The Firehouse Community Arts Center

The Firehouse Community Arts Center is a U.S. nonprofit organization based in Chicago, Illinois, with an Employer Identification Number (EIN) of 86-1173412. The organization is primarily dedicated to serving the North Lawndale community, an area known for its socioeconomic challenges.

History

The Firehouse Community Arts Center was founded by Pastor Phil Jackson, who began an all-youth and young adult Saturday night Hip-Hop worship service in North Lawndale in 2003. This event attracted participants from across the city, highlighting the need for a community hub focused on the arts. In response, Pastor Jackson and his partners incorporated the organization as a 501(c)(3) in 2006. In 2007, they acquired a 100-year-old former firehouse in North Lawndale, which serves as their headquarters and center of operations.

Mission

The mission of the Firehouse Community Arts Center is to interrupt the cycle of violence among youth and young adults in North Lawndale through the power of the arts. The organization aims to achieve this by offering multi-disciplinary cultural programming, mentorship, violence intervention, leadership development, and workforce training opportunities.

Programs

The Firehouse Community Arts Center provides programs that span six art disciplines: dance, culinary arts, audio engineering, fashion, technology, and visual arts. These programs are structured under two main initiatives:

• Intervention Program (Firehouse P.A.C.): Focuses on interrupting violence through arts and workforce development.
• Prevention Program (A.R.T.): Offers arts education and social/emotional learning to prevent youth from engaging in violence.

These initiatives are designed for at-risk youth aged 12-25, who may lack access to creative arts education, computers, and extracurricular programming. By teaching marketable skills and providing opportunities for social entrepreneurship, the Firehouse aims to decrease dropout rates, support educational continuity, and facilitate gainful employment among participants.

Impact

The organization operates in a community with significant socioeconomic challenges, including high dropout rates and poverty levels. By providing a safe, supportive environment that fosters personal growth and positive change, the Firehouse Community Arts Center plays a vital role in addressing these issues and promoting community resilience.

[1] https://thefcac.org/about/ [2] https://thefcac.org [3] http://thefcac.org [4] https://www.guidestar.org/profile/86-1173412 [5] https://www.macfound.org/grantee/house-development-corporation-42479/