Block clubs, organized neighbors, are the starting point. The best way to connect is to join your club, go to a meeting, and volunteer to work on an issue of relevance to you.
Below is a list of Uptown block clubs in the 48th Ward.
Linked here is a good map, provided by the Uptown Chicago Commission, of a wider selection of Uptown block clubs and a resource if you don’t know which club covers your area.
AWBC (Argyle-Winmore Block Club)
djf@iwancray.com
GBC (Gunnison Block Club)
gunnisonblockclub@yahoo.com
CTA (Castlewood Terrace Association)
eakuske1@comcast.net
MPBC (Margate Park Block Club)
teresa@aworldclassconciergeservice.com
CWBC (Carmen Winona Block Club)
joseph@trendl.net; www.carmenwinona.org
NUNA (North Uptown Neighbors Association)
uptownneighbors@yahoo.com
Action Uptown 
Just to update the above block club site—-Joe Trendl is the new president for the Carmen-Winona Block Club (CWBC).
I can be contacted at joseph@trendl.net.
Our website is temporarily down as we search for a new webmaster.
Thanks for all,
Joe Trendl