Gerardo Reyes<Fax# 773-376-6419> Date: Sun, 20 Apr 1997
Dear Mr. David Broski:
Great part of the University's territories have been the entry neighborhood for many of our ancestors since back in the 1920's. St. Francis of Assisi church, 817 West Roosevelt Road, is located within the same territory, which has been serving the Mexican community since 1925.
The expansion of the University of Illinois at Chicago continues to push our Mexican American community out of the Maxwell Street neighborhood. The University says that the reason for doing this was for our children's education. We the Maxwell Community are trying to educate our children and at the same time preserving our heritage and community history.
Chicago has grown with the value of the community's diversity and family values. Maxwell street has a great importance; therefore, it has to be preserved as a historic district. In which the Jews, African-Americans, and Mexican immigrants have started their own business and taken part in all the neighborhood of Chicago. Looking for better life; Many businesspeople started in this marketplace, Now they own their own business in a different neighborhood within the Chicago area.
Maxwell is the diversity of communities and its economy has contributed to make Chicago a great culture and history, so that the new generations will have knowledge of how and when their ancestors started.
The sun comes out for everyone, not only for people which make their own decisions and leave others out in the cold. God has blessed these communities guiding them to the new era, and have the right to exist like trees and flowers.
Therefore, we the parishioners and St. Francis of Assisi Church Preservation Committee, support the "Maxwell Street Historic Preservation Coalition", in their effort to preserve Maxwell Street's remaining blocks and neighborhood as a historic place where people can experience as well as learn about Chicago's and their own heritage and history.
Sincerely,
Gerardo Reyes
President
Fondo Franciscano Of St. Francis of Assisi Church Preservation Committee
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