Faith in Action Across Bronzeville & Beyond
St. Paul’s community work is built on the belief that faith should open doors, remove barriers, and create lasting opportunity. Through St. Paul Community Development Ministries, the church continues to support residents, families, job seekers, and community stakeholders across Chicago.
Community Development Statement
St. Paul Community Development Ministries provides human and social services geared toward empowerment, including educational support, vocational rehabilitation, job counseling, job training, work experience, mentoring, career awareness, and pre-apprenticeship preparation.
The work is especially focused on supporting historically underrepresented, underemployed, unemployed, and hard-to-serve populations. Its mission reflects St. Paul’s broader commitment to community uplift, workforce equity, and pathways to economic stability.
Workforce Equity Statement
St. Paul’s workforce development work helps prepare participants for union construction careers and other family-sustaining opportunities. Public coverage describes the program’s focus on increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion for African Americans, women, and other underrepresented groups in the construction trades.
Partners & Collaboration
St. Paul’s community development work has connected with organizations, funders, and initiatives focused on education, workforce access, and public good. Publicly documented connections include support from the Chicago Teachers Union Foundation and partnership activity with the Rainbow PUSH Coalition around skilled construction trade testing and apprenticeship access.
Margaret Ford Manor: Honoring Seniors With Dignity
Margaret Ford Manor is a living expression of St. Paul Church of God in Christ’s commitment to caring for seniors and strengthening the Bronzeville community. The vision began with Bishop Louis Henry Ford, who desired to establish affordable senior housing adjacent to the church. After his passing, Bishop Charles Mason Ford carried that vision forward, helping secure federal housing support and dedicating the 60-unit Margaret Ford Manor in honor of his mother, Mother Margaret Grace Ford.
More than a housing facility, Margaret Ford Manor reflects St. Paul’s belief that ministry must serve the whole person. By providing independent, affordable housing for seniors, the Manor helps elders remain rooted in community, connected to neighborhood life, and supported with dignity as they age. It stands as a continuation of St. Paul’s legacy of faith in action: creating stability, honoring elders, and building spaces where people can live with safety, respect, and belonging.
Victoria Jennings Residences: Supporting Accessibility & Independence
Victoria Jennings Residences continues St. Paul Church of God in Christ’s legacy of housing, access, and community care. Developed under the leadership of Bishop Charles Mason Ford, the 24-unit residence was created to provide housing for individuals with disabilities and their families. Its development grew out of the church’s broader mission to respond to real community needs with practical solutions rooted in compassion and justice.
Through Victoria Jennings Residences, St. Paul expanded its ministry beyond worship and outreach into accessible housing and long-term support for residents facing physical challenges. The residence helps create a more inclusive community by offering housing that supports independence, stability, and dignity. Together with Margaret Ford Manor, it shows how St. Paul’s faith legacy has been carried forward through tangible investments in people, families, and the future of Chicago’s South Side.