Westside Review Zero Issue - Final Version

Westside Review Art | Culture | Politics

Issue 0 | Fall 2024

In This Issue 6|

Westside Review Explainer:

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“A Sister Still on a Mission”

What do aldermen do?

Profile of longtime Westside community organizer Mary Gardener.

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Feature:

24 |

Photo Essay:

35 |

Westsider You Need to Know:

Why Galewood still doesn’t have its own neighborhood library.

Publisher: Vanessa Stokes Editor: Igor Studenkov Reporters: Francia Garcia Hernandez, Igor Studenkov Photography: Kenn Cook, Igor Studenkov, Vanessa Stokes Cover Artist: Luis Colindres Design: Brittany Dejonette, Igor Studenkov Printed by PrintingCenterUSA westsidereview.com westsidereview.substack.com

The pioneering work of Black photographer Dorrell Creightney.

Edie Jacobs helps neighbors get jobs, betters her block.

39 | The Mission and the Vision of the Westside Review Find out more about what drives this magazine and what we hope to accomplish.

On the Cover: Artist Luis Colindres paints the sun setting over West Side’s iconic Gold Dome fieldhouse in Garfield Park.

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Publisher’s Note Welcome to the inaugural issue of Westside Review —a publication born from the heart of Chicago’s Westside. As I sit to write this note, I’m filled with immense pride and a sense of responsibility. Our community has a rich, complex history, and we are here to tell its stories — stories that too often go unheard, but that are essential to the fabric of this city and the nation.

When we envisioned Westside Review, we had one mission in mind: to create a space where the Westside’s voices could resonate, unfiltered and authentic. We aim to amplify the experiences of our neighbors, highlight the art and culture that shape our streets, and address the political realities that affect our daily lives. More than just a publication, Westside Review is a platform for connections—a place where we can see ourselves reflected, empowered, and ready to engage with our community's present and future.

In this first-look issue, you’ll find powerful stories that speak to the spirit of the Westside. The Dorrell Creightney photo essay invites us into a visual history, capturing the essence of everyday life through the eyes of a man who knew how to find beauty in the most unexpected places. His photography speaks to the perseverance, joy, and quiet moments that define the Westside.

You’ll also read a profile of Mary Gardner, a woman whose resilience and dedication to community uplift are nothing short of inspiring. Her work reminds us that individual action can ripple outwards, creating lasting change.

And finally, we look at the long history of failed attempts to bring back the full-fledged Galewood library. It is just one example of the ongoing challenges Westside neighborhoods face as they try to get resources and recognition. It's a story of resilience, advocacy, and the collective efforts to ensure that our community is given the investment and care it deserves.

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This issue is just the beginning. With each quarterly edition, we will continue to amplify the voices of our community, showcase the art that emerges from our streets, and engage in the political and cultural conversations that matter to us.

As we embark on this journey together, I invite you to not only read these pages but to contribute your own stories, art, and ideas. Together, we can build a stronger, more connected, and empowered Westside. Thank you for supporting Westside Review and for believing in the power of the community storytelling.

With gratitude and determination,

Contributor Bios Vanessa Stokes | Publisher Vanessa is an artist, civic advocate and an entrepreneur of many vocations. As the owner of VS Creative Consulting, she focused community revitalization and engagement, project development, and artistic management. Vanessa believes in the power of leveraging cultural design to foster community engagement. She spearheaded the opening of two community POPcourts public spaces on the West Side and previously headed Austin Village 72 Special Service Area. She earned the 2022 Award for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute.

Igor Studenkov | Editor Igor covered the West Side for 8.5 years for Austin Weekly News, earning a pair of Illinois Press Association awards in the process. His work has also appeared in Streetsblog Chicago, Cook County Chronicle, Niles & Park Ridge Journal, Evanston RoundTable, Gazette Chicago, Niles Bugle, Lake Forest Leader and Chicago Journal, among many, many others. His favorite Westside library is the Austin branch library.

Francia Garcia Hernandez | Reporter Francia is the Southwest Side beat reporter for Block Club Chicago and host of CAN-TV show ¡Presente!. She covered the West Side for the past three years for AustinTalks, Austin Weekly News and Block Club Chiicago, earning an Illinois Press Association award for coverage of the opioid crisis on the West Side. Francia co-created the Voices of Star Farm zine, a storytelling project that sought to capture what food justice looks like in the South Side’s Back of the Yards neighborhood.

Kenn Cook Jr. | Photographer Kenn is a Chicago-based visual artist renowned for his documentary and portrait photography. Inspired by iconic photographers like Gordon Parks, LaToya Ruby Frazier, and Devin Allen, Kenn blends artistic expression with storytelling to unveil the essence of humanity.

His project #MyWestSideStory highlights the beauty of his neighbors.

Luis Colindres | Cover Artist Luis is a Chicago graphic artist, illustrator and educator. His style has evolved with a focus on fluid line work, psychedelic patterns, and vibrant colors. Luis’ illustrations have been featured in the Chicago Reader, The Daily Dot South Side Weekly & City Bureau, and he’s been profiled in local, national and international media outlets. In his free time, Luis enjoys reading comics and doodling dinosaurs while listening to EDM.

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Westside Review Explainer

Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) at the City Council chambers | by danxoneil is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

What do aldermen do?

Most Chicagoans have some sense of who the aldermen are – a combination of legislators and “minimayors” they go to with complaints. But what exactly do the aldermen do in the city council? What kind of services do they provide to the constituents? And how does the aldermanic prerogative, which has no legal force but is usually treated as if it does, fit into all of this?

We dove into the laws and traditions to find out.

City Council Role As members of the city council, aldermen can introduce ordinances, propose amendments and vote on their passage.

Each ordinance must go through a committee related to the subject of the ordinance – for example, a zoning change goes through the Committee on Zoning, Landmarks & Building Standards. While each alderman sits on at least one comiittee,

chairing one is where the real power comes in. Committee chairs literally set the agenda. They schedule meetings and public hearings, and they decide when any ordinance is voted on, if it’s voted on at all.

Out of the West Side aldermen, Ald. Jason Ervin (28th) chairs the Committee on Budget & Government Operations, while Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) chairs the Committee on Police and Fire. Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) chairs the Committee on Contracting Oversight and Equity – which only met three times since she became chair in the summer of 2023.

The full council usually approves everything that passes through a committee by a single “most favorable roll call” vote. Any debate, if it happens at all, usually happens on committee level – only the most contentious ordinances tend to get full council discussion.

Ward Role The aldermen traditionally help constituents navigate city bureaucracy and address complaints about anything from garbage pickup issues to a troublesome local busi-ness.

Each has an office will full-time staff to respond whether alderman is in or not. It’s not unusual for the office to put constituents in touch with social services and share job opportunities. The office processes applications for block parties, garage/yard sales and speed bumps.

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The ward offices work with their local ward superintendents, who oversee snow plowing, sidewalk repairs, tree trimming and graffiti removal in their wards.

Every year, each alderman gets a certain amount of money – currently around $1.5 million – in “aldermanic menu” funds to address infrastructure needs within their wards, such as repaving sidewalks and putting in more garbage cans. Most aldermen decide how to spend the money on their own, but a handful use the participatory budgeting process to let constituents vote on the spending priorities. On the West Side, only Taliaferro does that.

Other Aldermanic Powers While the Chicago Municipal Code explicitly defines powers and duties of city clerk, city treasurer and department heads, and it lists some powers the mayor has, it doesn’t have that kind of list for aldermen. References to aldermanic powers are scattered throughout the municipal code.

Some powers are clearly spelled out. Aldermen can request honorary street names. Section 2-28170, which spells out the procedures for setting up city-funded public art, requires that the city coordinates any planning with the local alderman.

Aldermen can hold hearings about businesses that cause “nuisance” in their wards. Section 15-20-240 specifies that no one can put on firework shows without the local alderman’s written consent.

Half-Written Powers There are several sections of the code that require department heads to ask aldermen for recommendations or support before making the final decisions. This includes short-term rental housing, the location and relocation of farmers markets, what buildings Chicago Fire Department uses for training, and where the city places street-light banners and decorations.

Section 10-28-385 requires aldermen to weigh in on sidewalk sign applications, but, unlike other provisions of this kind, it includes a specific language stating that “The alderman shall not unreasonably withhold such recommendation.”

The city affordable housing pilots, which aim to encourage affordable housing in areas that are gentrifying or may gentrify soon,

have language requiring the city Housing Commissioner to consult the alderman before changing how many affordable units would go in and the size of the affordable units.

In other situations, the municipal code simply requires the city to notify the aldermen about certain license applications in their wards (and, in some cases, within three miles of their wards). That includes food permit applications, applications to operate a slaughtering and/or meatpacking business, applications to operate any kind of care facility for seniors and people with disabilities, and applications to put up a donations collection bin.

Aldermen must be notified when someone applies for a liquor license and when a liquor license changes hands. There are also notification requirements for adding bus stops and speed cameras. Some notification requirements are clearly out of date, such as the ones for newsstands and payphones.

Perhaps most notably, the alderman must be notified of any zoning change requests Aldermanic Prerogative Even though most things above don’t legally require aldermanic approval, the city doesn’t usually proceed unless it gets one. This is what’s known as the “aldermanic prerogative” - a long-standing tradition where aldermen have a final say over licenses, permits and legislation that affects their wards.

We mentioned earlier that ordinances must clear committees. In practice, if the local alderman supports it, they tend to sale through. With mayorappointed city bodies that aren’t part of the city council, such as the Zoning Board of Appeals, the aldermanic support doesn’t guarantee a yes, but it helps, and their opposition usually ensures a ‘no.’

When she was mayor, Lori Lightfoot tried to get rid of the prerogative. In 2019, she issued an executive order explicitly stating that aldermen don’t have veto power over special events permits, affordable housing approvals, small business grants and certain road projects. Lightfoot introduced ordinances to get rid of the prerogative when it comes to street signage and zoning issues, but they faced opposition from the majority of the council and didn’t get anywhere. And while her executive order gave department heads more flexibility, in practice, the city still tends to defer to aldermen.

After all, it’s hard to root out something that doesn’t technically, legally exist in the first place. WR

By Igor Studenkov

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‘A Sister Still on a Mission’ Hailing from the Westside, community organizer and leader Mary R.Gardner keeps up the fight Words by Francia Garcia Hernandez Photos by Kenn Cook Many words could describe the drive that lives in Austin resident and community organizer Mary R. Gardner.

For more than 45 years, Gardner has been involved in the fight to better her community, women’s rights and freedoms, health care and childcare and voting rights, among other social issues.

In her own words, she is a “seasoned, flexible, energetic sister still on a mission.”

Along the way, Gardner also found her passion for golf.

On the green, she learned that it is also a place where she can apply her organizing powers.

“I can drive the ball long off the tee. Imma get it down there,” she said.

In organizing, “give me the issue and I can organize it to the max. Give me a few pointers and I'm gonna package this thing real tough,” she said.

Gardner has been at the forefront of a long endeavor to improve life for Black Chicagoans and Black women in the city she calls home. She stood next to renowned civil rights leaders like Rev. Jesse Jackson, founder of Operation PUSH, and Rev. Clay Evans, pastor of the Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church and Founding National Board Chairman of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, proving to be more than a helpful hand. She is an influential community leader.

For her, community organizing is “a no brainer.”

“It’s about being active, knowing that you were engaged, hands-on and not just sitting off to the side, just making comments,” Garner said.

Joseph Gardner, Mary’s late husband and father of three daughters, was an Operation PUSH organizer and the aide for Mayor Harold Washington.

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He ran for mayor in 1995 and served as a commissioner at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD), an agency that handles sewers and drinking water throughout the region. Their daughter, Crystal Gardner, is now the deputy political director for a local union.

As a young teenage mother, Mary became an intern for Operation PUSH, which later became the part of the National Rainbow PUSH Coalition led by Jackson. The experience showed her how “things are run” and she didn’t look back.

In the 1980s, she participated in her first campaign, protesting the appointment of three white women to the Chicago Housing Authority board by then-Chicago Mayor Jane Byrne.

When Gardner and her family first moved to the Westside in the 1980s, they faced rejection and namecalling for bringing the “kind of politics” that wasn’t done on the Westside. Undeterred, she joined the then-29th Ward Ald. Danny Davis’ reelection campaign. Davis was Mayor Washington’s major supporter as he faced off against a divided City Council.

“My first precinct I ever walked was with the alderman [Danny Davis] and we went door to door,” she said.

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Ever since, Gardner has kept organizing and participating in what became a “natural” part of life: meetings, rallies, protests and walks.

“I’ve been doing that for so long, I forget that I’m doing it,” Gardner said.

Gardner also found a family within the movement. Rev. Evans and Rev. Jackson performed Mary and Joseph Gardner’s wedding ceremony.

She also saw the influence of leaders like Operation PUSH cofounder Rev. Willie Barrow.

“[She was] the leader who brought Black women into the reproductive rights fight nationally and locally,” Gardner said.

“She was the one that said this is a health issue. This ain’t just about abortions, this is about healthcare. From that point on, we’ve been engaged.”

The movement also exposed her to other women leaders who were actively engaged in government, politics, and entertainment, she said.

Gardner strived to bring women to the areas where they aren’t well-represented. That included golf.

“You don’t always see a lot of women playing and you don’t always see a whole lot of Black women,” she said.

In the more than four decades she has been an organizer, Gardner has been witness to some progress in the fight for civil and women’s rights. When she started getting involved, pay equity and employment access for women were critical issues.

Years later, she saw a wave of women elected to office.

“We were super excited when Carol Moseley Braun got that opportunity to run for the U.S. Senate [in 1992],” she said.

Ironically, at the time, Gardner worked for the incumbent Moseley Braun was facing off against, Sen. Alan J. Dixon. Braun decided to run against him because he was one of the 11 Democrats who supported the nomination of Clarence Thomas to the Supreme Court.

In the 1991 Senate confirmation hearings for Thomas, attorney and educator Anita Hill accused him of sexual harassment. Some senators accused her of lying, propelling a scandal that divided Americans who saw the Senate’s treatment of Hill as sexist and demeaning against those who accused her of lying. The year after, a record number of women were elected to office. “[Dixon] votes for Clarence Thomas. Clarence Thomas now is a Supreme Court Justice. Anita Hill stuff is just going crazy. We mad as hell in Illinois, and they booted him out,” Gardner said.

Later, Gardner joined the Cook County Forest Preserve District, where she was a secretary for almost 20 years. She served on two Local School Councils in Austin. LSCs are made up of parent, teacher staff representatives, and they have the power to approve school budgets and work on improvements. Gardner was nominated to the Chicago Board of Education under Mayor Rahm Emanuel, but she was not appointed.

That work had its challenges, “but the flame never went out.”

In 2011, she made her run for Davis’s old 29th Ward seat against incumbent Ald. Deborah Graham, who was appointed to the seat a year earlier. While Graham won, Gardner wasn’t discouraged.

“Win or lose, I made the ballot. You know, I didn't win, but I never stopped,” she said.

When facing failure, Gardner reminds herself it is not the end of the road.

“It's actually not about the fall. It's about the get-up. Or some of us will say, the ‘giddy up,’” she said.

“It's actually not about the fall. It's about the get-up. Or some of us will say, the ‘giddy up.’ Just get up, brush yourself off and keep going.”

Mary Gardner “Just get up, brush yourself off and keep going.”

It is her faith, passion, and courage that keep her going. She strives for change while reflecting on what has been accomplished. When facing the unknown, she draws from a biblical scripture in the Book of Habakkuk that says “Write that vision down and see it through.”

“Sometimes I find myself engaged and I'm not sure how this is going, yet everybody’s rolling with Mary Gardner, so I say, ‘Okay, Lord, all right, we gonna do this,’” she said.

These days, Gardner does not work a nine-to-five job, but she is working on the issues that matter to Chicagoans, especially Westsiders.

She is determined to increase Black participation, leading voter registration drives and serving as deputy registrar on the Westside.

“I'd like to see us back engaged civically. We don't have to have a crisis.

Let’s just get engaged and become informed about our issues before they become a problem,” Gardner said.

She is still involved in women’s rights and empowerment,

celebrating the wins and fighting to keep moving forward.

She co-organized the Westside Women’s March, a show of solidarity with the 2017 Women’s March on Washington. The march, a cry for protecting women’s rights and protesting Donald Trump’s presidential win, drew approximately a quarter million people downtown, according to the Chicago Tribune.

On the Westside, it was a show of “sisterhood with the city and the country” that proved women would stand powerful, united and undiminished after Trump’s victory over presidential candidate Hilary Clinton, who would have been the first U.S. women president if elected.

Since 2020, she has co-organized an annual event that recognizes Black women leaders who, like her, are working to improve the Westside. The “Ida B. Wells Women’s History Brunch” is a yearly event recognizing Black women leaders and activists held during Women’s History month.

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Yet, she keeps her eye on the long game. In today’s national environment, where abortion bans are at the forefront of the Republican Party’s agenda, she is pushing for women to have autonomy and control over their bodies and guaranteed access to health care. “'It’s a private decision,” she said.

“It’s time to restore that back to being an option for everybody's daughter, sister and mom.”

Between meetings, calls and rallies, she practices golfing and invites others to join her, sharing her fire and contagious joy and drive.

This year, she celebrated her birthday on Austin’s Columbus Park golf course, a beloved neighborhood gem where Gardner started playing the sport.

“In golf, you're challenging yourself.

You gotta practice, then you gotta play and then there's a set of rules.

So golf teaches you so much,” she said.

In and out of the green, when obstacles come her way, she finds a way.

Gardner was out of state visiting her sister when Chicago police mistakenly raided social worker Anjaneatte Young in her home in 2019. Young was handcuffed naked in her house even after police realized they were at the wrong address, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Crystal Gardner (left) and Mary Gardner (right)

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While she personally did not know Young, Gardner was moved to take action.

“That could have been my door, that could have been your sister's door, your mother, your wife's door, that could have been your door, you know?” she said.

Gardner co-organized the march calling for police reform and justice after the botched raid outside the Chicago Police Department headquarters. While out of town, she found sign-making supplies at the local Home Depot and made woman-shaped signs with Young’s name, which she flew back to Chicago to participate in the protest.

Whether intentional or not, Gardner’s example has led her daughters to serve their communities from different arenas.

Her years of lived experience are ref-lected in her wisdom and observations, sometimes shared in meetings where her daughter Crystal is also a leader.

Organically, the Gardners have started an intergenerational bond that proves that elders and young generations have much to learn from each other.

From the Desk of Mary Gardner

On the eve of a presidential election that could bring the first Black Asian woman to the White House, Gardner is excited to listen to younger generations as she participates in organizing and rallying efforts.

She also sees an opportunity to find the fire for the “second win,” the one needed when burning out and engage with those who have long been disengaged, especially at the local level. The agenda includes the upcoming Chicago Board of Education election – a first for the previously mayor-appointed board.

Gardner sees it as an opportunity to “repair damages” done to public education in the city.

In her own neighborhood, the effects can be seen in the low enrollment rates at Austin College & Career High School, which has seen programs disappear and staff shrink as enrollment plunged.

To Gardner, this is a reminder of why it is crucial to continue fighting for a better Westside.

“It’s something deeper; you don’t wait for somebody to validate you.

It’s a faith walk in terms of continuing because there’s work to be done,” she said. WR Westside Review | 13

The Long, Frustrating Road

Why Galewood still doesn’t have its own neighborhood library Story and Photos by Igor Studenkov It’s been 14 years since the Galewood neighborhood had its own full-fledged neighborhood library.

In 2010, the Galewood - Mont Clare branch library near the intersection of Grand and Sayre avenues closed due to an issue with the building landlord. Nobody expected the closure to last very long. As the city looked for a new space, it opened a temporary library in a room at the Rutherford-Sayre Park fieldhouse to tide the patrons over. But that “temporary” arrangement lasted 10 years as plans for a full–fledged replacement came and went. Not even hundreds of thousands in state funding moved the needle.

The one-room library closed during the COVID-19 pandemic and never reopened.

The city came tantalizing close to a resolution in 2022. Developer Viktor Jakovljevic agreed to let the library system use a portion of the retrofitted U.S. Bank building at 6700 W. North Ave. Chicago would buy the space in what officials described as a condo-style arrangement. But the two sides couldn’t agree on the price, and the deal fell through.

Now, the city is looking at another property – the currently vacant former furniture store at 1751 N. Harlem Ave. Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th), whose ward includes all of Galewood, said that, while the owner is willing to sell, the city wants to perform an environmental analysis first. In the meantime, Galewood residents remain leery as they wait to see if the latest in the long line of attempts bears fruit.

“We have no intention of abandoning the neighborhood” The libraries have come a long way from being repositories of books, music, movies and other materials. They are places where patrons print documents, apply for jobs, take classes, and attend and organize events. Chicago Public Library (CPL) system lets Chicago residents book meeting and/or study rooms for free, check out equipment and request books and other materials from libraries throughout the country.

CPL has 81 buildings – the Harold Washington central library, three regional libraries and 77 neighborhood branch libraries. The city usually has one branch library per officially designated community area. Some community areas with multiple neighborhoods have several branches, but there ae also community areas that have none at all.

On the West Side, Austin and Humboldt Park community areas currently have three libraries each, West Garfield Park and North Lawndale has one each, but East Garfield Park has none. CPL website directs its residents to Richard M. Daley – West Humboldt Park branch at 733 N. Kedzie Ave. The Galewood – Mont Clare library historically served the Galewood neighborhood in the Austin community area and the Monclare community areas. It went through several locations, usually on the Montclare side (see Page 22 for more on that).

The last full-fledged location was a 4.000 square foot storefront of the mixed-use building at 6969 W. Grand Ave. As Chicago Sun-Times reported at the time, CPL was negotiating a new lease when it discovered that the landlords owed the City of Chicago “more than $70,000 in overdue fines and fees, including property taxes, water bills and building code violations at 12 commercial and residential properties across the city.”

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"We'll try to have an option open this summer. I don't know if it'll be permanent or not, but we want to get something open for the summer reading program."

Mary Dempsey

The storefront that housed the Grand Avenue location

As a city entity, CPL couldn’t rent from a business or an individual that owes the city money. When the lease expired in July 15, it had no choice but to close the branch.

Mary Dempsey, who served as the library commissioner at the time, framed that as a temporary setback.

"We have no intention of abandoning the neighborhood. This is just sort of an unusual circumstance. It's an unfortunate situation.

The neighborhood is unhappy.

We're unhappy," she was quoted as saying. "We'll try to have an option open this summer. I don't know if it'll be per-manent or not, but we want to get something open for the summer rea-ding program."

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The 400 square foot room was originally little more than a few bookshelves. In 2013, a group of Galewood residents tried to push CPL into action. Each person checked out one book, but, with 1,000 people participating, that was enough to nearly empty the shelves.

Over the next seven years, CPL made some investments, adding a book drop, a computer to access the library catalog, and eventually wi-fi.

Real estate agent Steve Green moved to Galewood in 2011. While he couldn’t speak to the storefront, he said the shortcomings of the fieldhouse location were self-evident.

“It was too small. It’s not really a library,” he said. "I picture a library having thousands of books to choose from, other resources, meeting rooms, classrooms, and [the field-house location] had one room, and a limited number of books. It was an effort to have something temporary, it really fell short, unfortunately.”

To get a full-fledged library experience, Galewood residents have been going to North Austin branch library at 5724 W. North Ave., West Belmont branch at 3104 N. Narragansett Ave. and the Dunning branch. Green also pointed to Oak Park Public Library system’s main library at 834 Lake St. Under a long-standing agreement, CPL patrons can use suburban libraries (and vice versa) when they register their library cards there.

Green said that, while the Oak Park Library has a lot to offer, it’s no substitute for a local library.

“Library is important, I think, for the entire community,” he said.

“It’s great for kids, preschool through [high school]. It’s great for adults, seniors. It’s a meeting place, a place to continue their education. It’s a focal point of any vibrant community. I still think it’s very important to have.”

Ruthorford-Sayre Fieldhouse lone-room library

10 Years of Failed Plans Long-time Galewood resident Tom Drebenstedt, a retired construction manager and something of a neighborhood historian, campaigned for a new full-fledged branch from the beginning. He said that Deborah Graham, who was first ap-pointed 29th Ward alderman in March 2010, was the “most helpful.”

“We actually got together with someone from the library [administration] and somebody from the park district and someone from the mayor's office, and we actually pursued ideas – and then she got voted out,” Drebenstedt said.

In 2015, Graham faced several challengers, and she and Taliaferro went into a runoff. Both supported the full-fledged Galewood library, and Taliaferro criticized Graham for not doing enough. He won the runoff election.

Drebenstedt said he wanted to give the new alderman a chance, he ended up disappointed.

“Now we have the current alderman, who keeps telling us – I’m talking to the mayor, and now we’ve had three mayors,” he said.

“And here we are, years later, and nothing.”

In many interviews since he was elected, Taliaferro insisted that a full-fledged Galewood library was a priority for him, and he was doing everything he could to get it done.

Ruthorford-Sayre Fieldhouse

The effort faced several stumbling blocks. First, there was geography.

Green argued that, since most of Galewood is residential, the only place it could go was one of the commercial thoroughfares – North Avenue, which forms Galewood’s south border, Harlem Avenue, which forms its western border.

Going back to Grand Avenue “which is technically Montclare,” was also a possibility, he said.

“The only place where the library could go is the perimeter,” Green said. “It limits potential locations.”

CPL spokesperson Patrick Molloy previously told this reporter that the library system doesn’t have its own capital budget, so the money for the new branch must come from the city, or some other outside source.

Another issue was that the city took renting another space off the table after Rahm Emanuel was elected mayor in 2011. During his two terms in office, CPL pivoted toward branches it or the city would own outright. In 2015, the Chinatown branch library moved from the rented space on the first floor of 2353 S. Wentworth Ave. to a larger two-story building at 2100 S. Wentworth Ave.

The new branch cost $19.1 million to build, with $15.6 million of the funding coming from a Tax Increment Financing district that was created in 2013 specifically to help pay for the project.

Other library branches planned and built during the Emanuel administration were “co-locations,” where the branch shares a space with another public facility. The current Back of the Yards branch, which replaced a rented storefront in 2013, shares a building with a high school. Northtown branch library in West Ridge, Indepedence branch library in Irving Park and the new Little Italy branch opened on the first floors of the Chicago Housing Authority-owned senior housing buildings.

Drebenstedt said that he didn’t understand why that option wasn’t pursued in Galewood.

“I understand construction,” he said. “If there is a tight budget, I mean, they gotta make financial decisions. But I really don't like the idea that other neighborhoods are getting libraries because they're being creative and putting them in the base of the senior housing.”

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In 2019, developers Five Thirty One Partners submitted a proposal to redevelop a vacant U.S. Bank building and two nearby lots. They offered to put the branch library in one of the buildings, because they wanted to offer a community asset.

But, according to Taliaferro, that didn’t get far because of the policy against renting spaces.

During a June 2019 community meeting, which took place after Emanuel’s second term ended, Taliaferro said that the former mayor proposed building a branch near Sayre Elementary School in the heart of Galewood, at 1850 N. Newland Ave. The alderman felt it was a bad location because it would cause traffic congestion, especially when parents are dropping kids off at school, and because he was worried there wasn’t enough parking.

When the Illinois General Assembly passed the Rebuild Illinois capital bill in 2019, State Rep. Camille Lilly (78th) and State Sen. Don Harmon (39th) successfully lobbied to set aside $600,000 “for a grant to the Galewood Library for costs associated with reconstruction projects.”

Lilly confirmed that the language was broad enough to allow flexibility and not tie it down to any specific location.

The first-floor storefront at Jakovlijevic’s building was designed specifically for the library

While Galewood library was still stuck at the one-room space, other West Side libraries received some im-provements. Most notably, Legler Library at 115 S. Pulaski Rd. was upgraded from a West Garfield Park branch library to a West Side regional library in late 2020. It gained a new teen section, complete with an expanded YOUmedia multimedia space, a larger computer lab, a Maker Space, a new auditorium and a dedicated space for CPL’s first in-house artist.

The first-floor storefront at Jakovlijevic’s development was designed specifically for the library

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Austin branch library at 5615 W. Race Ave. and North Austin library got more modest improvements that, most notably, let more sunlight into the buildings.

“Somehow, you can’t satisfy the politicians” All libraries went into lockdown at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. CPL reopened most branches in early June 2020, but the three branches that were too small for social distancing stayed closed. While Canaryville and Water Tower benches eventually reopened, the Galewood-Mont Clare branch never did.

Meanwhile, the conversation about a full-fledged branch library never stopped. In 2020, a group of Galewood residents formed the Galewood Neighbors community organization with the goal of “working toward the betterment of our community, parks, schools and businesses for our overall quality of life.” Getting the Galewood library up and running became a major priority.

Green became its chair and Drebenstedt became its treasurer. . The General Assembly kept renewing the $600,000 appropriation.

In 2021, Harmon and Lilly secured another $7 million in state capital funding. Lilly said it can be used to either build a new library from scratch or build within a larger space.

“Don Harmon and I, we're committed to getting the library up and going in the Galewood area, which is in our districts,” she said in a recent interview.

Lilly added that she ultimately wants to see the branch at a location the community would support.

The U.S. Bank proposal went through several changes. By 2021, Five Thirty One Partners settled on gut-rehabbing the two-story bank building and adding a new third floor. The top two floors would be apartments, but the first floor would be mostly commercial space, and the developer was still willing to set up to 12,000 square feet aside for the library. At the time, Taliaferro said that, with Lori Lightfoot now mayor, CPL was willing to give it a second look. Molloy told this reporter at the time that the U.S. Bank property was just one of the potential sites they were considering.

For much of 2022, the two sides were still going back and forth, with the term of the lease being a major point of contention. But during his Sept. 21, 2022 ward community meeting, Taliaferro announced a breakthrough.

In an arrangement that he compared to buying a condo, the city would buy the 12,000 square feet space and Jakovljevic would retain the ownership of the rest of the building.

Jakovljevic said that, while he would’ve preferred renting, he was willing to go along with it. He specifically designed the space to fit the code requirements for the library.

“What we promised we delivered, for the library,” he said.

But Jakovljevic emphasized that he couldn’t wait too long – after all, he had to get a return on his investment.

“We were very clear where we need to be, because our cost was huge of just developing the space for them, because it was an existing building,” he said. “We were always clear on that number.”

Judith Alexander is the chair The North Avenue District (T-NAD),

“It would've been wonderful. It would've brought more foot traffic. It would've just brought more people to our district, and that's a good thing. That would've helped our businesses, and it would've just made it a more viable commercial area.

You obviously need people to have a viable commercial area.”

Judith Alexander

a nonprofit that works to revitalize the North Avenue corridor between Austin Boulevard and Harlem Avenue on both Galewood and Oak Park sides. She said the organization supported the North Avenue location.

“It would've been wonderful,” Alexander said. “It would've brought more foot traffic. It would've just brought more people to our district, and that's a good thing. That would've helped our businesses, and it would've just made it a more viable commercial area. You obviously need people to have a viable commercial area.”

She also said that the location would be within walking distance of Sayre Elementary on the Galewood side and William Hatch elementary school on the Oak Park side. CTA bus route 72/North and Pace bus route 311 both serve the building. And, while Alexander didn’t mention it, it would provide another library options for northern Oak Park residents.

Green supported the location as well, citing its walkability.

All the two sides had to do was agree on the price.

During his May 22, 2023 meeting, Taliaferro said that the city got the appraiser, but the price was too low for Jakovljevic. At the time, Green said that it was his understanding that the city hired a residential appraiser who didn’t take the retail spaces into account.

Jakovljevic told Westside Review in a recent interview that the price was “absolutely ridi-culously low.”

The city then hired a second appraiser. Jakovljevic said it gave them number that was closer to what they were looking for, but still not enough to justify the investment Five Thirty One Partners had already made. While he declined to disclose the exact numbers, he said that they were “a few hundred thousand” dollars apart.

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“They tried to kind of negotiate with us, and we had a fixed spot that we couldn't go below,” Jakovljevic said. “We decided that it was better for our partnership to own a whole building than selling at the price that doesn't work for us.”

He said that, given all the state funding, he didn’t understand the city’s position. “It was funded by the state, so that didn't cost Chicago anything, zero, and they chose not to do it,” Jakovljevic said. “And [almost] 15 years later, there’s still no library.”

He described the negotiations as frustrating, saying that there were a couple of times when it seemed like everything was settled, only for the city to ask for changes.

“They agreed on many things, and somebody else would get involved and things would fall apart,” Jakovljevic said. “We tried for years [to make the library happen] and somehow, you can't satisfy the politicians, the city. It’s very hard to do.”

He confirmed that, as late August, the apartments have been leased.

Jakovljevic said that there were commercial spaces in the basement that that were about 70% leased.

As for what would’ve been the library space, he said Five Thirty One Partners is looking for a

The potential Harlem Avenue location

tenant, but they want to make sure that it’s the right fit for the corridor.

“We are okay with siting on that space for a while,” Jakovljevic said. “We need the right tenant for the community. Maybe healthcare, a physical therapist that's the type of [tenant] we were looking for.”

CPL didn’t respond to calls and emails seeking comment.

The rear of the Harlem Avenue space has two floors

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The Harlem Avenue site Taliaferro said that, after the negotiations ended last spring, the city went look-ing for other sites.

The Harlem Avenue building is part of a half-block shopping strip, between Amato’s Pizza and a daycare. The building looks like a relatively modest storefront from Harlem Avenue, but appearances are somewhat deceiving. The structure extends further back than most other storefronts, all the way to the alley, and the rear part has a second floor. Together, CPL would have 1,500 sq. ft. available.

As with the North Avenue site, the branch would benefit the nearby suburb – in this case, Elmwood Park.

Taliaferro said that, during inspection, the city found underground storage tanks. Taliaferro said that he didn’t know what the tanks might have contained, but the city is currently looking into any environmental hazards they may pose. Once it gets a sense of the environmental remediation costs, it will decide whether to buy the building.

Taliaferro said that he had no idea when the analysis might be completed.

Westside Review looked into historical records. The earliest reference we were able to find shows that the building was home to a Chicago Furniture Mart location and a Roxy Rug Co showroom.

Between 1959 and 1979, it was Nel-son Brothers furniture store chain’s West Side location.

More recently, it was home to Chicago Shirt & Lettering company.

Green said he was aware that the city was looking at Harlem Avenue, and he thought that the space had potential.

“It’s a nice storefront, you know,” he said. "It's got curb appeal, and I’m sure people would use it.”

Alexander said she didn’t know the city was looking at Harlem Avenue space, but she thought the North Avenue site was “just a better location, it's just a more central, more accessible location.”

“It would have less light,” she added. “It's just much less desirable from a community perspective.”

Alexander said that, as far as TNAD was concerned, it didn’t make sense that Jakovljevic and CPL couldn’t come to an agreement, given almost $8 million in state funding.

“We're puzzled,” she said. “Even if the library thought the developer was asking too much money, they had the money, from the state, to buy it and furnish it.

They had the money, and it was a better location for the community, which I don't think anyone would disagree with that.”

Alexander and Green both felt that the lack of parking would be an issue, especially for patrons coming from the further east and north. CTA Route 90/Harlem and Pace Route 307 both serve this stretch of Harlem Avenue.

In a recent interview, Lilly said that she and Harmon remain hopeful about the process.

“The delays, we're not happy about it, of course, but I think with the new administration, the Johnson administration, they want to move on it,” she said.

Lilly said that she heard the concerns about the lack of parking.

She proposed that, in the long run, the city should look at another alternative – the Mars Wrigley chocolate factory on the other side of the railroad tracks from Rutherford Sayre Park.

In January 2022, the company announced that it would vacate the 20-acre site by the end of 2024.

They worked with Local Initiatives Support Corporation of Chicago (LISC) to get community input for what happened next. A new branch library was one of the ideas.

But that took a back seat as the U.S. Bank site negotiations seemingly got serious.

Lilly suggested making the Harlem Avenue location a “satellite” library to the larger Mars site library.

But she also acknowledged that, given that the development plans still need to be finalized, and probably would require zoning changes, the former furniture store was more likely to be available first.

“I think they, meaning Mars, are to whatever the community wants [at the factory site],” Lilly said.

“They were very supportive.”

Green said that he would support the branch library at the Mars site in the long run as well.

Drebenstedt said he didn’t have much optimism.

“I guess I would appreciate some honestly,” he said. “Okay, if there's no financial way of doing this – tell me that. Instead, they just keep leading people on.”

Taliaferro said that he understood why his constituents were leery.

“It can be frustrating,” he said.

“But Rome wasn't built overnight, and some projects take a bit longer than others. The goal is to stay focused and bring this resource into the community. But, you know, if it were easy, everybody would be doing it.” WR

Mars Wrighley campus’ mpain building

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A Feature Sidebar

The history of GalewoodMont Clare Library Even before 2014, Galewood-Mont Clare library had a turbulent history filled with relocations, a fire and residents in both Galewood and Mo-ntclare feeling like they deserve more.

It originally opened in 1923, making it one the city’s oldest branch libraries. In a growing city like Chicago, traveling to the central library was be-coming increasingly impractical. Early 20th century also saw progressive reformers promote libraries as institutions that “uplift the common man.” Between 1918 and 1950, the system grew rapidly. Austin and Montclare were among the beneficiaries.

The “temporary” one-room library at the Rutherford Sayre fieldhouse was something of a homecoming.

The original “Mont Clare Sub Branch” opened in that exact room.

It was only open two days a week for a total of 10 hours, but it had shelves worth of books in various languages – a boon for the community’s immigrant population.

In 1938, it opened daily.

The name, Drebenstedt explained, reflected the fact that Montclare had more residents at the time.

Galewood was still “farmland, prairie and a golf course.” As for why “Mont Clare” instead of “Montclare,” the community’s name was originally written as two words) 22 | Westside Review

After World War II, residents asked CPL to move the branch to Grand Avenue, a major commercial and industrial hub. But nothing came of it until 1954, when it moved to a storefront across the street from the bus terminal a little east of Nordica Avenue. At some point, it was moved to another space even further west, near the in-ersection of Grand and Neva avenues. But Drebenstedt said that residents were still not satisfied.

They asked for a larger location near the intersection of Grand and Narragansett avenues.

In 1974, a fire destroyed the Mont Clare library. Instead of setting up a temporary library, CPL sent out a “traveling branch,” especially a bookmobile truck. It only visited Galewood, near the intersection of Harlem and Medill avenues, on Mondays, and only between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

Ironically, the major obstacle to setting up a new library was the opposite of what it was during the Emanuel administration.

At the time, CPL had a policy of renting spaces instead of building something new. Undeterred, residents pushed for a standalone library, something along the lines of the West Belmont branch further north, at 3104 N. Narragansett Ave. Four years later, residents got a new library – the storefront at 6969 W. Grand Ave. This was when the branch officially got “Galewood” added to its name. Drebenstedt said that it had much going for it compared to its predecessors, notably more space and airconditioning.

Some residents kept lobbying for a separate building. They were especially hopeful during the Richard M. Daley administration, which saw the city build or renovate 41 branch libraries. The current North Austin library building and the West Chicago Avenue library were products of that era.

Of course, all of that became a moot point when the unpaid bills issue surfaced.

Igor Studenkov

A 1975 newspaper article chronicling Galewood and Montclare residents’ push to open a new library

Classic Black Chicago: A Time Forgotten As I reflect on my father's journey, I see the world through his eyes—the vibrant streets of Kingston, Jamaica, where he was born in 1936, to the bustling, evolving city of Chicago where his legacy took root.

My father, Dorrell Creightney, was a visionary. His artistic drive was ignited early in his life, working as a window designer in the suburbs of Chicago, and his passion for visual storytelling grew with each frame he saw in the pages of Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. He admired Richard Avedon’s work, capturing human emotion in stark, elegant frames, and this inspiration trans-formed into a conviction to create.

But it wasn’t just about the fashion or the glamour for my father. He had a deeper longing to understand the world, to capture its nuances. That’s why, in a bold move, he traveled to Sweden, where he embraced photography through the Hasselblad and Leica lenses. In Stockholm, he built not just a business but a sense of himself as an artist. His portfolio expanded beyond fashion, featuring musicians like Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Diana Ross—capturing the energy and spirit of these legends. Yet, despite the growing success, his heart re-mained in Chicago, where family and community called him back.

In the late 1960s, my father came home and built something extraordinary: Chicago's first Black-owned photography studio.

It was a time when art, music, and culture were exploding in the city, and he immersed himself in it. His collaboration with photo-grapher Chester Sheard connected him to the world of jazz. My father's photographs of icons like John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and Dizzy Gillespie are legendary— capturing not only the music but the soul of Chicago's jazz scene.

Throughout the 1970s and early 1980s, his business flourished. He was a master of versatility—whether it was advertising, fashion, or the candid moments of life on the streets, my father had a unique ability to adapt and capture the essence of every moment. He rarely participated in art shows because his focus was on commercial success, but in every sense, he was a true artist.

By the mid-1980s, after years of dedicating his life to photography, my father made the difficult decision to close his studio. His legacy didn’t end there. For many years, he continued to take photos for friends, family, and those close to him. When he passed away in 2011, he left behind an archive of images that I am now responsible for—an archive that speaks to his brilliance, his love for photography, and his dedication to telling the stories of Black Chicago and beyond.

Through this photo essay, I aim to honor not just the images, but the man behind the camera— my father, Dorrell Creightney. His street photography captures the everyday beauty of life, the subtle yet powerful stories of people on their journeys. Each image tells a story, and I hope to bring those stories to life, just as he did with every click of the shutter. These images were taken circa 1960’s Chicago.

"His street photography captures the everyday beauty of life, the subtle yet powerful stories of people on their journeys. Each image tells a story, and I hope to bring those stories to life, just as he did with every click of the shutter. These images were taken circa 1960’s Chicago."

Vanessa Stokes

Vanessa Stokes

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Want to see more of Dorrell Creightney’s photography?

Visit creightneyphoto.com

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Westsider You Need to Know: Words and Photo by Vanessa Stokes "I had no intention of doing this,” said Mrs. Edie Jacobs on April 20, 2018.

Mrs. Jacobs, a long-time resident of the Austin neighborhood, is not only the president of her block club but a fierce advocate for her community. Her heart for service shines through her volunteer work, especially her efforts to help individuals who are returning from incarceration to find stable employment. She calls this initiative "Get to Work"— and her no-nonsense approach ensures that she means business.

Mrs. Jacobs's leadership is visible not just through her program but also on her block. Before the pandemic, the City of Chicago’s Adjacent Neighbors Land Acquisition Program (ANLAP) let homeowners purchase vacant city-owned lots next door for one dollar.

“I saw an opportunity to create a space for the people who live here," she explains. "I wanted a place where we could meet, exercise, and share with one another—a place that belongs to our block.”

Today, that space has become a central gathering spot, a testament to her vision and commitment to the community.

Her dedication is personal and direct. Mrs. Jacobs doesn't hesitate to engage anyone she sees who might need work, often approaching people on the street and offering to connect them with job opportunities.

“I will go up to anyone,” she says confidently. “People tell me I shouldn’t, but how am I going to know if someone needs a job if I don’t ask? I’ve never felt scared or uncomfortable. I just know I have to.”

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This passion was sparked in 2015 when she attended a community meeting and was asked to volunteer by a local leader. The issue of employment for returning citizens hit close to home for Mrs. Jacobs.

“When my son came home from prison, he couldn’t find a job. I saw what that did to him, and I don’t want to see anyone else go through that.” Since then, she has helped hundreds of people find work, acting as a beacon of hope for those often left behind by society.

However, as much as she gives to the community, Mrs. Jacobs is looking to turn her volunteering into paid work.

“I used to receive a stipend which really helped with gas and other ex-penses, but now I’m not getting that anymore.”

She used to volunteer regularly at a Westside Health Authority facility, but with changes in her support network, she’s been floating between different locations, still looking for a permanent position that aligns with her passion.

Edie Jacobs

In addition to her employment-focused work, Mrs. Jacobs is determined to maintain the vacant lot she transformed into a community garden.

With support from Austin Coming Together collaborative, she applied for the Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities grant, hoping to secure much-needed funds to keep the garden flourishing. Every year, the fund gives out grants for programs, activities and events that foster peace and collaboration.

“The expenses for the garden are a lot for me,” she says. “I’ve been able to get some donations, but I need help maintaining it. That’s why I applied for the grant. I hope I get it — it would be a great addition to our block and the community.”

Mrs. Jacobs embodies the spirit of community engagement and resilience. Her unyielding dedication to improving the lives of those around her is an example of grassroots leadership at its finest. As she continues her work, she remains a vital asset to the Westside—one that deserves recognition and support for all she does.

This profile was written in 2018

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The Mission and the Vision of the Westside Review Thank you for reading the first, sneak peek issue of the Westside Review. There have been many newspapers and online news outlets that covered the West Side of Chicago, but we are trying to cover some truly new ground.

Westside Review will be a quarterly community print and online publication that amplifies the voices of the Westside of Chicago. The magazine will take its cues from Chicago magazine and suburban community magazines such as Sheridan Road and Downers Grove magazine. Each issue will contain in-depth investigative reporting, articles covering Westside arts and culture, profiles of local businesses and interviews with notable Westsiders. We will have articles explaining the ins and outs of the local government, pieces relevant to our communities, photo essays by local photographers, and maybe even some poetry and fiction.

The website will build on that, offering some quicker news items, information about upcoming events and other things that may be more time sensitive.

Westside Review’s mission is to empower and inform our community members through art, culture, and politics, and foster a sense of connection and belonging.

Westside Review will do its part to build a Westside community where residents are informed, engaged, and actively participating in shaping their neighborhood's narrative.

We believe that by providing a platform for community members to tell their own stories and experiences, we can create a more equitable and just community.

Westside Review will rely on journalists who have experience covering the West Side, and burgeoning journalists trying to get their careers off the ground. We aim to do our part to encourage and develop local talents (more on that a bit further down). We will listen to the community, learn from our mistakes and keep pushing forward.

It is home to faith leaders, nonprofits and community organizations that work to support and elevate the community. It is home to beautiful parks and plenty of great events.

The West Side faces many challenges, to be sure - crime, violence, shortage of job opportunities, the fallout from the opioid addiction and continued fallout from racially influenced disinvestment. West Side is the community where politicians often use the intricacies of the petition objection process to keep opponents off the ballot. It is the community where many residents feel disengaged from the political process and what little development happens in their communities.

There are plenty of stories to tell, plenty of news to report. But, in the past few decades, that potential has never been fully tapped.

The untapped need Like other parts of Chicago, the West Side is complicated and complex. It is home to the longtime business owners and entrepreneurs trying to get their dream off the ground. It is a place where artists, poets and musicians hone their craft.

"Westside Review’s mission is to empower and inform our community members through art, culture, and politics, and foster a sense of connection and belonging.” "

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Major Chicago area media outlets cover the West Side sporadically.

Much of that coverage focuses on crime, and only occasionally on something positive, like new businesses or community organizations.

West Side is home to two local weekly newspapers - the Austin Voice and Austin Weekly News. Austin Voice does a good job of covering events and has informative columns, but it rarely delves into hard news.

Austin Weekly News provides consistent hard news coverage, but it never had the means or the resources to fully cover an area as large and complex as Chicago West Side, let alone do much in-depth investigative reporting.

Other local newspapers, such as North Lawndale Community News and The Culture, only fill some of the gaps. Block Club Chicago has done some great hard news coverage of the West Side, including some long-form investigative pieces, but it hasn’t always been consistent. It didn’t have a regular West Side beat reporter between January and October 2024.

West Side has been covered by the South Side Weekly newspaper, which takes a very generous definition of the “South Side” (everything south of Madison Street), but West Side isn’t its primary focus.

The Triibe has done some great coverage of the West Side, but its ultimate mission is covering Black Chicago as a whole.

The interest is there - Block Club’s and Austin Weekly’s investigative pieces were some of the highestperforming articles on their websites. Block Club pieces such as its investigation of Loretto Hospital’s questionable practices during the pandemic led to meaningful change.

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"Too often, writers feel like they don’t have the opportunity to share their words and get paid for it within the community.

Too often, young people who have the potential to be journalists never realize it, because nobody gives them an opportunity to try.”

Westside Review will have the West Side focus. Without the demands of daily and/or weekly deadlines, it will be able to take its time with its articles. It will be able to provide that kind of in-depth coverage on a more consistent basis.

Cultivating local talent West Side is full of untapped talent - it’s just the question of opportunity. Too often, West Side artists feel like they need to go outside the community to showcase their work.

Too often, writers feel like they don’t have the opportunity to share their words and get paid for it within the community. Too often, young people who have the potential to be journalists never realize it, because nobody gives them an opportunity to try.

Here at the Westside Review, we want to support and nurture the talent that we know is there.

We want to do our part to support the local journalists and budding creators.

We want to give painters, sculptors and photographers a place to showcase their work.

It would take more than any one publication to build a thriving, supportive ecosystem, but we want to do our part to create more opportunities.

We want to pay our reporters, photographers, artists and other contributors rates that fairly compensate them for their time and labor.

Collaboration is at the heart of our ethos. We want to work with media outlets like the City Bureau and the Triibe, Austin Weekly News and Block Club Chicago.

Westside Review aims to fill the niche no one has quite filled, but that doesn’t mean we want to outcompete them. A rising tide can lift all boats.

We want to work with other nonprofits, on the West Side and elsewhere in Chicago.

We want to build relationships with local schools, colleges and universities.

We want to work with West Side studios and galleries. Together, we can achieve more than we can ever do alone.

The power of print Here at the Westside Review, we believe in the power of digital media. It makes sharing information easier than ever, and it allows us to add multimedia components and update things on the fly. But we also strongly believe in the unique advantages of print.

Online, readers tend to consume the stories by clicking on links, whether it’s from a newsletter, an e-mail or a social media post. They’ll read the story, but they won't necessarily look around the website and read anything else. A print media product, on the other hand, brings together several stories in one single package. Once someone reads an article, it’s a lot more natural to keep reading.

A print product has mass. It has substance. It has more impact than a single link. It is something you can hand to someone, something you can flip through, something you can leave on a table. There is a reason why being on the cover of a magazine is more exciting than being on the front page of a news site.

With each issue of Westside Review, we want to create something that can stay on the living room table for months. We want to create a complete, multi-faceted package that shows the many sides of the West Side. We want to create something our readers will want to show off and be proud of.

Westside Review will be glossy, because the West Side deserves the best. Westside Review will have eye-catching covers created by local artists, because the West Side deserves nothing but the best.

"We want to create a complete, multifaceted package that shows the many sides of the West Side. We want to create something our readers will want to show off and be proud of. "

Get Involved Westside Review will be funded through a combination of grants, donations, and advertising revenue.

We project that our total expenses for the first year of operation will be $100,000. We plan to generate $90,000 in revenue through grants and donations and $10,000 through advertising revenue.

We are looking for donors. We are looking for advertisers. We are looking for story ideas, and we are looking for collaborators. We are looking to take our vision and build on it together.

If you are interested in working with us, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

Vanessa Stokes, Publisher: vanessa@vscreativeconsulting.com Igor Studenkov, Editor: istudenk@comcast.net westsidereview.com

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