Where we are: the Chicago Park District recognizes one registered Park Advisory Council per park, and the Jackson Park Advisory Council (JPAC) already holds that role for Jackson Park. This council is organizing as a Ras Tafari Inc. community initiative focused specifically on 63rd Street Beach — working in partnership with JPAC, not in competition with it, toward a role and recognition that reflects that partnership.
Who's Leading This
This initiative is organized by Ras Tafari Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the organization behind SelassieFest. Its board leads the effort while a community steering committee takes shape.
Stephen Henry
Owner, Prestige Sound — Chicago's largest dancehall dubplate catalog.
Albert Harris
Biologist with deep expertise in event planning and execution.
Paul Kelly
Founder of S.I.P. (Self-Improvement Philosophy).
Community Steering Committee
Alongside the Ras Tafari Inc. board, a community steering committee for Bongo Beach specifically is taking shape — longtime drummers, historians, and neighbors who consider this beach home.
Denise Debnam
A skilled writer and community organizer — author of the original Bongo Beach programming proposal behind our Events page.
Jah Syll
Dedicated to preserving and telling the story of Bongo Beach's history.
Stanley
A longtime firefighter, passionate about restoring Bongo Beach to its original glory.
Douglas
A therapist passionate about the beach's use for cultural events.
Marlon Reid
Grew up on Chicago's South Side and wants to see Bongo Beach return to its former glory.
This committee is still growing — longtime drummers, Woodlawn and Hyde Park residents, and anyone who considers this beach home are encouraged to reach out about joining.
Our Strategic Plan
Rather than launch everything at once, our plan follows the same advice a longtime community member gave us when this council started taking shape: start with a few programs, build a regular rhythm, and grow toward one major annual signature event.
Start Small, Start Regular
Pick a handful of programs from our proposed events — likely beginning with a monthly drum circle and a sunrise wellness gathering — and run them on a predictable schedule.
Build the Rhythm
Layer in stewardship days, youth programming, and vendor opportunities as volunteer capacity and community interest grow.
One Signature Annual Event
Work toward a single flagship Bongo Beach event each year — a homecoming that honors fifty-plus years of history and draws the whole city to the beach.
Meetings
Meetings will be open to the public, as with every Chicago Park Advisory Council. We're proposing a monthly cadence, coordinated with JPAC's own meeting schedule — exact date, time, and location to be announced. Leave your email below and we'll notify you as soon as it's set, and post minutes and our strategic plan here once meetings begin.