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Doug Dobmeyer has worked for over thirty-nine years in the non-profit sector and doing media work and journalism in both the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois. He graduated from Indiana University in 1971 with a degree in political science and served for two years as a VISTA volunteer with the Cook County Legal Assistance Foundation from 1971-1973. Dobmeyer's principle work for the following twenty-five years has included social service work primarily with the development of emergency services and low-income housing in Chicago to address homelessness. This work has included direct service, public policy development, lobbying, and media work to get policies adopted.
Dobmeyer has served as executive director of several Chicago-based homeless and statewide advocacy groups. In the mid-1980's he led efforts to establish the first organization, the Lakefront SRO Corporation, (now Mercy Housing Lakefront) to focus on the purchase, redevelopment and management of SRO (single room occupancy) buildings. Lakefront SRO has since merged with Mercy Housing, based in Denver, but during its initial nineteen-year run as an independent organization, eleven buildings with over 1,000 units for the very low-income were developed and managed.
Also in the mid-1980's Dobmeyer was a leader in efforts to force the developer of an upscale near west side development (Presidential Towers developed by the Habitat Company) to provide to the city over $3 million for a fund for low-income housing. That fund turned into the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund. In 1989 the fund was established and Dobmeyer was appointed a Board member first by then-mayor Eugene Sawyer. Dobmeyer was then reappointed by Mayor Richard M. Daley for ten two-year terms, serving as the Board Secretary during his tenure. By 2010, the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund fund has subsidized over 2,400 units of rental housing so low-income individuals and families can live in rental housing and provided long-term housing development assistance for the very low-income.
In 1994, Doug Dobmeyer started Dobmeyer Communications, doing media work for a variety of clients on difficult social agenda issues. Additionally, as a Chicago Community Trust Service Fellow (1994-95) and a Fellow at Loyola University of Chicago (1998), he has been involved in researching, teaching writing and media training for many people.
Dobmeyer has served as spokesperson for the Task Force to Oppose Gambling in Chicago, an organization that has fought efforts to bring a casino to the city and has successfully kept Chicago casino-free for twenty years.
As journalist and author, Doug Dobmeyer published Poverty Issues...Dateline Illinois from 1996 to 2001. He also developed and wrote On Issue, a political column for Streetwise, from 1998 to 2001. During the spring legislative session in 2000, he covered state issues and political news at Illinoisğt;' State House for City News USA, a web-based news service, among several other publications. Beginning in January, 2004, Dobmeyer started publishing Todayğt;'s Issues, an e-publication covering political and social issues. Dobmeyer has also written a book on media strategies for non-profit organizations, Competing Successfully for Media Coverage (Dobmeyer Communications, 1996).
Doug Dobmeyer is married to Candace Huber, a property manager for Over the Rainbow Association providing housing for physically challenged people. At the time of his 2008 donation of his personal papers to the University of Illinois at Chicago University Library, Dobmeyer has remained active through continued writing and advocacy work.
The Doug Dobmeyer Papers (1978-2008) comprise administrative records, correspondence, reports, publicity and fundraising materials, and media documenting organizations for which Dobmeyer served as founder, director, board member or consultant. These organizations include: Voice of the People in Uptown, Inc., Residents for Emergency Shelter (REST), Center for Street People, Lakefront SRO Corporation (now Mercy Lakefront Housing), Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund, Public Welfare Coalition, Chicago Community Trust Fellowship, and the Task Force to Oppose Gambling in Chicago.
Also included in the collection are reports from the Chicago Department of Housing (1990-2008), client files from Dobmeyer Communications (a media consulting firm for social issue agencies and advocates) as well as materials relating to Dobmeyer's publication, Poverty Issues...Dateline Illinois, and media coverage of Dobmeyer's work with social service agencies, in developing public policy, and as a journalist.
Arrangement of the collection very closely mirrors the original order of the materials as donated by Mr. Dobmeyer. Individual series have been created for each of the various organizations, agencies, and task forces with which Doug Dobmeyer worked, comprising Series I - Series X. Materials documenting Mr. Dobmeyer's media consulting company, Dobmeyer Communications, forms Series XI and materials documenting Mr. Dobmeyer's publication, Poverty Issues...Dateline Illinois, comprise Series XII. The final series, Series XIII, contains media coverage of Dobmeyer and his work.
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Doug Dobmeyer papers, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Illinois at Chicago
Voice of the People in Uptown, Inc. (VOP) is a non-profit developer of family housing for low income families in the Uptown neighborhood in Chicago's north side. Active since 1968, this charitable organization aims to combat community deterioration and juvenile delinquency. Doug Dobmeyer was a member of the Board of the Directors (1979-1988) and a past President of the Board of Directors (from 1979-81 and from 1984-86) of the board of Voice of the People in Uptown, Inc..
This series includes Doug Dobmeyerğt;'s administrative records from his work as a member of the Board of Directors of the Voice of the People in Uptown, Inc., including work from his tenure as President of the Board.
These records include newspaper clippings, community fliers, business plans, and board meeting materials. In the Sheridan Park Housing District, the Voice of the People responded to local, private for-profit housing development competition. Regarding the Save Uptown Neighborhoods (SUN) litigation, also known as the <"Sun Suitğt;", there is documentation reflecting how the Voice of the People responded to community disagreement regarding subsidized housing development. Also included is a collection of Voice of the People media and newsclippings as well as Voice of the People-produced pamphlets, brochures, and fliers.
Starting in 1979, Residents for Emergency Shelter (REST) is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization offering services to Chicagoğt;'s homeless adults in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago. The organization's mission is to work "collaboratively to provide safe, quality, permanent and emergency housing options and supportive social services to adult men and women who are homeless in Chicago." Additionally, "REST assists these individuals to develop their employment and life skills to achieve the transition to independent living." Doug Dobmeyer served as Director of Residents for Emergency Shelter from 1982-1985.
The majority of the REST materials donated by Mr. Dobmeyer are from 1981-1985, just prior to and including his tenure as Director of the organization (1982-1985). Included in this series are board materials, fundraising materials, Dobmeyer's notes and research on housing and advocacy issues, newsclippings about REST and other shelter issues, correspondence with donors and community members, and documentation of the organization's work with other organizations, including City of Chicago committees and task forces such as the Social Services Task Force of the City of Chicago, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, the Edgewater Uptown Human Services Coalition, and the Transient Shelter Committee.
Center for Street People (which has since changed its name to Harper House) is a drop-in center serving homeless adults in the Uptown community of Chicago and originally founded in 1974 by Rev. James Harper. Doug Dobmeyer was Executive Director of the center from 1983-1985, during which time the organization's statement of purpose was to 1) give street people a sense of self woth through caring for others as well as meeting those who care for them; 2) maintin the health and dignity of people coming in the door; 3) refer people to appropriate agencies; 4) continue opportunitites to reinforce the particpant's positive self-image through responsibility; and 5) defend the lives and health of street people through advocacy.
This series is comprised primarily of records of the activities of the Center for Street People gathered and created by Doug Dobmeyer during his tenure as Executive Director of the center from 1983-1985. Materials included in this series are meeting agendas, minutes, and notes, staffing reports, leadership transition materials, board materials, program activity logs, correspondence, and media and newsclippings.
Lakefront SRO Corporation is a Single Room Occupancy (SRO) non-profit development corporation located in Chicago's north side. Originally organized in 1984-1985 as the Uptown/Edgewater Group to Discuss SRO Development, the Lakefront SRO Corporation was desingated a 501(3)c organization in November, 1984. Starting in 1987, the Lakefront SRO corporation developed and managed several single room occupancy hotels, improving the conditions and availability of housing for low-income residents in Chicago's north side. In 2003, the Lakefront SRO Corporation changed its name to Lakefront Supportive Housing and later, after merging with Mercy Housing, becoming Mercy Lakefront Housing. Doug Dobmeyer organized the corporation from 1984 to 1985 and was the founding President of the Board of Directors from 1985 to 1990. Dobmeyer was active as a member of the Board of Directors from 1985 to 1991.
This series includes records from Lakefront SRO Corporation's early incorporation, planning, and development papers, bylaws, organizational retreat materials, annual reports, promotional and event materials, research on SROs, fundraising materials, media and newsclippings, meeting minutes, board correspondence, and personnel materials. Of particular note is documentation of the development and planning process behind the transformation and rehabilitation of several Chicago properties to single resident housing options for low and moderate income community members, including the Harold Washington SRO Apartments in 1989 and Malden Arms Apartments in 1991.
Organized in 1980, the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) has included more than 200 organizations and individuals working for solutions to homelessness with a single voice. CCH works to advocate for specific changes to address and ameliorate issues affecting the homeless. The organization has had an enduring mission: <"We organize and advocate to prevent and end homelessness because we believe housing is a human right in a just society.ğt;" CCH works to create affordable housing, end youth homelessness, ensure the legal rights of the homeless, provides outreach to homeless families and individuals, advocates for health care, and creates alternatives for women in the sex trade. CCH played a role establishing the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund. Doug Dobmeyer served as President of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless from 1985-1987.
This series comprises materials gathered and created by Doug Dobmeyer in his capacity as president of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) from 1985-1987, as well as materials related to the activities of the organization both before and after his leadership tenure. Included are board of director materials, committee materials and notes, correspondence, media on CCH and broader, citywide shelter and homeless issues, research on homeless issues both in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago as well as throughout the city, notes on various CCH campaigns, and fundraising materials.
The Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund is a non-profit organization that provides rental assistance for homeless men and women of Chicago. In the mid-1980's Doug Dobmeyer was a leader in efforts to force the developer of an upscale near west side development (Presidential Towers developed by the Habitat Company) to provide to the city over $3 million for a fund for low-income housing. That fund turned into the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund. In 1989 the fund was established and Dobmeyer was appointed a Board member first by then-mayor Eugene Sawyer. Dobmeyer was then reappointed by Mayor Richard J. Daley for ten two-year terms, serving as the Board Secretary during his tenure. By 2010, the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund fund has subsidized over 2,400 units of rental housing so low-income individuals and families can live in rental housing and provided long-term housing development assistance for the very low-income.
This series is comprised of Douglas Dobmeyerğt;'s administrative records from the Chicago Low-Income Housing Trust Fund. Some documentation concerns collaborations between CLIHTF and other organizations like the Greater Roseland YMCA and the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. These records include newsclippings, samples of other housing trust funds, annual meetings, board packets, and annual reports.
In the City of Chicago, the Department of Housing (DOH) operates with the goal to provide a wide array of information for singles, working families, seniors, first-time home buyers and renters, or owners needing home repairs, rehab or tax relief.
This series includes Chicago Department of Housing quarterly reports, annual affordable housing plans, and a rental subsidy agreement.
The Public Welfare Coalition (PWC) began in 1986 to investigate, report on, and promote research on welfare policy. The organization was especially active and influential during the early 1990s, when welfare reform was being debated at both the national and local levels and addressed numerous poverty issues through advocacy, public education and outreach intitiatives, and public policy engagement. Doug Dobmeyer was Executive Director of the Public Welfare Coalition from 1986 to 1994 and at the time of his departure from the organization, many important poverty and public assistance issues had been successfully confronted.
This series includes comprehensive documentation of Doug Dobmeyer's work for the Public Welfare Coalition as Executive Director from 1986-1994. Materials in this series include: meeting notes, agendas, and minutes, issues files and research materials focusing on welfare and poverty issues, fact sheets, newsletters and other promotional and educational materials, fundraising materials, correspondence with Illinois legislators, and statistical data materials from state of Illinois social services departments.
Founded in 1915, The Chicago Community Trust aids Chicago philanthropic projects. More specifically, The Chicago Community Trust Service Fellowship (CCTSF) provides funding for approved Chicago non-profit leaders. This is a collection of records from Douglas Dobmeyerğt;'s experiences as one of three CCTSF recipients for the 1994 to 1995 term.
This is a collection of Dobmeyerğt;'s records from his position as a CCTS Fellow. This collection includes two reports to the CCT, media releases, program brochures, and correspondence from Dobmeyer.
The Religious Task Force to Oppose Increased Legalized Gambling/Task Force to Oppose Casino Gambling in Chicago has fought efforts to bring a casino to the city and has successfully kept Chicago casino-free for twenty years. As a board leader, Doug Dobmeyer has organized public policy, surveys, a poll and media events and positions. Dobmeyer's work with the task force has led to extensive coverage the task force's positions regarding gambling in Chicago.
The materials in this series are primarily files kept by Doug Dobmeyer during his work with the Religious Task Force to Oppose Increased Legalized Gambling in Chicago, as well as research materials (articles, reports, etc.) gathered by Mr. Dobmeyer in support of the task force's work to keep gambling operations out of the City of Chicago.
Doug Dobmeyer started Dobmeyer Communications, a media consulting firm, in 1994 to help non-profit groups get their messages and perspectives on critical issues out to broader audiences, focusing in particular in hard-to-place social issues. As a professional with an extensive background working in the non-profit social services and policy sectors, Dobmeyer assists non-profit clients in the areas of training, planning and implementing contact with the media. Dobmeyer Communications offers services that include, but are not limited to: full-service media work on issues, campaigns, events; consultation on media planning; media mentoring for individuals and organizations; media training for individuals and organizations; media services to grantees of foundations.
This series comprises work files for the clients that Mr. Dobmeyer has worked with through his media consulting business, Dobemeyer Communications, from 1994 through 2008. Dobmeyer Communication clients include: Amnesty International USA, Bethel New Life, Cathedral Shelter, Center for Economic Policy Analysis, Center for Law & Human Services, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Chicago Institute on Urban Poverty, Coalition to Protect Public Housing, Community Renewal Society, Council for a Parliament of the Worldğt;'s Religions, Day Care Action Council of Illinois, Family Resource Center, Illinois Hunger Coalition, Illinois Common Cause, Illinois Migrant Council, National Campaign for Jobs and Income Security, National Conference on
Compulsive Gambling in Las Vegas, Operation PUSH/US Representative
Maxine Waters, Protestants for the Common Good, Religious Task Force to Oppose
Increased Legalized Gambling, The Collected Image, and Whirlwind. Also included in this series are examples of media placements Dobmeyer has initiated on behalf of his clients.
Poverty IssuesELDateline Illinois was a twice-monthly publication that investigates poverty issues in Illinois, initiated by Doug Dobmeyer. This publication ran from 1996 through 2001.
This series is a collection of Douglas Dobmeyerğt;'s records from the publication Poverty IssuesELDateline Illinois as well as individual issues of the publication. Records include articles and editorial notes for Poverty Issues...Dateline Illinois, documentation of speaking engagements associated with the publication, and articles published by City News USA.
This series contains examples of media coverage of Doug Dobmeyer and his work with various social service organizations in Chicago, as well as his work as a media consultant.