Educate, Organize, Empower: Celebrating 40 Years of MTO

Last updated: January 22, 2026 – 4:18 PM

Educate, Organize, Empower: Celebrating 40 Years of MTO

Educate, Organize, Empower: 40 Years of Tenant Rights

We begin our 40th anniversary celebration by honoring the leadership and impact of John Bartlett, whose two decades of dedication shaped the organization’s mission and strengthened its community. Through John’s efforts, the Metropolitan Tenant Organization has educated, organized, and empowered tenants, advocated for city and state policy initiatives, and fostered housing as a human right.

This kickoff celebration of our 40th anniversary will provide an interactive and exciting evening that honors the past, engages the present, and builds momentum for the future. You will experience an inspirational and motivational evening as we highlight John’s career through community storytelling and interpersonal connections, which will motivate you to foster MTO’s future of organizing, impact, and growth.

Please join us on Thursday, February 26th, at 5:00 pm for Tenant Power Rising – Celebrating 4 Decades of Building Tenant Power for John Bartlett’s Retirement. Join us at the National Public Housing Museum, located at 919 South Ada Street in Chicago, for an evening that builds on our past to move into the future.  The event is free to attend, but you will need to RSVP via bit.ly/RSVPJohnRetirement or click on the QR code to register.

Facing the Future Through Reflecting on the Past

Although we will continue to celebrate our successes through 2026, we recognize that our work is becoming more critical than ever. This past year has seen occupation by ICE and Border Patrol agents in our neighborhoods, reductions in safety-net programs like SNAP and HUD, and increased raids and forced evacuations of low-income tenants. Organizing tenants and building power in our current climate may seem daunting, but we have always faced the challenge.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tenant Power Rising – Celebrating 4 Decades of Building Tenant Power for John Bartlett’s Retirement