Dorothy Gautreaux
DESCRIPTION OF WORK
Dorothy Gautreau was a community and civil rights activist who lived in public housing on Chicago’s South Side, and fought against their unjust policies. Under the guidance of ACLU lawyers, Gautreaux and 3 other residents sued the Chicago Housing Authority in the nation’s first public housing desegregation lawsuit. The Gautreaux public housing desegregation lawsuit of 1966 helped change the face of public housing in Chicago, reformed national public housing law and policy, and inspired some of the nation’s most innovative housing programs.
Dorothy Gautreau was a community and civil rights activist who lived in public housing on Chicago’s South Side, and fought against their unjust policies. Under the guidance of ACLU lawyers, Gautreaux and 3 other residents sued the Chicago Housing Authority in the nation’s first public housing desegregation lawsuit. The Gautreaux public housing desegregation lawsuit of 1966 helped change the face of public housing in Chicago, reformed national public housing law and policy, and inspired some of the nation’s most innovative housing programs.
BORN
1927
1927
DESCENT
American/African American
DISCIPLINE
Community Organizer / Activist