The Culture_April 3, 2024

They Came to Slay

PAGES 6-7

MIGRATION STORIES

In this issue, we tell the stories of how Westsiders are responding to the needs of asylum-seekers like Yoselyn Perez, center, who says she and her family came to the United States not to take away but "to give back."

Call Good Neighbor’s Help Line: The Good Neighbor Campaign is a movement to connect neighbors and empower each other through sharing our gifts, talents, and abilities. Do you need assistance or support? Call our new Good Neighbor Help Line at (312) 219-8864 (Ext. 2400).

Get Free Credit-Building Support: The Westside Health Authority is excited to offer FREE financial and credit-building counseling in partnership with Tzedek DC and Working Credit, a nonprofit that provides expert credit-building workshops and confidential, one-on-one financial counseling for a year. Get help with finding the best interest rates, tacking your debt, gaining access to quality rental housing, building a safety net and much more. Sign up at info.workingcredit. org/join/tzedekdc. For more info, call (773) 275-0900 or email info@workingcredit.org

Still

Recovering From The 2023 Flood?

Get Some Help: If you’re still recovering from last year’s flooding and need support, please reach out to the West Side LongTerm Recovery Group. The group’s volunteer case managers work with residents to assess the damage to their homes and understand the relief options available to them before deploying volunteer contractors to begin waste removal/muck out, mold remediation and rebuild. For more info, visit westsideltrg.com/ or call (773) 909-8502.

Join Westside Health Authority’s Youth Council | Are your passions social inclusion and equity? Education? Health? Active citizenship? Peace-building and security? Economic empowerment? The environment? Government? The Youth Council gives young people

RESOURCES [ [

voices in community decision-making. The Council helps young people identify priorities, craft policies that support these priorities and contribute to the implementation of these policies through public service. For more info, contact Jessie Duncan at (312) 224-4728 or jduncan@healthauthority.org.

Get Skilled In The Construction Trades: Challenge yourself! Take the opportunity to build a career in the construction trades with St. Paul Community Development Ministries’ 12-week, pre-apprenticeship training program (95% proven placements).

Eligibility:

■ Must be at least 18

■ Must have a birth certificate

■ Must have a high school diploma or GED

■ Must have a valid driver’s license

■ Must pass a drug test

■ Must pass a basic math and reading pre-test

Results:

■ Lifelong skills

■ Competitive wages and benefits

■ Entry-level skills necessary to become plumbers, pipefitters, carpenters, electricians, teamsters and more.

■ Industry-recognized certificates set you up for success

Make Your Voice Heard On Harm-Reduction: Share your thoughts on harm-reduction services on the Westside in a new online survey that’s part of aproject led by the West

PUBLICATION TEAM

Michael Romain

Communications Director

Frank Latin Communications Specialist/ Westside Media Project Founder

Kenn Cook Jr. Communications Specialist

Kamil Brady Circulation Manager/Sales

Kyler Winfrey

Digital Media Specialist/Good Neighbor Campaign liaison

Trey Arline

Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force and IDHS/ SUPR. They want to learn how harm-reduction services can reduce drug overdoses on the Westside. The survey is anonymous and confidential. Results will help them understand what harm-reduction services Westsiders think we need. To take the survey, visit redcap.vanderbilt.edu/surveys/?s=A7DAWTXPC8YTJNXC. To learn more about the West Side Heroin/Opioid Task Force, visit facebook. com/westsidetaskforce2020, call (773) 4501567 or email Task Force Outreach Coordinator Lu Syas at luther.syas@yahoo.com.

Learn About Home Improvement: The Westside Health Authority will present a FREE DIY Home Repair Workshop Series hosted by Tyrone Day starting Saturday, April 13, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Good Neighbor Center, 5437 W. Division. Learn how to install lighting, ceiling fans and video doorbells, as well as how to do light electrical repairs. You’ll need the information some day! For more info, call (773) 378-1878.

Reporter

Asante Hayes Photographer/Videographer

Jihoon Woo Photographer/Videographer

Paul Goyette

Photographer

EDITORIAL BOARD

Morris Reed

Westside Health Authority/CEO

Karl Brinson Westside Branch NAACP/President

Bernard Clay

Introspect Youth Services/Executive Director

Frank Latin Westside Media Project/ Executive Director

Michael Romain Village Free Press/Publisher

CONTACT US at mromain@healthauthority.org

On The Cover

Air Traffic Controllers | The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced last month that it’s working to accelerate its training and hiring of air traffic controllers. Applications open June 24 through June 27, so if you know someone between 18 and 30 looking for work, tell them to go to faa.gov/ be-atc. The salary ranges between $103,000 and $164,000 per year and they pay for your training and school.

One Summer Chicago | Summer jobs for Westside youth ages 16 to 24 are returning again. The deadline to apply for them is May 3. Applications are now open at onesummerchicago.org.

Step 1: Click on the big red button (summer jobs), click on the big gray button (apply), click on the word “Register” underneath the log-in box and fill out the application BUT write down you EMAIL and PASSWORD.

Step 2: Page 4 is very important. Make sure the ONLY box checked is for: Chicago Department of Family and Support Services (otherwise we cannot hire you).

JOBS & CAREERS [ [

- Next question: “Is there a particular agency you want to work with? Please click on: Westside Health Authority.

Step 3: At the bottom of Page 6: Check the box: Yes I Agree. After you have completed and submitted your application, please write down your OSC Application ID #. We’ll be asking you for that. After you have completed your online application, please email Mrs. Flowers at jflowers@healthauthority.org

Step 4: Starting April 1 through June 21, come to Westside Health Authority (5465 W. Division St.), 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Make sure you bring all your paperwork: ID, Social Security Number (SSN) card and birth certificate (We also take school ID’s). If you have a driver’s license or state ID, we do not need your birth certificate. No applications will be accepted without your Social Security card and ID.

Mistica Foods | Westside Health Authority, Specialized Staffing Solutions Inc. and Mistica Foods, a background-friendly employer, are recruiting workers for a range of temporary positions, including:

Consider a Career as a Videographer

By Frank Latin Westside Media Project

If you enjoy watching or recording videos with your smartphone you should consider a career as a videographer. Videographers are storytellers who use cameras and other equipment to create videos that convey a message.

THE WORK

Videographers are responsible for recording live events and smaller scale video productions like documentaries, short films, sporting events and weddings. Videographers can work alone with a single camera or with a small team of light and sound technicians.

People often confuse videographers with video editors. The work of videographers includes editing video footage, but it goes beyond that to include operating and maintaining cameras and other video recording equipment to capture high-quality footage

NECESSARY SKILLS

Technical skills include selecting correct camera settings, lighting, lenses, and filters to get the perfect shot; instructing camera operators regarding setup, angles, distance and movement; directing studio productions; and making necessary edits. You may also need to utilize creative skills, such as developing scripts or storyboards to outline a project; arranging clips, incorporating special effects, and synchronizing audio

• General labor

• Machine operators

• Walkie riders

• Quality control technicians

• Forklift drivers

•And much more Eligiblity requirements include:

• Reliable transportation

• The ability to work in a cold environment

•The ability to work in a fast-paced environment

• A Social Security card and Illinois-issued ID/ driver’s license

Austin Coming Together Case Manager |

Austin Coming Together, a Westside nonprofit that offers support for a variety of local organizations, is hiring a full-time Case Manager. This person will be responsible for engaging Austin residents and stakeholders through the Austin Community Hub fand facilitating coordinated intake and referral with participants and partners, among other responsibilities. Salary is commensurate with experience and ranges from $50,000 to $55,000 plus benefits. For more info or to apply, visit austincomingtogether.org/case-manager/

CTA Hiring Event | The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is hosting a Second Chance Program 2024 Spring Hiring Event featuring onsite interviews at CTA Headquarters, 567 W. Lake St., on Saturday, April 13, and Monday, April 15. All backgrounds eligible. No vaccination required.

Qualifications include:

• Must be a City of Chicago resident

• Must be 18 years or older

• Must have an interest in janitorial work

• Must have barriers to employment: justice involved, domestic violence survivor or homelessness

On the day of the event, you will learn about the CTA Second Chance Program and job openings, complete a CTA job application and do an onsite interview.

Program benefits include:

• $15.80 per hour

• Free transportation on CTA, Pace and Metra

• 40 hours per week for at least 1 year

• Workshops to assist with applying for permanent CTA positions

• Professional development

for a polished result. Graphics, animations and visual effects enhance the overall quality of a video.

REQUIREMENTS/SALARY

A college degree is not required to become a videographer, although some employers prefer it. Creativity, skill and technical expertise can take you a long way. It may be a good idea to familiarize yourself with industry standard

video editing software such as Adobe, Final Cut and Avid. You should be able to locate free versions of this software on the internet.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for entry-level videographers is close to $50,000; however those with high-level skills and experience earn much more.

To learn more about careers available within the media industry, check out Westside Media Project at www.westsideproject.org.

Yoselyn, a Venezuelan Native, Has a Dream WESTSIDE LIVES [ [

By Frank Latin Westside Media Project

According to the city’s New Arrivals Situational Awareness Dashboard, over 38,000 new arrivals have come to Chicago from the U.S. southern border since Aug. 31, 2022.

That’s over 38,000 stories and Yoselyn Perez, 38, is one of them. She traveled to Chicago through more than six countries and over 2,600 miles with her husband, two kids and brother. Their overarching goal is to live better lives.

How was your life back in Venezuela?

I was born and raised in the state of Apure, in the countryside of Venezuela. I grew up

on a farm. It is a beautiful country. There was a time when Venezuela was prosperous. When I was a kid and throughout my teen years, there was good education and opportunities for all. But things started to change as I became a young adult. Due to government decisions, corruption and lack of opportunities, life in Venezuela became extremely hard.

When did you decide to leave Venezuela and why?

The decision to migrate comes from many years of wanting to leave Venezuela but not wanting to leave, because it implied many things, many changes and we fought until the last minute to not leave. But there came a time when we had nothing to give

the children to eat. One day we had nothing, absolutely nothing to feed the children, so I made the decision.

What was the journey like to get here?

The journey was not easy; it was very dangerous, but we had to take risks. We crossed Colombia to reach the border of Panama, through the Darién Gap jungle. We spent three days in the jungle, because it was summer. We equipped ourselves with a tent, medicine and the little food we could find.

After Colombia, we crossed through Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Mexico before reaching the United States.

How have things gone so far here in the U.S for you and your family?

Once we arrived, my husband got proper medical assistance. He was taken into a hospital and treated due to a bacterium in his leg. They were watching out for us in the shelters. People treated us well. A few days later, we continued on one of the humanitarian buses to the sanctuary city of Chicago. We stayed in a shelter from May to December of 2023.

[She began to cry].

I am truly happy. I feel so happy to be here. I have a dream of opening a Venezuelan restaurant and sharing my culture. Thank you very much for listening to us, so that people know that today we come with a dream; that we not only came to take away, but we also come to give back.

Yoselyn Perez, center, pictured with her family. | PHOTO BY JIHOON WOO

How Westsiders Helping Asylum-Seekers Are Confronting the Language Barrier

Social service organizations are looking to Spanish-langauge paperwork, translation devices to overcome the barrier

By Trey Arline Contributing Reporter

Rev. James Coleman, a pastor who oversees the Westside Health Authority’s (WHA) Good Neighbor Campaign, says the organization services up to 18 South American migrants a week who come to them looking for employment and housing, among other critical needs.

“We have people assisting them with transportation and even helping them find an opportunity to shower when they can,” James says.

According to a public data dashboard created by the city of Chicago, roughly 38,000 asylum-seekers have arrived in the city by bus or plane from Texas since August 2022. That number doesn’t include asylum-seekers who arrived independently or by Greyhound. Since April 2022, Gov. Greg Abbott has been ordering that asylum-seekers crossing into his state be sent to Democrat-led cities.

As some of those asylum-seekers seek assistance on the Westside, social service agencies are doing their best to help them despite a formidable language barrier.

Abigail Maldonado, a case worker at Westside Health Authority, says the lack of bilingual staff within her organization has been a challenge, especially when she’s virtually the only staffer fluent enough in Spanish to help asylum-seekers fill out necessary paperwork that is currently only available in English.

The case worker says Good Neighbors will soon make some of that important paperwork available in Spanish, so the intake process is easier and less burdensome for bilingual staffers. Good Neighbors staffers are also noticing that more asylum-seekers are bringing with them forms of identification, which also makes the intake process run more smoothly.

organization has experienced a similar need for translation services over the last few years.

In December 2023, the food pantry was one of 64 Chicago-area nonprofits awarded a $10,000 microgrant from the Grubhub Community Fund, the philanthropic arm of the online food ordering and delivery company.

“We want to make this a pleasurable experience and tear down this language barrier.”

“I’m the only person in my department who speaks Spanish fluently, but we do try our best and they come in using their cell phones to translate,” Abigail says. “Everyone is being as helpful as they can to provide the services they need.”

Ken Cozzi, the executive director of the Above and Beyond Food Pantry, 817 S. Pulaski in West Garfield Park, says his

Earlier this year, Ken announced his organization’s plans to use that funding to buy translation devices for the pantry’s growing Spanish-speaking clientele. He said that in March 2022, 10% of people served by the pantry were Latino. By January 2023, Latinos comprised at least 30% of those served by the pantry.

Jim Conwell, the vice president of marketing and communications for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, says organizations like Above and Beyond and Good Neighbors aren’t the only ones experiencing a surging demand for translation services.

Although the food depository doesn’t track the country of

origin of those who receive food from their pantries, multiple pantries in the depository’s network have reported experiencing an influx of South American asylum-seekers who need their services.

Conwell says the rising number of recipients isn’t solely due to the presence of asylum-seekers. He says one in five households in the city are at risk of food insecurity this year, which predominantly affects Black and Latino families. Still, the increase in Spanish-speaking people who receive food assistance adds another layer of complexity when it comes to helping the most vulnerable people in need.

“It’s something that we have seen and heard from other partners across the food network,” Jim says. “We definitely have [partners on the North and South sides who have experienced] an increase in new arrivals from South America [and] who don’t typically serve Spanish-speakers.”

That’s why securing equipment like translation devices was such a priority for Ken Cozzi when we spoke to him in January.

“We want to make this a pleasurable experience and tear down this language barrier,” he said. “The hope is that every staffer will have a translator.”

Rev. James Coleman, second from right, speaks with a Good Neighbor staffer and Westside Health Authority CEO Morris Reed, far left, in Austin in February. | PHOTO BY KENN COOK JR.

Fashion

for a Cause

PHOTOS BY KENN COOK JR. & CADENCE WARNER

On April 6, the Kehrein Center for the Arts, 5628 W. Washington Blvd., held its first-ever fashion show and fundraiser featuring designs from Berny Martin, iSKream Kulture, Tami Yarbrough and Mona Muhammad.

Berny is the founder of LeCatou, a line of men’s and women’s wear. iSKream Kulture means “I Scream Culture” and is the brainchild of designer Crystal Watts, who has blended her love of ice cream with her passion for fashion. Tami Yarbrough is the founder of Cheryl Renee’s Things, also known

as Cheryl Renee’s Closet. Mona Muhammad is the owner of Knotty Loop Creations.

The West Side Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event along with about two dozen other businesses, nonprofits and government entities.

The chamber’s goal was to leverage the fashion show to raise $75,000 to increase youth services on the Westside. To learn more about the Chicago West Side Chamber of Commerce, visitchicagowestsidechamber. org or call Tina Augustus, the chamber’s cofounder, at (773) 931-2145.

Model Cloe Price

Model Mona Lisa Lezah

Model Cateryna Grod

Model Malcolm Sharkey

Model Cameesha Smith

Model Cloe Price

Model Aliana Glory

Model Vivian Alex

West Side Chamber of Commerce co-founders Berny Martin and Tina Augustus address the audience during the April 6 event.

OUT & ABOUT [ [

Austin’s First Yoga Studio Is Unapologetically Black, Owner Says

By Michael Romain Editor

Marshawn Feltus, a longtime yoga instructor and owner of ACT Yoga, 5457 W. Madison St., Austin’s first yoga studio, was intentional about designing the studio space when he opened the business roughly a year ago.

A wall-sized mirror enlarges the room, which has an aroma that’s soothing and inviting. You’ll see splashes of green — the color of harmony and growth, and the most relaxing on the visible spectrum —- throughout the space.

Four massage chairs are bathed in bright green, a chess board nearby features contrasting hunter green squares, a large green potted plant plays the part of natural air purifier in a corner across the room, and a three-paneled painting on the wall near the entryway depicts flowing water.

“You want people to come in and be stimulated but not overwhelmed,” Marshawn, 49, says. “When you walk in off Madison Street, it’s definitely a different feeling. We want people to feel the impact right away. We want them to feel that this is a place they really want to be.”

NOT YOUR TYPICAL YOGA STUDIO

“Yoga studios really lend to the Eastern philosophy,” Marshawn says. “We’re not even trying to appeal to the Western philosophy. We are unapologetically trying to cater to Black culture and we want to do that because we feel like if we show people simple solutions and ways they can use their body and mind to have a holistic and progressive way of living, then it’s worth it.”

ACT, which stands for awareness, change and triumph, offers more than yoga. Certified massage therapists are on hand for sessions and community members can learn about resources offered by nonprofits, businesses and other supporting institutions. The holistic,

wraparound services are complimented by Feltus’ non-judgemental instructional style.

“We make basic cultural connections, understanding how we speak, what we like, how far we’re willing to disengage or engage. Most people are beginners, so it wouldn’t make since to expose them to the chanting and Sanskrit,” Marshawn says.

“That would require more involvement.

We want to expose them to much more than yoga.”

“If yoga was a woman, I’d have married her on the spot.”

The style I teach is more conversational and suggestive, as opposed to coming in and dictating to you what you should and shouldn’t do,” he adds. “We also check in with people and see how their day or week went while connecting them to different services we have in the community.

Other aspects of the studio appeal to the surrounding culture. Marshawn knows that not all of his clients will have yoga mats and other equipment, so he provides that stuff for free. And he’s quick to emphasize that all of the equipment is deep-cleaned and sanitized after every session.

‘If yoga was a woman, I’d have married her on the spot’

Marshawn, who learned yoga while incarcerated, says it changed his life. But Initially he was skeptical.

“Yoga has been divine for me, but early on

If You Go

ACT Yoga, 5457 W. Madison St. in Austin, has a range of plans, ranging from $15 for a meditation session to $65 for private sessions.

Busy professionals might want to try the Workplace Refresh, a custom service that demonstrates yoga techniques that can be accomplished with a chair and/or in a space smaller than the size of a desk.

CONTACTS

On the web: actyogachicago.com

By email: actyogachicago@gmail.com

By phone: (773) 331-6633

I was totally against it,” he says. “I had been a power lifter for many years. Although I looked great, my body was really torn down from lifting all that heavy weight. After a long road of persuasion, I finally took my first yoga class. Since then, I’ve been practicing every day. I always say, ‘If yoga was a woman, I’d have married her on the spot!’ That’s how great I felt.”

Marshawn Feltus opened ACT Yoga in Austin roughly a year ago. He said the goal was to open a studio that centers Black culture. | PHOTOS BY KENN COOK JR.

Sandra Brudent relaxes in a zero gravity chair inside ACT Yoga.

“We make basic cultural connections,” Marshawn says.

APRIL 5 - 27

Now through May 12, Thursday - Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Garfield Park Conservatory, 300 N. Central Park Ave. | The Garfield Park Conservatory’s Spring Flower Show, “What’s in a Name?”, explains the history and science of botanical nomenclature alongside a beautiful flower show full of blooms. Plant names are an important way of communicating history, culture, and identity. For more info, call (312) 742-7529. Registration required at garfieldconservatory.org/visit to book your visit.

Saturday, April 13, 5 p.m. (doors open at 4 p.m.), Kehrein Center for the Arts, 5628 W. Washington Blvd. | Your Way Creations presents A Night At The Juke Joynt, featuring artists Jay Collins, Carla Curry, New Orleans Baeu and Noreen Stark. General admission: $35 at the door. VIP admission: $45 (including dinner). No dinner sales at the door. Free parking. For more info, contact (773) 383-8433.

Wednesday, April 17, 5 to 7:30 p.m., Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St. | Chicago Public Library celebrates the life and legacy of Mayor Harold Washington with a screening of the film Punch 9, followed by a talkback with director Joe Winston and producer Raymond Lambert. In this epic story of American politics, race, and triumph against all odds, director Joe Winston chronicles the captivating rise, surprising reign, and enduring legacy of Chicago’s first African-American mayor, Harold Washington. For more info, (312) 747-4300 or visit chipublib. bibliocommons.com/.

WHAT’S HAPPENING [ [

Friday, April 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Bethel New Life, 1150 N. Lamon Ave. | Join Bethel New Life, Rush CHW Hub and the Foundation for Women’s Cancer for free head, neck and skin cancer screenings. Receive free colon cancer test kits. For more info, contact Ebony Henderson at Ebony_G_ Henderson@rush.edu or (773) 441-0749.

Friday, April 19, noon, Community Support Advisory Council (CSAC) West, 4835 W. Chicago Ave. | Join like-minded community partnering agencies to discuss returning citizens and how we can help them overcome barriers they face to successful re-entry. Delicious catered free lunch. Two great speakers and an inspirational speaker. Please RSVP to Maria Moon at mmoon@ healthauthority.org or (773) 909-2186.

Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m. to noon, Austin Town Hall Park, 5610 W. Lake St. | Join this Citywide Parks Clean Up event at your park. This event is great for all ages. Meet at the Park Entrance. This event is held in partnership with Friends of the Parks. Register at https://signup.com/go/xJNpKpj.

Saturday, April 13, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 3800 W. Madison St. | The Westside Block Club Association in partnership with the 7th Platoon Jeep Club with host a March for Peace. The march will convene at 3800 W. Madison, proceeding westward to Kilpatrick and Madison, then turning around toward the origin point. The sponsoring organizations are taking a bold step to address the issue of gun violence by spearheading a Gang Truce Summer Ceasefire Agreement with all gangs on the Westside. For more info, contact Talei Thompson, (773) 540-4665.

Saturday, April 20, 9 to 11 a.m., Douglass (Anna and Frederick) Park, 1410 Sacramento Dr. | ‘Go Run is a community partnership between the Chicago Area Runners Association and the Chicago Park District with an objective to activate neighborhood parks, build communities and encourage active lifestyle through running and volunteerism. ‘Go Runs aim to become a core part of neighborhood culture, encouraging organic community engagement at, and long after, each run. Register in advance at www.GoRunChicago. org. Registration Opens Friday at 3:00 p.m. the week prior to each ‘Go Run.

Saturday, April 27, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Amberg Hall, 1150 N. Lamon Ave. | Attend the free Westside Spring Book Fair featuring USA Today bestselling author Naleighna Kai, award-winning author Bridgett McGill and award-winning author Honey Thomas. For more info, visit facebook.com/ groups/774702641171681.

Don’t Forget These Recurring Events

Every Thursday, 2:30 to 4 p.m., 5816 W. Division St. | CSAC West and Westside Health Authority host the Overcomers Dinner featuring a free meal and resources. For more info, call (773) 664-0339.

Every Tuesday and Thursday, 5 to 7 p.m., 5244 W. Chicago Ave. | MUV Correctly and Friends host Unleash Em Bangz, a youth dance session for all ages. For more info, call (773) 899-0507.

Reach Out To Us To submit an event for inclusion in the community calendar, email mromain@healthauthority.org

By Michael Romain Editor

Well-known Austin activist Cata Truss supported Mayor Brandon Johnson’s election bid last year, but since then she’s become so dissatisfied with the mayor and the entire Democratic Party that she switched allegiances and registered as a Republican for the first time in her life.

During an interview earlier this year, Cata, the wife of former Chicago Board of Education member and well known educate advocate Dwayne Truss, explained her position and talked about how she’s handling all the attention she’s been getting from the media for her newfound stance.

Ivoted for Brandon for mayor, because I knew him. Before he ran, I thought we had a good relationship. He was my Cook County commissioner and if I had an issue involving the county, he was someone I could call.

We also did some work together back when Rahm [Emanuel] was mayor and they were closing 50 schools. We were talking to aldermen, trying to get them to step in and stand up for communities and against closing those schools. We spent a lot of time doing those kinds of things together. So, when he decided to run for commissioner, he called me and asked for my support and I gave it. When he decided to run for mayor, he called me up and asked for my support and I gave it and I felt good about giving it — until I didn’t.

I thought surely this Black man would have a pulse on the needs in our community. But I’m looking at what he’s pushing and fighting for [particularly around the migrant issue]. I expected more common sense decisions. He could’ve always turned the buses around. I understand Mayor [Lori] Lightfoot started it, but Brandon came in and doubled down. He could’ve said, ‘It’s a new administration, I need to stop this. I need to see where we are. I need to make sure that all the people who are here currently are housed.’ Those are the things that could have happened prior to [Texas Gov. Greg] Abbot sending buses. But [Mayor Johnson] doubled down and said, ‘We’re the city of big shoulders. We can handle it!’ And then you have someone from Texas who is overwhelmed say, ‘Bet, here they come.’

WESTSIDE LIVES [ [

Why Cata Truss Wants to Turn CHICAGO RED

ON HER LAST STRAW

This [her change of heart] all started with the Amundsen Park Fieldhouse [the city wanted to turn the Galewood facility into a temporary shelter for migrants before Cata and others protested and sued, putting a stop to the decision].

We were at every single City Council meeting. What turned my stomach was seeing 300 to 400 Black Americans at City Hall telling the mayor what we wanted and how we felt only to have him basically ignore us. They [Johnson’s administration] did what they wanted to do regardless of what the people were saying. I was in City Hall the day [in October 2023]

when they decided to change the rules for who would be admitted on the gallery floor for the City Council meetings. I was there when there was a crowd of Black Chicagoans and those supporting a fair wage and the Bring Chicago Home ordinance and they were all of Latino descent.

I remember one of the Latino guys turning

Cata Truss in front of her Austin home. She says her decision to switch to the Republican Party is tactical. | PHOTO BY KENN COOK JR.

around to one of the Black elderly women and saying to her, ‘Get a job!’ He was so disrespectful and indignant to her. That caused a ruckus, as it should have, and the brothers in the crowd checked him, as they should have. This young man instigated the incident that got us kicked out. We were all asked to leave and they told us we wouldn’t be allowed in, but that group got to go back in. It was at that point when I said, ‘We’re a joke. We as Black people are a joke in this city.’ And one reason we’re a joke is because no matter what these elected officials say or do, we continue to support them.

ON WHY SHE’S SKEPTICAL ABOUT A BLACK/BROWN COALITION

People like to talk about Black and Brown, which really turns my stomach, because if you walk into Brown rooms, they’re not talking about Black folk. At what point do we as Black people have conversations about Black folk?

This migrant crisis has taught me something. For as many years as Black people have suffered in America — for as many years as our schools have been defunded, our communities blighted; think about families who may be working and only making a minimum wage, trying to eat and buy gas — only to have the government sit on billions of dollars that

could’ve helped them and now they see [funding] opening up to support migrants. They say to Black America, ‘Don’t be stingy or selfish’ or ‘Have a heart.’ We’re always the ethnic group that has to have a heart. Why do we always have to be mindful of the plight of others when no one is willing to be mindful of our plight? How many times have you heard immigrants say to Black people, ‘You’re lazy or get a job?’

ON HER SWITCH TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

What we have now is not working. As Black Americans, for the last 60 years, we have followed the Democratic Party. Even after the [1994] Crime Bill and the War on Drugs that decimated the Black man and the Black community, we still stood with Biden.

Because there are only two major parties in Chicago, I’m of the mind to try something else. I am not married to either party. That needs to be the sentiment of all the voters in Chicago. We in Cook County are married to the Democratic Party as DuPage County is married to the Republican Party. We need to be independent and support the people who best support our best interests and voters have to be willing to switch up. This is about tactics, it’s about making things better for my people.

ON HER OUTSIZED VOICE

Since October, Cata has appeared on local and national TV outlets like MSNBC and Fox News to air her opinions on the migrant issue Every two weeks since October, I’ve been going on national news talking about the issues and where we stand. I’ve done several podcasts. I’m actually working on my own YouTube channel. There is a following, so we want to engage people and talk to people and give them the tools they need to advocate for themselves.

ON CONFRONTING THE REALITY OF TODAY’S REPUBLICAN PARTY

I went to my first Republican rally [in February] at the Billy Goat Tavern. I felt welcomed. I am who I am and I don’t mince words. I did say to them, ‘If you’re ever going to win over people who may be on the fence, your talking points will have to change. The hate rhetoric will have to change. The gutting of the Voting Rights Act — I’m going to need y’all to fix that.’

I think I said things to them that people think, but won’t say. Trying to tell women what to do with their body? That ain’t okay. Allow women the right to choose. Those are conversations they aren’t willing to have because they’re close-minded. If you’re living

in Connecticut looking at things happening in Chicago that aren’t your reality, to most Joe-blows, they’re thinking Black people are lazy. Most Black people I know are some of the hardest working people you’ll know. So, my thing with the Republican Party is this: Sit down with us and have a conversation with us. We’re very intelligent.

I don’t need you to see things my way. I need you to listen to me. Its okay for us to agree to be disagreeable. To horse-trade some things. I’m not sure what will happen when I start talking to Trump-ites, but I am a Christian first. I give honor to God. He is the head of my life. I cannot as a Christian woman be part of anybody pushing a form of hate, but I can stand up and fight for my people. And I will do that until the last breath in me is gone.

ARE YOU AFRAID OF REPUBLICANS TURNING YOU INTO A CARICATURE?

Right now, I don’t give a damn. I did speak with a young lady who ran for governor in Michigan and one of the things she said is, ‘Be careful with the Republican Party, because they will chew you up and spit you out. But I feel like right now the Democratic Party are chewing up Black folk and spitting them out. What would be the difference?

Cata Truss holds a photo of former Chicago Mayor Harold Washington and her husband, Dwayne Truss. The photo was taken when Cata and Dwayne were in college. | PHOTO BY KENN COOK JR.

Cata Truss speaks with a Chicago Public Schools Safe Passage worker near her Austin home. | PHOTO BY KENN COOK JR.