Dwayne Truss, an Austin resident, community activist and advocate for the former Austin High School, was recently honored as one of the city’s “Community Heroes”.
Truss and 27 other community leaders received the honor Nov. 30 from The Local Initiatives Support Coalition/Chicago (LISC/Chicago), a community development organization. The honor, which recognizes two individuals from 14 Chicago communities, is part of the LISC/Chicago’s New Communities Program, an effort to improve neighborhoods in those 14 communities.
Truss, an Austin resident, was selected, along with community organizer Ernestine King as the nominees from the East Garfield community.
Truss and his wife Cata have been active in Austin in many community efforts, including fighting to keep Austin High School, 231 N. Pine, from closing, and working as members of the Austin TAC (Transition Advisory Council) to bring a new school to the building campus.
A graduate of Westinghouse High School, Dwayne Truss has worked as an advocate for the construction of the new Westinghouse High School. The Truss’ also organized youth sports programs in the community.
Fellow ‘Community Hero’ for East Garfield, Ernestine King, is executive director of the Greater Garfield Chamber of Commerce and board member with the Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance.
King is also an active member of the New Communities Program, which targets 16 specific neighborhoods in 14 communities, including North Lawndale and Humboldt Park, for community development projects.
For more information about the New Communities Program and the other nominees, visit www.newcommunities.org.
