March 28 was bigger than an event it was a statement.
From Altgeld Gardens to the world 🌍, we demonstrated what it looks like when a community takes control of its future.
We shifted the conversation in Altgeld Gardens.
This wasn’t a program or a pitch.
It was a real conversation about ownership, access, and long-term positioning.
Too often, conversations like this reach communities like ours last.
Now, they’re starting in our backyard.
Because we deserve the same entry point and the opportunity that comes with it for the foreseeable future.
As Bitcoin grows, our communities do too. ₿
⸻
Special thank you to everyone who helped bring this together and contributed to the conversation:
Apolonia “AP” & Web3 Crossover
Speakers:
Machelle Lilly
Cory Phillips
Jeff Aurand
Yan Pritzker
Andrew Tillmann
…and many more who showed up, spoke, and supported. If I missed you, your presence was felt and appreciated.
— Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve
We’re honored to welcome Yan Pritzker as a Special Guest at the ABR Community Summit in Chicago.
Yan is the author of Inviting Bitcoin and co-founder of Swan Bitcoin. His work has helped many people better understand Bitcoin, sound money, and financial ownership.
We’re grateful for Swan’s support of this community and look forward to the conversation as we continue building the Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve.
📍 Altgeld Community Center
951 E 132nd Place — Chicago, IL
📅 March 28, 2026
⏰ 2:30–4:30 PM CST
Free Community Event — All Are Welcome
ANNOUNCEMENT: The Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve is now live.
For the first time in U.S. history, residents of public housing have established their own on-chain Bitcoin treasury fully cold-stored, transparent, and community-governed.
Based in Altgeld Gardens, Chicago
Fundraising Goal: $3,000,000
$2M+ will be held in long-term Bitcoin reserve
Remaining funds support education, staffing, and immediate community programs
This is a new model of grassroots economic power.
Ownership. Security. Financial sovereignty.
Support the Reserve:
Bitcoin Address:
bc1qm8tn8lm7kpg8y67fspgvef9jm7mu7v5kzecjuymxr5kzphzfg45qrtarp6
Follow our journey.
#AltgeldBitcoinReserve #ABRWealthFund #Bitcoin #SoundMoney #CommunityCapital
Honored to be moderating the historic @ABRWealthFund Chicago event 🧡
Residents of public housing are launching their own Bitcoin reserve at Altgeld Gardens.
This is what grassroots economic power looks like.
Ownership. Security. Sovereignty.
🔗 Learn more & support:
https://t.co/Y5dRpGJXHE
SPONSOR: Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve
Altgeld Gardens was built in 1945 for African American WWII veterans on Chicago's far South Side. Surrounded by toxic waste. Highest cancer rates in Chicago. Per capita income below $12k. 90% African American. This is where the environmental justice movement was born in 1979. Eighty years of being failed by every institution that was supposed to help.
In March 2025, IBC member Tolbyus Shephard founded the Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve. Community-controlled Bitcoin treasury. Transparent DAO. Revenue programs including financial literacy and trucking ownership. 50% of profits reinvested to grow the reserve. The rest distributed to residents.
August 2025: IL Rep John Cabello meets with Altgeld leaders. October 2025: Illinois House Resolution 0446 recognizes ABR as the nation's first community Bitcoin reserve. January 2026: Tolbyus meets with IL House Minority Leader Tony McCombie at the State Capitol. February 2026: Senate Bill 3743 introduced, the Community Bitcoin Reserve Act.
When traditional institutions fail a community for 80 years, Bitcoin offers an alternative. Altgeld is proving it.
We are proud to announce ABR as a Silver Sponsor.
https://t.co/fVca5kahfq
#MBS2026 #Bitcoin
https://t.co/fVca5kahfq
Yesterday, thank you to the Illinois Bitcoin Council, the lawmakers who took time to engage, and the industry leaders who showed up for serious conversations around custody, policy, and responsible Bitcoin ownership for communities.
Special thanks to Timothy Niemeyer, President of the Illinois Bitcoin Council, for organizing and leading the entire workshop. Leadership and coordination like that don’t go unnoticed.
Appreciate Swan Bitcoin, Unchained, Bitcoin Scholarship Foundation, Midwest Bitcoin Summit, Mark Hurley and everyone who helped make it happen.
First meeting was with Steve McClure great conversation discussing SB3672/ ABR
@AndrewTilmann@ilbtccouncil@skwp @SirLookout @MWBTCSummit@SenSteveMcClure@unchained@Swan@ABRWealthFund@ABRFD21
Springfield was solid.
We talked through the Community Bitcoin Reserve Act in a real way what it actually looks like, how it would work, and what it would take to make it happen.
Nothing flashy. Just policy, structure, and questions.
Countries and institutions are already positioning in this asset class. We’re simply saying our communities shouldn’t be locked out of the same opportunity.
We’re not asking for special treatment.
We’re asking for the same entry point.
Still early. Still work to do. But the conversation is moving.
This is so awesome @Tolbyus! Keep up the great work.
Now everybody got the game figured out all wrong
I guess you never know what you got 'til it's gone
I guess this is why I'm here and I can't come back home
And guess when I heard that? When I was back home
🇺🇸 Illinois proposed the Community #Bitcoin Reserve Act earlier this week. 🟠
The bill would establish a state-run program to hold Bitcoin in multisig cold storage, starting with the Altgeld Bitcoin Reserve. $BTC could only be traded or sold if authorized by new legislation.