FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 3, 2026
Media Contact:
Kiera S. Ellis, Rise Strategy Group
COMMUNITY INVESTMENT CORPORATION LAUNCHES NEW MURAL PILOT PROGRAM TO INVEST IN AND BEAUTIFY CHICAGO NEIGHBORHOODS
First Mural in Washington Park Completed by Local Artist Reco the Great
CHICAGO – Community Investment Corporation (CIC), a nonprofit lender and community development financial institution (CDFI) that finances the acquisition, rehabilitation, and preservation of affordable rental housing, today announced a new pilot program bringing murals to neighborhoods across Chicago. The program’s first mural will be unveiled today at an ice cream social for residents with the artist in Washington Park. Photos of the new mural can be found here.
The $10,000 initial mural pilot program, funded through a portion of the philanthropic support CIC received from MacKenzie Scott, builds on CIC’s commitment to strengthen the communities where their borrowers own and manage housing. Through the pilot, CIC connected one of its borrowers with a local artist to create a visible, positive investment in the neighborhood surrounding the property.
“Our work has always been about more than the buildings we finance,” said Stacie Young, President and CEO of Community Investment Corporation. “When local owners feature local artists’ murals on their buildings, it helps beautify the neighborhood. That’s a wall that hundreds of people walk past every day, and it tells the neighborhood that this block is worth investing in. That confidence is what keeps communities strong and it’s what our borrowers are building every day.”
Located beneath the CTA entrance at 6246 S. King Drive, the mural sits in a high-traffic corridor seen by hundreds of residents and commuters daily. It was created and installed by Ahmad J. Lee, known as Reco the Great, an experienced visual artist and Woodlawn resident. The design reflects the character of the surrounding community and is intended to foster energy and pride among residents. Lee describes the piece as an abstract, expressionist style filled with vibrant shapes and hues to capture the unique spirit of Washington Park. The design reflects the area’s rich vibrancy and individuality, inspired by landmarks and events such as the Bud Billiken Day Parade, the DuSable Museum, and the Kirby Puckett Baseball League. The scene depicts a family walking through the area, experiencing its diverse cultural offerings as the sunset approaches. Throughout the piece, themes of the Great Migration, jazz music, and the African diaspora are seamlessly woven in, celebrating the deep cultural history that shapes Washington Park. Examples of Lee’s previous mural work across Chicago and beyond can be found here.
“I grew up around here, so this isn’t just a wall to me,” said Ahmad J. Lee, known as Reco the Great. “People pass this spot every single day on their way to work, to school, to church. I wanted them to see something that looks like where they come from and feels like something to be proud of.”
The pilot builds on CIC’s earlier work with public art. Last year, CIC worked with local artist Cristian Roldán on a mural about their work for the Wintrust Mural Building. The art was seen by thousands of Kennedy Expressway commuters each day, and that response prompted the organization to take the same idea directly into the neighborhoods it serves, in partnership with its borrowers.
The program reflects CIC’s broader approach to neighborhood investment. While its core work is financing and preserving multifamily properties, those buildings sit within living communities. By pairing a property owner with a neighborhood artist, CIC aims to strengthen the connection between housing, neighborhood identity, and community pride.
About Community Investment Corporation (CIC):
CIC is a 52 year-old not-for-profit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) organization dedicated to the preservation and creation of affordable housing in the Chicago area. Since its founding, CIC has provided innovative financial solutions to local owner-operators to strengthen neighborhoods and provide safe, affordable housing options for thousands of residents.
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