The Chicago Project

Dayton Trip

“Why is there such a disproportionate representation of poverty in the inner-cities and prosperity in the suburbs?”  

In early March, we spent a day on the west side of Dayton to answer this question and visit numerous civil rights organizations including the Southern Christian Leadership Council (SCLC), the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and WDAO Radio. Each student signed up for a one year membership for the SCLC and the NAACP. We walked away learning the unique difference between the SCLC and the NAACP. The SCLC addresses injustice by creating social tension through public protests and the NAACP through litigation and the court system (Brown vs. the Board of Education). 

Officer David Fox provided us with a tour of the west side of Dayton and illustrated ways the city both contributes to and alleviates urban poverty.    Pam Elmore shared her perspective of growing up in the near suburbs during the first era of suburbanization and how she, like most other suburbanites, were unaware of the deteriorating conditions within inner city communities.  Judge Rice discussed issues pertaining to school desegregation, the legal system, and civil rights.   

“Big Rob” told us about his experience growing up on the west side and living in the projects for a short time of his life.