborative Committee to make the project a reality. Having secured seed money for the project from The University of Chicago Community Service Center, the Committee began to apply for grants. In February 2009 The WLC was awarded funding for capital investments from The University of Chicago's Uncommon Fund. At the same time, the WLC began to receive project proposals from community and student organizations, ranging from theater and dance troupes to tenants' rights organizations and tutoring programs. The project also garnered attention from local press outlets, including The Chicago Weekly ("The Bridge: the Woodlawn Collaborative connects students in Hyde Park with their neighbors to the South," 4/9/09).