Location: Idlewild, MI
Website: www.icdc.org
Idlewild is a vacation and retirement community in Yates Township located in a small rural northwestern part of the U.S. state of Michigan near the southeastern border of Lake County. It was one of only a few resorts in the country where African-Americans were allowed to vacation and purchase property before discrimination became illegal in 1964.
Idlewild surrounds the lake it was named for. The headwaters of the Pere Marquette River run through here, with a couple of public access points adjacent to Broadway Road, where it crosses. About half of the township is contained in the Manistee National Forest. Called the "Black Eden", from 1912 through the mid-1960s, Idlewild was an active year-round community and was visited by well-known entertainers and professionals from throughout the country.
At its peak it was the most popular resort in the Midwest and as many as 25,000 would come to Idlewild in the height of the summer season to enjoy camping, swimming, boating, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, roller skating and night-time entertainment.
When the 1964 Civil Rights Act opened up other resorts to African-Americans, Idlewild's boom town period subsided but the community continues to be an important place for vacationers and retirees and as a heritage landmark.
The Idlewild African American Chamber of Commerce was founded in the summer of 2000 by businessman John O. Meeks for the purpose of promoting existing local businesses and for attracting newer ones to the Lake County area.
The community of Idlewild continues to be recognized as one of the oldest, most famous, and most memorable African American resort communities in contemporary United States history. Idlewild was founded over ninety six years ago in 1912. Recognized as an intellectual center for African Americans, Idlewild was and continues to be an oasis for black economic success and community development.
The Community Corporation engages and empowers others by working directly with these individuals to provide information about the issues affecting our community and the institutions addressing those issues.
Much of our work is accomplished by collaborationg with community leaders and other partners to tackle critical issues in the Idlewild area. With diverse voices and varying types of expertise at the table, together we create a powerful force to change this community.
In order for the Community Corporation to have a strong community impact, we must build our own internal strength. This includes a financial focus on growing a long-term charitable resource for the region, as a staff and Board we focus on supporting a diverse work environment that encourages learning leadership and transparency.
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