Michael Romain
Publisher & Editor
Kamil Brady
Circulation Manager/Sales
Kenn Cook Jr.
Photographer
Paul Goyette
Photographer
EDITORIAL
Morris Reed
Westside Health Authority/CEO
Karl Brinson
Westside Branch NAACP/President
Bernard Clay
Introspect Youth Services/Executive
Director
Michael Romain
The Culture
CONTACT US at stories@ourculture.us
VISIT US ONLINE at ourculture.us
Wednesday, Oct. 1, 5:30-9 p.m., PCC Austin Family Health Center, 5461 West Lake Street | Austin Eats: Hoodies and Harvest Movie Night | This event features a screening of two short films: “Street Food: New Orleans” and “Can Food Be Political?” Open to all ages. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for dinner bites from three local Austin chefs, cider, s’mores, garden tours, and tabling activities by community organizations focused on health, food, culinary arts, and small business resources. Wear your favorite hoodie! This will be an outdoor event, weather permitting. Visit oneearthcollective. org/ for more info.
Thursday, Oct. 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation, 5500 W. Madison St. | BMO Bank Grand Opening | BMO invites you to join them for music, food, entertainment, and complimentary professional headshots.
Thursday, Oct. 2, 5 p.m., Columbus Park Refectory, 5701 W. Jackson Blvd. | Residential Backflow Preventers Program | You’re invited to a Town Hall hosted by State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford and the Westside Health Authority.
Friday, Oct. 3, 6-7:30 p.m., Douglass Park Cultural Center, 1401 S. Sacramento Dr. | The Drum Also Sings, The Drum Also Sobs | Hear drummer, composer, and producer Gustavo Cortiñas, jazz drummer Marcus Evans, and jazz and blues drummer Isaiah Spencer perform indoors for FREE. Learn more at nightoutinthepark.com
Saturday, Oct. 4, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Austin Branch Library, 5615 W. Race Ave. | Expungement Event | Have a criminal record, this event is for you. Bring a printed copy of your arrest record and be patient.
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2-3 p.m., Island Oasis, 1114 S. Mason Ave. | Yoga In the Garden | Enjoy free yoga in Austin’s Island neighborhood with PJ Hunter, RYT 200, and Peace & Joy Within Yoga. All levels welcomed. Bring your own mat. Sponsored by the Island Civic Association. Visit islandchicago.org or peacejoywithin.com for more info.
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2-3:30 p.m., Austin Town Hall Park, 5610 W. Lake St. | The Drum Also Sings, The Drum Also Sobs | Hear drummer, composer, and producer Gustavo Cortiñas, jazz drummer Marcus Evans, and jazz and blues drummer Isaiah Spencer perform outdoors for FREE. Learn more at nightoutinthepark.com
Saturday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m.-noon, Douglass Branch Library, 3353 W. 13th St. | Junior League of Chicago | This fun-filled program of books, poems, and songs allows community members to see their favorite books performed, including: The Paper Bag Princess and The Magic Hat. At the end of each show, every child will receive a bookmark, sticker, and book to take home. For ages 3-9 with a parent/guardian. Call (312) 747-3725 for more info.
Tuesday, Oct. 7, and Thursday, Oct. 9, 4 p.m., Freedom Defense Center, 5500 W. Madison St. (second-floor conference room) | Men’s Wellness Group | Define self-care, conduct a self-assessment, and discover new ways to support practice. Ages 18 and over. Register at bit.ly/3Klypco
Friday, Oct. 10, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Kehrein Center for the Arts, 5628 W Washington Blvd. | Aging Well Together | Share the gifts of wellness, food, music, and fellowship. This free program is for older adults 55 and better. Visit kcachicago.org for more info.
Saturday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Legler Regional Library, 115 S. Pulaski Rd. | History Harvest: The Westside Family | Share West Side stories, photos, and keepsakes to help build the Westside Cultural Archive. This free community-centered event is hosted by Kenn Cook Jr., The Culture’s staff photographer, Legler’s Artist-in-Residence, and strategy lead for the Westside Historical Collective. The event marks the kickoff of the Westside Cultural Archive, a digital initiative dedicated to documenting and celebrating the West Side’s rich cultural history. Register at eventbrite.com (Search: History Harvest: The Westside Family).
Saturday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., L. May Creations, 5936 W. Chicago Ave. | Ald. Taliaferro’s Tea Party | This free event is
open to community members ages 35 to 55. Light refreshments served. Call (773) 2376460 to register by Oct. 3.
Saturday, Oct. 11, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 600 N. Lorel Ave. | Harvest Festival and Trunk or Treat | This event features a resource fair and a fun Trunk-or-Treat event. We’ll have decorated car trunks filled with candy as a festive alternative to traditional trick-or-treating.
• Grace & Peace Church Food Pantry, 1856 N. Leclaire Ave. | Open every Tuesday (10 a.m.-2 p.m.), Wednesday (10 a.m.-2 p.m.), and Thursday (2 p.m.-6 p.m.).
• Circle Urban Ministries Food Pantry, 119 N. Central Ave. | Open every Wednesday (9-11 a.m.) and Thursday (1-3 p.m.).
• Beyond Hunger Food Pantry, DriveThru: 924 Lake St., Oak Park; Walk-Up: 848 Lake St., Oak Park | Open every Wednesday (3:30-5:30 p.m.) and Saturday (9 a.m.-12 p.m.).
• Hope Community Church Food Pantry, 5900 W. Iowa St. | Open every Friday (noon-2 p.m.) and Saturday (10 a.m.noon).
• Good Neighbor Campaign Kids Cafe, 5437 W. Division St. | Open every Monday through Friday, (noon-2 p.m.).
For a summary of food-related resources in Austin, visit AustinComingTogether.org/ FoodResources
Consider becoming an owner of the Austin Community Food Cooperative. When you become an owner of the Co-op, you’re joining a movement that invests in our community, our health, and our future. Your ownership helps build a grocery store for Austin that reflects its values – local, healthy, and equitable food access for everyone.
The Co-op offers a range of payment plans via stripe.com to ensure everyone can join. Lifetime ownership is available for $200. Learn more at austincommunityfoodco-op.com
Every 2nd and 4th Saturday through Oct. 25, 10 a.m., The Hatchery Plaza, 135 N. Kedzie Ave. | Garfield Park Neighborhood Market | Shop hyper-local produce from community gardens, plus food vendors and entrepreneurs. A great place for West Side residents to support local growers. Accepts Link.
Sundays, 2 - 6 p.m., POPCourts! Community Plaza, corner of Chicago and Lockwood avenues | Lace Up Community Event | MUV Correctly & Friends hosts this event featuring a safe zone, music, food, performances, footwork, battles and lessons, games, and more. Call (773) 8990507 for more info.
Every Tuesday and Thursday, 5 - 7 p.m., 5244 W. Chicago Ave. | Unleash Em Bangz | MUV Correctly & Friends hosts a youth dance program for all ages. Call (773) 8990507 for more info.
Saturdays at various West Side locations | The Austin Garden Collective now has volunteer Saturdays available. They are working to collectively cultivate community gardens in one of Austin’s over 25 diverse green spaces. To sign up or for more info, visit austingardencollective.com.
Saturdays, 12:30 - 2:30 p.m., The New Man Outreach Church, 5816 W. Chicago Ave. | First Come, First Served | Get free clothes, a free delicious dinner, free resources, counseling, housing, jobs, medical resources, senior help, and the Gospel. For more info, call (773) 413-7254.
Mondays at By The Hand Club For Kids, 415 N. Laramie | SLAM | Every Monday, By The Hand Club For Kids hosts SLAM, an event focused on games, mentors, and God, hosted by GRIP Youth. This event is for high school students.
Third Wednesday of the month, 5 - 7 p.m., Christian Valley Church, 1237 S. Homan | Out West North Lawndale MS Warriors Support Group | The National MS Society maintains a network of affiliated groups to provide opportunities for people living with multiple sclerosis to connect with others in their community. The Out West North Lawndale MS Warriors Support Group welcomes anyone living with MS, as well as their family and friends. For more info or to RSVP, contact Edwina Betts at edwinabetts@ gmail.com or (312) 857-6448 or Victoria Muhammad at (708) 325-8568.
Thursdays through October (rain or shine), 1 – 6 p.m., Austin Town Hall Park, 610 W. Lake Street, | Austin Town Farmers Market | Join the party in the park! There will be live music and entertainment, live cooking demonstrations, yoga and massage therapy, and supporting local businesses. Discover the best of local, sustainable farmers and food producers, community programs for all ages, and more. Visit austintownhallcitymarket.com for more info.
Thursdays, 3 p.m., Good Neighbor Center, 5437 W. Division St. | Faith, Family and Community Overcomers Meeting | The Good Neighbor Campaign’s weekly Overcomes Meeting is open to the public and offers community members an outlet to talk about their anxiety, fears, and addictions.
Thursdays, 5 p.m., La Follette Park, 1333 N. Laramie | Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) | CARA’s Austin running crew focuses on improving the health and wellness of the Austin Community through walking and running. The group meets every Learn more at cararuns.org/arc.
Every First Saturday through June 2026, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., Bethel New Life, 1140 N. Lamon Ave. | Join Bethel New Life for their next FREE Spiritual Wellness Retreat on Saturday, Sept. 6. The retreat is a space for women over 18 years old to breathe, reflect, and reconnect. We’ll gather in sisterhood for guided mindfulness practices, offering gentle rest for the mind, body, and spirit. This retreat will continue every first Saturday through June 2026, creating a rhythm of stillness in your month. There are limited spots available, so reserve your seat ASAP by contacting keely@bethelnewlife.org or (708) 677-4435.
Ongoing, various times, JARC Training Centers — Ravenswood: 4222 N Ravenswood Ave. | Austin: 5500 W Madison St. | Start a new career in manufacturing with Jane Addams Resource Corporation (JARC). Their FREE training programs help participants earn industry credentials, gain financial and employment coaching, receive transportation assistance, and work with math, reading, and digital literacy tutors. JARC also connects graduates to full-time manufacturing jobs.
• CNC Operators Fast Track: Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Ravenswood) | Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri, 3–8 p.m. (Austin)
Share your experiences and help shape the future of West Side communities by participating in these key local surveys or serving on an important cultural committee.
Garfield Park Aging in Place Questionnaire
• Organizer: Garfield Park Community Council & Black Researchers Collective
• Focus: Assessing housing conditions, affordability, and accessibility for older adults in Garfield Park. Understanding these perspectives is essential for informing housing policies, agingin-place strategies, and community planning.
• Duration: Approximately 10 minutes
• Complete the survey at http://bit. ly/4mtmKpq
Places for All Research Collective (PARC) Survey
• Organizer: DePaul University
• Focus: Exploring experiences related to housing and community spaces.
• Duration: Not specified
• Compensation: Not specified
• Register your interest in participating at https://bit.ly/3VZOp6u
Joint Health in Chicago Study
• Organizer: Rush University
• Focus: Identifying factors affecting joint pain in areas with health disparities.
• Welding Fast Track: Mon–Fri, 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m. (Ravenswood) | Mon–Fri, 3–8 p.m. (Austin)
Contact Nissa Papienski at 773-751-7171 or nissap@jane-addams.org to learn more or register. Visit www.jarctraining.org or follow @JARCTraining for updates.
October 14–15, 9:15 a.m. – 3 p.m., Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation, 5500 W. Madison St., Chicago | Join JARC and Westside Health Authority for a FREE Forklift Safety and Operation Course. This 2-day training covers both sit-down and stand-up forklifts, plus work readiness, case management, and job placement support.
Orientation: September 29–October 3
• Duration: Approximately 5 minutes
• Restrictions: Individuals over 18 who live in Chicago.
• Compensation: $5 for five minutes. You may qualify for a focus group and $50 for a two-hour session (email: john_martin@rush.edu).
• Join the Study at https://bit.ly/4pvKz2t
Still Not Free 2025 Survey
• Organizer: Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments (ENDPP. ORG)
• Focus: To document how laws, policies, and stigma continue to affect people with prior justice system involvement even long after they’ve completed their sentences.
• Duration: Not specified
• Take the survey at https://linktr.ee/ ENDPP2025SURVEY
Black Aura 2026 Planning Committee at the Kehrein Center for the Arts (KCA) The KCA is looking for both resident and organizational members to join the Black Aura 2026 Planning Committee. This committee will play a vital role in shaping next year’s celebration, ensuring it reflects the vibrancy and vision of the community. The first meeting will take place in mid-September, and they would love for you or members of your network to be part of this important work. You can sign up to join at bit.ly/3ID3xn8
(choose any day, 8:45 a.m., 3 hrs) — bring State ID and Social Security card (originals required). Job Readiness Workshop: October 6–8, 12–2 p.m.
Cohorts are held monthly — no RSVP required. For questions, contact Joseph Green at jgreen@healthauthority.org.
• 24th Ward: Ald. Monique Scott holds her Ward Night every other Monday, 3-5 p.m., at her offices at 1158 S. Keeler Ave. in North Lawndale. The one-on-ones are scheduled in 15-minute increments.
More EVENTS on page 6
Zina Crawford sells goods — everything from Dove body wash to Detox Apple Cider Vinegar — roughly “every other day” on the corner of Lake Street and Race. She spoke briefly about how she started.
I’ve been doing this for 38 years. I used to work at Sears on Harlem and North. I told my mom I was going to start a business, and she gave me $100 to start. I’ve been selling ever since. I do this full-time. It’s OK. It covers a few bills, but it depends on the number of customers. I get stuff from local stores and set my own prices.
In 1990, five West Side writers—Mark Allen Boone, Cranston S. Knight, Harold Hunter, Tina Jenkins Bell, and Irene J. Steele— formed the West Side Writers Guild to fill the need for literature about the West Side and by West Side authors. Boone, a poet, and Knight, a novelist, were at Legler Regional Library, 115 S. Pulaski Rd., in May to talk about writing and the Guild’s importance during one of photographer and Legler artist-in-residence Kenn Cook Jr.’s Monthly Listening Sessions. In 2017, the Jane Addams Hull-House Museum hosted all five writers for a reunion, reading, and reception. You can still see that rich conversation on YouTube at youtube.com/ watch?v=UCgkBKk4Crg.
Meanwhile, we’ve extracted parts of Boone’s and Knight’s insight from both the Legler and Hull-House Museum conversations and presented them below:
Mark Allen Boone: Record your authentic experience. Put it down. You don’t have to know where it’s coming from.
The Guild didn’t have any forerunners. We just created a mode ourselves. We didn’t know that it would be recognized. It’s been about eight years since Jane Addams Hull House Museum hosted us for one of their programs to promote what we did as a group on the West Side. We just want to encourage writers. I’m all about mentorship and guiding writers to put their best foot forward. You have to be willing to give, to share.
(Boone at Hull-House): When we were writing in the late 1980s and early 1990s, it was extremely difficult to get your work evaluated and accepted by agents. New York was pretty much off-limits. At the time, they were selling the urban experience, or what they’d call street fiction. I had written a couple manuscripts that I’d shopped around and circulated, and one of them was
(connected to an agent). He believed in it and shopped it and shopped it. I may have got 13 rejections. I said something’s not right with this picture. By then, I was working as an editor, so I knew the process. After enough rejection, I decided to self-publish my work. I decided, as part of the West Side Writers Guild, we wouldn’t even attempt to get it published by a commercial publisher.
Cranston S. Knight: I felt that, as a vehicle, writing is a really cross-cultural, multidimensional format for me to address the problems and issues I and other people living in housing projects were going through.
Just write, and if you do it long enough, your work will improve. Considering how much there is to write about, just write about it. … I kept saying to myself that I’m going to continue writing. I told myself the United States is not the only place I can publish my writing, so I started sending my stuff to Canada. There were a lot of small presses
that would take my work and publish it there. (Knight at Hull-House): To get your work out there (as a poet), experiment. Go to lots of poetry readings, because you get a lot of feedback from people. The more feedback I received, the more I was able to tighten my work. The more you’re doing your craft and getting feedback, the more you’re honing your craft.
Jasyme Rudan is the founder and CEO of Genesis Music and Arts, a nonprofit that provides a structured and disciplined environment for training in music, visual, and performing arts. While at the Austin P.O.W.E.R. 5K on Sept. 20, Rudan talked about what inspired her to start Genesis.
My daughter’s name is Genesis. I named the organization after her about seven years ago. As a child, I was listed as a protégé for piano. I went to a public school, Beasley, on the South Side. While there, I learned how to play piano through a trial after-school workshop. They were so enthused about how I knew how to read music, they wrote the Chicago Board of Education and got approval for me to be
pulled out of class and have private piano lessons.
So, when I was in second grade, a piano professor traveled to me every day, pulled me out of class, and gave me a private piano lesson. When I was in sixth grade, the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra picked me up, and I started opening shows for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. In these programs, there was never anyone from my school, and no kids who look like
me. And that always made me say, ‘When I get older, I’m going to open up a school, so all my friends can go to it.’ I went through all the training, studied at all the fine places, and had big performances when I was in high school. I went off to an HBCU for college, Fisk University, and when I returned to Chicago, I immediately opened up my studio and it just thrived.
When the pandemic happened, I was able to expand virtually. I had a lot of friends who were getting their master’s degrees and Ph.D.’s, and they were out of work because they were professional giggers. So, I was able to bring them on board online, and we grew into a full art ecosystem. Today, we serve about 1,000 students on a week-to-week basis, and we’re growing. We’re inside private schools, charter public schools, public schools, alternative schools, and churches around the city of Chicago.
We’ve worked with young people in Austin and North Lawndale. We also do parades and donate art. We’ve had art activation tables at different festivals out here. We’ll also come out and do identity projects with the kids. We teach kids about identity and empower them. So, in the windows of this building [she points to 5661 W. Chicago Ave., which West Side businessman Marseil Jackson plans to convert to a media center called Soul City Studios], these are drawings of students in our programs. We encourage them to be confident in who they are, what they look like, and how much power they have to be whoever they want to be.
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Call (773) 533-2400 or email ward24@ cityofchicago.org to schedule your Ward Night appointment.
• 28th Ward: Ald. Jason Ervin holds his Ward Night every Monday, 4-7 p.m., at his offices at 2622 W Jackson Blvd. (Suite 200) in East Garfield Park. You can meet one-on-one with the alderman. An appointment is required beforehand. Call (312) 744-3066 or email Scheduling@AldermanErvin.com to book your time.
• 29th Ward: Ald. Chris Taliaferro holds his Ward Night every Monday, 5 p.m., at his offices at 6272 W. North Ave. in Austin. He holds community meetings at Columbus Park Refectory, 5701 W. Jackson Blvd. in Austin, at 6 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month; at Rutherford Sayre Park, 6871 W. Belden Ave., in Montclare at 6 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month; and at New Jehovah MBC, 1101 S. Austin Blvd., in Austin at 6 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the month. Call (773) 2376460 or visit aldtaliaferro.com for more info.
• 37th Ward: Ald. Emma Mitts holds her Ward Night every Monday, 4-7 p.m., at her offices at 4924 W. Chicago Ave. in Austin. You can meet one-on-one with the alderwoman. Call (773) 379-0960 at 3 p.m. before your arrival to confirm Ward Night will be taking place.
• Arrested? You get three phone calls. Do not talk without a lawyer. The Cook County Public Defender provides free lawyers 24/7 anywhere in Cook County. Call (844) 817-4448.
• Encountered ICE? Do remain calm. Do remember you have the right to remain silent (anything you say can be used against you). You have the right to say: ‘I do not wish to speak with you or answer your questions.’ Do report the encounter with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant & Refugee Rights (ICIRR). If you suspect you might be arrested by ICE: You have the right to ask: ‘Am I under arrest?’ and ‘Am I free to go?’ You can tell them you want to remain silent and want to speak with a lawyer. You are NOT required to
If you’ve ever wanted to get up close and personal with the work of world-famous Chicago-born Black sculpture Richard Hunt (1935-2023), whose soaring sculptures (often made from scrap metal he found in Chicago alleys) dot the national landscape (he has over 160 public artworks installed nationally, more than any other American sculptor), you have a chance.
Visit “Freedom in Form: Richard Hunt,” an exhibition dedicated to Hunt’s life and work running through Nov. 15 at the Loyola University Museum of Art, 820 N. Michigan Ave., just off the Magnificent Mile. Visit luc. edu/luma for more info. Hours are Wed.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. $15 admission, $12 alumni, military, seniors, and students. Free for Loyola students, staff, and faculty.
open the door to your home without a warrant signed by a judge. You are NOT required to sign any document. Do NOT run. You are NOT required to say anything except that you wish to remain silent. Call the ICIRR’s Family Support Hotline at (855) Help-My-Family (4357693) to report ICE activity, deportation legal support, immigrant healthcare resources, and social service referrals. Visit icirr.org/fsn for more info.
Saturday, Oct. 18 & Sunday, Oct. 19, throughout Chicago | Chicago Architecture Center’s (CAC) annual Open House Chicago | Open House returns this year to offer FREE behind-the-scenes access to historic landmarks, cultural institutions, and architectural treasures across the city. For more info, visit https://www.architecture.org/ open-house-chicago/
This year, the CAC will spotlight the following locations in Austin, Garfield Park, and North Lawndale.
• Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation | 5500 W. Madison St., Austin | Built on the site of the former Emmet Elementary School, this new workforce center preserves architectural elements of the original school.
• Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School | 5088 W. Jackson Blvd., Austin | A modern educational facility with strong community ties and striking design.
• Farm on Ogden | 3555 W. Ogden Ave., North Lawndale | A lush urban agriculture center promoting food access and health education.
• Herban Produce | 2900 W. Van Buren St., East Garfield Park | A sustainable farm and community space offering fresh produce and education.
• Legacy Charter School | 3312 W. Douglas Blvd., North Lawndale | A bright, modern school with an emphasis on college readiness and community.
• Stove Temple Baptist Church | 2947 W. Roosevelt Rd., Near West Side | A historic house of worship that reflects the neighborhood’s spiritual life.
• Fraternité Notre Dame | 502 N. Central Ave., Austin | A French Roman Catholic religious order known for its charitable work and ornate chapel.
• Assumption Greek Orthodox Church | 601 S. Central Ave., Austin | This domed church features beautiful iconography and Byzantine design.
• Third Unitarian Church | 301 N. Mayfield Ave., Austin | A progressive faith community in a Mid-Century Modern building.
• Austin Community Family Center | 501 N. Central Ave., Austin | A local resource hub housed in a classic Chicago-style institutional building.
• Austin Harvest (By The Hand Club For Kids) | 423 N. Laramie Ave., Austin | A youth-led, community-focused open-air market promoting healthy eating and entrepreneurship.
• BUILD, Inc. Headquarters | 5100 W. Harrison St., Austin | A youth-focused nonprofit in a newly expanded campus with community-first design.
• Central Park Theater | 3535 W. Roosevelt Rd., North Lawndale | A former movie palace with a rich legacy in Lawndale’s Jewish and African-American communities.
• Revolution Workshop | 3410 W. Lake St., East Garfield Park | A social enterprise that trains people for skilled trades inside a renovated industrial space.
• 345 Art Gallery | 345 N. Kedzie Ave., East Garfield Park | A creative hub for local artists with rotating exhibitions and community events.
• Nicholas Tower at Homan Square | 3517 W. Arthington St., North Lawndale | A reimagined former police facility now used for housing and community development.
• Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica & National Shrine | 3121 W. Jackson Blvd., East Garfield Park | One of only three basilicas in Illinois—known for its grand baroque architecture.
• The Soul Food Lounge | 3804 W. 16th St., North Lawndale | A local culinary destination celebrating Black food traditions and innovation.
• North Lawndale Pop-Up Spot | 3601 W. Douglas Blvd., North Lawndale | A rotating cultural space celebrating Lawndale’s history through art and exhibits.
• Beelove Café / North Lawndale Employment Network | 1111 S. Homan Ave., North Lawndale | A café with a mission—supporting workforce re-entry through job training and hospitality.
Want to see more events, job openings, and resources? If you’re an Austin resident looking for resources, please contact the Austin Community Hub at hub@ austincomingtogether.org or text your Full Name to (708) 529-5042, and a member of the Hub team will follow up with you.
The Freedom Defense Center of Austin, the Public Defender’s Office’s second community center, offers pro bono legal representation, expungement assistance, trauma-informed programs, and more
By MICHAEL LIPTROT Block Club Chicago
The Cook County Public Defender’s Office has opened a community office in Austin, offering legal support, pretrial resources, and even art programs.
The Freedom Defense Center of Austin opened on Sept. 15 inside Austin’s Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation, 5500 W. Madison St. The new office — the agency’s second in the county — provides access to legal counsel, case management, community education, and referral services — all to remove barriers to justice, officials said.
The Public Defender’s Office opened its first community defense center in Roseland in the spring.
The centers specialize in supporting neighbors navigating criminal court, including offer-
ing walk-ins for free legal information. Private pods are available at the office to attend virtual court hearings with staff support, if allowed by the court.
The Public Defender’s Office will also use the Austin center to offer legal education for situations such as traffic stops, immigration issues, how to get a gun license and carry a firearm, how to legally possess cannabis, and other topics that involve potential encounters with law enforcement.
In addition to public defender support during trials, community members can receive pretrial resources and trauma support from the center as they navigate the criminal justice system. Referrals are available for more social services.
For community members looking to have records expunged, assistance is offered at the center through Cabrini Green Legal Aid.
“We often first meet our clients on the worst day of their lives — at a courthouse. Community-based defense centers change that narrative and return dignity to our clients,” Sharone Mitchell Jr., Cook County public defender, said in a statement.
“By having centers in Roseland and now in Austin, we can build trust, connect people to resources earlier, and help address challenges before they become crises — all while being part of the neighborhoods we serve,” he said.
The Austin center also offers art programs aimed at addressing underlying traumas for clients. A partnership with community nonprofit ConTextos includes opportunities for community members to share their stories and experiences through various art mediums, including writing, painting, and drawing.
“One big thing as far as why the arts are important [at the center] is that, ultimately,
the people who are sharing their story, art, and creativity feel seen,” said Kalief Dinkins, arts coordinator at the center. “We’re trying to highlight how Black and Brown stories are shared in the community, but also through the legal system. … Oftentimes, those are the stories that are overlooked and unheard.”
Beyond criminal justice support provided by the Freedom Defense Center of Austin, additional legal support is offered at the Aspire Center through Legal Aid Chicago offices located on-site.
The Aspire Center, which opened in June, is a repurposing of the closed Emmet Elementary School that brings a community and workforce development center under one roof. A joint venture of the Westside Health Authority and Austin Coming Together, the center includes a podcast studio, manufacturing workforce training facilities, and offices for local nonprofits.
$500,000 investment brings free WiFi, new technology, and workforce training resources to Austin neighborhood hub
By MICHAEL ROMAIN
The Culture
On Sept. 24, Comcast, in partnership with local organizations, unveiled a flagship Lift Zone at the Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation, 5500 W. Madison St. in Austin. The $500,000 initiative will provide high-speed internet, technology access, and workforce training support for West Side residents.
Officials, nonprofit leaders, and community stakeholders gathered at the 76,000-squarefoot Aspire Center, where the Lift Zone will offer free high-speed WiFi, updated computers and digital tools, flexible classroom and meeting pods, and on-site digital skills training. These resources aim to support individuals
seeking education, job-readiness training, and virtual collaboration opportunities.
“As a co-owner of this property, we have a responsibility to make sure we are providing services to help our people,” said Morris Reed, CEO of the Westside Health Authority (WHA), one of the co-developers of the Aspire Center. “We want to make sure that people who have aspirations to be whatever they want to be have an opportunity in the 60651, 60644, and 60639 zip codes.”
Darnell Shields, executive director of Austin Coming Together (ACT), the other co-developer of Aspire Center, said the Lift Zone is the result of a history of cooperation between ACT and Comcast.
“Through the latest development in a longterm partnership between Austin Coming Together and Comcast, the Aspire Center is
proud to become a flagship Lift Zone,” Shields said. “This isn’t just a building, it’s about bridging the digital divide and ensuring Austin families have the tools to thrive in a connected world.”
Comcast’s investment also includes a $100,000 donation to Chicago nonprofit scaleLIT. The nonprofit’s Career Pathways Navigators program will be available at Aspire to help participants with workforce support services and employment access. Over three years, Comcast has contributed more than $35 million in cash and in-kind support to Chicago nonprofits, and the company has committed $50 million to expand Lift Zones in cities across the country.
Grace Hong Duffin, Comcast’s regional vice president of external and government affairs, said the Austin initiative is just the latest in
Comcast’s larger effort to bridge the digital divide.
“In 2011, Comcast launched Internet Essentials, the nation’s largest broadband adoption program,” Duffin said. “Over the last 10 years, the program has connected 1 million Chicagoans to home internet. We can’t stop, because we know the cost of closing the digital divide is complex and challenging, and no single organization can do it on its own.”
The Aspire Center is a joint venture of Westside Health Authority and Austin Coming Together, created to serve the Austin community as a hub for workforce training and economic development.
The Lift Zone marks Comcast’s first flagship location in Illinois, joining more than 40 Lift Zones already operating across Chicago and more than 1,250 nationwide.
Austin’s Forty Acres Fresh Market raises the bar on neighborhood grocery stores. At a Sept. 27 grand opening for the store and its neighboring PNC Bank branch, owner Liz Abunaw broke down the how and why.
By MICHAEL ROMAIN The Culture
Nearly a decade ago, Liz Abunaw stepped off the No. 66 bus at Chicago and Laramie looking for cash. She didn’t want to pay $5 in ATM fees to withdraw $20, but in Austin, she couldn’t find a bank or even a grocery store where she could get cash back with a purchase.
“I don’t believe in paying more for my money in Austin than I would if I were in the South Loop or Lincoln Park,” Abunaw said. That experience planted the seed for what would eventually become Forty Acres Fresh Market, the full-service, brick-and-mortar grocery store at 5713 W. Chicago Ave., which evolved from Abunaw’s produce delivery business started in 2017.
The store and its neighbor, a new PNC Bank branch (the bank’s first brick-and-mortar in Chicago in seven years), held official grand openings on Sept. 27, helping to address the gaping inequity that set her journey in motion
and giving Austin what Abunaw believes is arguably the best neighborhood grocery store in the city, both from an operational and a design standpoint.
“A lot of people said the store meets a basic need, and it does. Food is a basic need,” she said. “But if you’ve been inside Forty Acres, you know this store is far from basic. This store is absolutely beautiful. Let’s be clear. Austin’s neighborhood grocery store is far nicer than what’s in any other neighborhood.”
There’s a lot at Forty Acres to back up Abunaw’s bold claim, starting with the award-winning architecture that preserves the structural elements of the former Salvation Army, like the striking wooden bowstring trusses that help turn shopping at the Austin store into an aesthetic experience.
The store’s hot bar, Mabel’s Meals, serves up standouts like the Coco Bowl — coconut curry with bell peppers, onions, broccoli, and rice, topped with fried chickpeas and cilantro aioli.
Good luck finding that at Pete’s or Mariano’s. The store’s head butcher, Ilya Bonel — a protégé of acclaimed chef and butcher Rob Levitt — turned down bigger grocery chains to join Forty Acres, drawn by the better work-life balance. In the process, he brought with him rare meat-cutting expertise and a discriminating palate you’d be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.
Standing at the podium, Abunaw reflected on how much has changed in the years since she started her business.
“This is not the same Chicago Avenue that
I Columbused all the way back in the fall of 2016,” she said. “The realization of this whole city corridor has been underway for years, and that manifestation is seen in new buildings like this one, public spaces like PopCourts, new businesses like my favorite coffee shop down the street, Urban Essentials. It can be seen in the widened sidewalks, on the bike lanes, trees, and the benches my staff love to sit on when they are on break. Looking out the store windows, I regularly see joggers now coming down Chicago Avenue. I didn’t see that in 2018. This neighborhood looks different from how it did seven years ago.”
She said others are noticing the shift, too, before lamenting that the widespread appreciation doesn’t often come with an acknowledgment of the political legwork that went into the transformation.
“I’ve had numerous people say to me, ‘They’re really building that area up. I see it!’ But there seems to be a disconnect because at the same time they see the neighborhood
changing around them, you will then hear people say, ‘But these politicians don’t do nothing for us, or a particular party ain’t done nothing for Black people.’ So when people tell you that these politicians don’t do anything for you, you point to this site right here.”
FORTY ACRES on page 10
Continued from page 9
Abunaw emphasized that Forty Acres didn’t arrive by chance. It took coordination across multiple levels of government and years of navigation through grant programs, permits, and licensing.
• Federal support through the 2014 Farm Bill created the USDA Healthy Food Financing Initiative that funded her first market study and architectural drawings.
• State grants helped purchase important refrigeration.
• City of Chicago funds, like the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund and other development grants, secured with help from Rep. Camille Lilly (78th), underwrote construction.
• Local government backing included 37th Ward Ald. Chris Taliaferro’s support in converting Waller Avenue from oneway to two-way, improving access to the site.
• Private and Nonprofit Partnerships: Alongside public dollars, private donors, foundations, and nonprofits played major roles—not just in funding, but in credibility, technical support, and long-term backing. Among them: Oprah Winfrey Foundation, American Heart Association, University of Chicago, Christopher Family Foundation, and Builders Foundation. These institutions often help projects qualify for grants or bridge funding gaps.
• Other private sector support included the firm Keith Wicks and Associates, which helped Forty Acres create a financial plan. Certco Inc., a food supplier based in Madison, Wis., “took a chance on an unknown store” and helped figure out assortment and pricing while also lending the young store their expertise, Abunaw said.
• Internally, the grocery store depends on at least two dozen employees, including four store managers, a market team that facilitates the Austin Town Hall Park Farmers Market, and a delivery team.
• Continuity across administrations mattered: Lori Lightfoot’s Invest South/ West initiative initiated the process, and Mayor Brandon Johnson’s administration ultimately released the funds. Deputy Mayor Kenya Merritt was singled out by Abunaw as “a one-woman force” guiding Forty Acres through permitting and licensing.
Abunaw likened her journey to The Wizard of Oz, casting herself as Dorothy traveling a long road with three friends who helped her realize her vision in Austin — or, as she put it, her version of the Emerald City.
“There are times when I think of myself as Dorothy and Austin as Oz,” she said. “Dorothy had a lion, and that is Malcolm Crawford … She had a tin man, and that is Darnell Shields … And when Dorothy left Oz, she told the scarecrow, ‘I’m going to miss you most of all.’ In my Oz, Morris Reed is my scarecrow.”
• Malcolm Crawford, head of the Austin African American Business Networking Association (AAABNA), was the earliest and loudest voice behind the Soul City Corridor concept. Abunaw said he “spoke Soul City into existence” through sheer persistence, creating the framework that made investments like Forty Acres possible.
• Darnell Shields, executive director of Austin Coming Together (ACT), provided crucial organizational support through ACT’s Austin Eats initiative, which backs healthy food enterprises. His coalition-
The name Forty Acres Fresh Market carries deep historical meaning, rooted in a promise of reparations that was never fulfilled.
“We have a history related to the name of this store,” said Jacqueline Reed, the Westside Health Authority’s founder. “In 1865, General Sherman pushed legislation that would give slaves 40 acres and a mule.”
Reed was referencing Union General William Tecumseh Sherman’s wartime order—known as Special Field Order No.
building and logistical backbone gave Abunaw a base from which to scale her vision.
• Morris Reed, CEO of the Westside Health Authority (WHA), served as both visionary and institutional anchor. WHA is the landlord for the building, the steward of its redevelopment, and a partner in ensuring the project had the stability to reach completion. Reed, Abunaw said, believed in her vision, lent his team’s expertise, and gave the project legitimacy. She specifically thanked Rosie Dawson, WHA’s property manager, for Dawson’s critical role in the development process.
15—that set aside land in the South for freed Black families. But the promise was rescinded months later, leaving generations without the economic foundation that land ownership could have provided. By reclaiming the phrase, Abunaw ties the store to both a legacy of loss and a vision of equity. Forty Acres Fresh Market is not only about selling groceries; it’s about addressing systemic imbalances, offering a neighborhood anchor where access to healthy food and economic dignity intersect.
The design of Forty Acres Fresh Market is not just about aesthetics—it’s about signaling permanence, respect for history, and functional excellence. Latent Design and other partners shaped the store to be both beautiful and rooted in its context.
Forty Acres Fresh Market and Westside Health Authority acquired a former Salvation Army building at the intersection of Waller Street and Chicago Avenue. Rather than demolishing and rebuilding, the project retains significant structural character—including restoring historical wooden bowstring trusses. This reduced some demolition and rehab
costs, preserved the building’s character, and anchored the store in local history. The design has already garnered recognition, earning Metal Architecture magazine’s prestigious Metal Architecture Retrofit Award this year.
Getting the design from Latent was only part of the process. Other firms involved include Rockey Structures (structural), CCJM (mechanical-electrical/plumbing), Engage Civil (civil engineering), TGDA for landscape, StoreMasters and Retail Planit for grocery operations, and IFF as a client representative. Coordination among all those firms had to be aligned on permitting, code compliance, utility access, freight handling, and refrigeration, among other key aspects.
Despite the excitement around the store’s grand opening, Abunaw acknowledged the structural risks that come with opening an independent grocery store in Austin. Nearly 97,000 Austin residents still rely on just four grocery stores across 7.5 square miles. Often, new grocery stores in underserved communities shutter in less than two years.
“I am terrified,” she admitted. “My goal is not simply to open a grocery store; it is to sustain a thriving store for years to come. Getting one open is one thing, but keeping one open is completely different. I am haunted by the ghosts of other stores that have opened to so much fanfare in similar neighborhoods across the country, only to be forced to close 12 months, 16 months, 18 months later.”
Abunaw attributed those closures to a factor that often gets overlooked in the dominant media narrative about grocery stores in Black communities.
“It was not for the reasons that the internet says,” she said. “No, people weren’t stealing. Those stores met their fate for a reason more insidious than theft: low traffic. They could not get people through their doors. Those stories stay with me. They chase me to sleep, and they wake me up at night.”
During the Sept. 27 grand opening, Abunaw urged community members to hold her and her team accountable before recalling a story about a customer who told Forty Acres employees that the milk prices were too high. In response, they lowered the prices.
“Austin, you owe me nothing. It is my job to get you into this store. It is my job to keep you in this store,” she said. “If you come into this store and you don’t find what you need, before you walk out the door, find somebody and tell them, because you don’t know what we can do for you. This store is unlike any other. We are your neighborhood store. You are not just a transaction. You are not just a number. You are a person, and this is your store.”
• Forty Acres Fresh Market, 5713 W. Chicago Ave., is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. Call (312) 994-2920 for more info.
• PNC Bank, 5717 W. Chicago Ave., is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon. to Fri.; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday; closed Sunday. Call (773) 676-1116 for more info.
Source: The Culture
The vacant Save A Lot at 5555 W. North Ave. in Austin could soon be home to a new grocery store. At a Sept. 25 meeting at the office of 37th Ward Ald. Emma Mitts, 4924 W. Chicago Ave., business owner Khaldoon Omer told residents that his investment team signed a lease for the former supermarket.
Omer said the store will carry fresh meat, produce, and other essentials, and will look to hire locally. He added that zoning approval is in place, but inspections could take several months “We’re still coming up with a name for the store,” he said. “Depending on how fast inspections happen … hopefully we’ll be open within the next two to four months. Around a month before we open, we’ll speak to Ald. Mitts and she’ll notify the neighborhood about job opportunities.”
The old Save A Lot at North and Central has been vacant since 2020, when the supermarket chain closed the store without explanation.
Source: The Culture
Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) said residents will see changes to how participatory budgeting is handled in his ward. Speaking at a Sept. 24 meeting at New Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, 1101 S. Austin Blvd., he said the process for the 2026 budget cycle will start in October, with community conversations planned for later this month and a vote on projects expected in spring 2026.
This year marks the 10th year of participatory budgeting in the 29th Ward, a process that lets residents decide how to spend a portion of the ward’s “menu money” for infrastructure improvements. Under the new format, the ward is split into three sectors — South, Central and North — each receiving $150,000. Residents in each sector will vote on projects specific to their area.
“If that first project you’d like to see is $150,000, then the other projects voted on won’t cut,” Taliaferro said, noting the shift ensures neighborhoods have more direct input on local improvements.
Source: Austin Weekly News
Oak Park has welcomed a 44-unit mixed-income apartment project called The Pierce, its first new residential building on the Austin Boulevard side in over 60 years. The development, which overlooks Columbus Park at Van Buren, features sustainable, net-zero design and allocates 20 percent of its units as affordable housing.
Managed by Oak Park Residence Corporation (ResCorp), The Pierce includes 35 one-bedrooms, 5 studios and 4 two-bed-
rooms. The building is fully accessible, with elevators and features to support aging in place, and incorporates high-efficiency appliances and Passive House architectural strategies to reduce energy use.
With the first tenants moving in this week, ResCorp hopes The Pierce becomes a model for future development in the region.
Source: Block Club Chicago
The 20th annual Riot Fest wrapped up in style—with a mayoral proclamation naming the final day “Riot Fest Day” and a headlining set from Green Day leading the closing ceremony. According to Block Club Chicago, city officials formally recognized the event’s cultural importance during the festival’s final hours.
Green Day’s performance drew particular attention for its energy and message, with lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong weaving political commentary into classic punk-rock hits. Local bands from the Chicago area also featured across multiple stages throughout the weekend.
Riot Fest took place Sept. 19–21 in Douglass Park and featured a varied lineup including Blink-182, Weezer, and a host of rising artists, underscoring its role as a landmark in Chicago’s music scene.
Source: Crain’s
A plan to reshuffle Mayor Brandon Johnson’s City Council leadership stalled late last month, delaying decisions on key committee chairs and the vice mayor position. West Side Ald. Emma Mitts (37th) would have become vice mayor under the proposal, but she told reporters she was only asked about the role on Sept. 23.
“I just think that more conversation probably should be held around restructuring and not wait until the final hour to do this,” Mitts said. Other leadership changes—including chairs for
zoning, pedestrian safety, and immigrant rights committees— remained unresolved after negotiations among the Latino and Black caucuses failed to reach consensus.
Council members plan to continue discussions this fall, with votes on committee leadership and the vice mayor post expected once a broader agreement is reached.
Source: The Culture
At a Sept. 24 community meeting at New Jehovah Missionary Baptist Church, 1101 S. Austin Blvd., consumer advocate Ronald Lawless urged West Side seniors to be cautious as Medicare’s open enrollment approaches.
The Medicare Open Enrollment Period runs from October 15 through December 7 each year, allowing people to review and make changes to their Medicare coverage. Any changes made during this period will take effect on January 1 of the following year.
“A lot of people don’t know their rights … when you don’t know your rights people will take advantage of you,” Lawless said, noting insurance companies earn thousands per enrollee and often aggressively market plans to older adults.
Separately, home care providers raised concerns about the Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill Act, which reduces federal participation in Medicaid and could strain state budgets.
At a Sept. 20 informational meeting at the Austin Branch Library, 5615 W. Race St., Darby Anderson, chief government relations officer for Addus Homecare, spoke about the legislation’s potential impact on his company’s ability to provide home care services for seniors.
“The legislation is going to put a lot of pressure on state budgets when it comes to financing Medicaid,” Anderson said. “In Illinois, 75% to 80% of (Addus’) revenue comes from Medicaid. I don’t think the state will do anything to cut home care services to people, because (state officials) understand when people don’t have home care options they go to nursing homes, and people don’t really want to be in nursing homes.
“Maybe our rates will be cut, but I don’t see the state taking (more drastic budgetary) actions. Our clients are concerned about Medicaid cuts. We want to tell them not to panic. The biggest parts of the cuts don’t happen until 2027 or 2028. A lot of people hope the upcoming 2026 midterm election reverses the Republican stranglehold in both chambers and gets some of these cuts repealed. If not, we’ll see what happens.”
• If you need assistance enrolling in Medicare or changing plans, contact Ronald Lawless at (312) 912-9571 or info@thelawlessreport.com
• To see if you’re eligible for CountyCare, Cook County’s Medicaid health plan, call (312) 864-8200 or visit countycare.com
The ghost sign at 5951 W. Madison spells out ‘Nation Wide Movers’ in a bold, sans-serif block typeface typical of the 1930s–40s — tall, squaredoff letters with minimal ornamentation designed for maximum legibility at street level. The white tile background, set in a running-bond pattern, frames the lettering like a billboard embedded in the wall. Decades of sun and soot have softened the paint, leaving a beautiful patina that hints at the building’s life as a hub for long-distance trucking.
“Terrazzo star inside the building — an unexpected touch of craftsmanship in a space once dedicated to trucking and warehousing.”
If you walk past 5951 W. Madison St., it’s easy to miss the story staring back at you. Look closer, and you’ll see a set of hand-painted letters — “NATION WIDE MOVERS” — weathered but still clinging to the white tile façade. It’s more than a faded advertisement; it’s a clue to the building’s former life.
This building, built in 1920 as the Jackson Storage and Van Company warehouse, is an echo from Madison Street’s commercial heyday. Its terracotta ornamentation — a shield motif surrounded by stylized vines and geometric grids — is a testament to the pride of early-20th-century industrial design. Even the floor tells a story: step carefully toward one of the building’s entrances, look down, and you’ll find a terrazzo star inlaid in black and gold, a little luxury tucked beneath decades of footsteps.
Historic fire-insurance maps, like the 1921 Sanborn atlas, show the building’s footprint precisely as we see it today — a large, sturdy structure designed for warehousing, trucking, and long-distance moving. The words on the wall weren’t just marketing; they were a promise that this West Side business could carry your belongings anywhere in the country.
These layers of paint, tile, and stone are not just decoration. They are the West Side’s living archive. Next time you’re on Madison, slow down. Look up at the façade, trace the outlines of the ghost letters with your eyes, and imagine the crews who once loaded up furniture on this very sidewalk, bound for destinations far beyond Chicago.
Buildings like this one are more than bricks and mortar — they’re memory keepers. And if you look closely, they still have plenty to say.
This striking entryway blends Art Deco geometry with Egyptian Revival motifs, notably the stylized bundled staffs flanking the door, which evoke ancient fasces and the 1920s fascination with Egypt following the discovery of King Tut’s tomb. The vibrant mosaic ceiling, oxidized ironwork, and bold symmetry reflect a time when even everyday architecture was designed to impress. Despite signs of wear, the entrance remains a powerful artifact of early 20thcentury urban grandeur
The Jackson Storage and Van Company warehouse, built in 1920, still anchors the corner of Madison and Austin Boulevard with its terra cotta ornamentation and industrial proportions.
An elaborate terra cotta relief bursts with stylized foliage, shield forms, and lattice patterns—hallmarks of Beaux-Arts grandeur laced with subtle Egyptian and Gothic Revival undertones. The upward movement and formal symmetry evoke ancient ceremonial motifs, drawing the eye heavenward.
A repeating scroll and foliate design, likely cast in glazed terra cotta, now weathered to a marbled patina. The rhythmic forms and tactile depth exemplify early 20th-century craftsmanship, when façade ornamentation was not an afterthought but a declaration of artistic intent.
Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson released a public letter Sept. 26 to Russell Hott, the local field office director for Homeland Security, criticizing federal agents’ use of tear gas and rubber bullets against protestors
BY KELLY BAUER AND COLIN BOYLE Block Club Chicago
Federal agents are endangering west suburban Broadview neighbors, police officers, and firefighters with their “relentless” use of tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets against protesters outside the suburb’s ICE facility, its mayor wrote in a Sept. 26 letter to the Department of Homeland Security.
Organizers have been regularly demonstrating outside the ICE processing facility, 1903 Beach St. in Broadview, to protest increased federal immigration enforcement in Chicago
and throughout Illinois. But those protests have turned violent in recent days as federal agents have repeatedly tear-gassed and shot pepper balls and rubber bullets at organizers who try to block access to the building — and the agents’ actions are affecting neighbors and first responders, the mayor wrote.
“In effect, you are making war on my community. And it has to stop,” Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson wrote in the Friday letter to Russell Hott, the local field office director for Homeland Security.
Tear gas spreads — and Broadview police officers are “routinely” being exposed to it, “forcing them out of action until they recover,” due
|
to federal agents using it during the protests, Thompson wrote. Neighbors, firefighters, and ambulance workers have also been exposed to the tear gas, on top of the people expressing their 1st Amendment right to free speech at the demonstrations, Thompson wrote.
“Beleaguered Broadview residents are begging for relief from your center’s siege of our neighborhood,” Thompson wrote.
Thompson also demanded that the agency dismantle the fence it has installed in a street near the facility to block protesters’ access to the building. The fence — put up overnight on Sept. 23 — is illegal, Broadview officials have said. They demanded it be removed due to safety concerns, but it remained up on Sept. 26.
“You have to dismantle the fence,” Thompson wrote. “You have to stop putting our residents, our police officers, our firefighters and our citizens in harm’s way.
“As mayor, my governing approach is to deploy love and kindness to achieve Broad-
view’s objectives. You should try it. It cannot hurt. It might help.”
The latest protest started Friday morning outside the facility — and it quickly escalated as federal agents pepper-sprayed, teargassed, and shot rubber bullets at demonstrators.
A sniper with rubber bullets stationed at the top of the ICE facility shot protesters, breaking another building’s window at one point. The sniper shot one protester’s guitar, breaking the wood.
And on Sept. 24, protesters said an ICE agent hit a protester with a car. Block Club has not been able to verify that the driver was an agent. Broadview police are investigating.
By MICHAEL LIPTROT Block Club Chicago
Students leaving McNair Elementary School in Austin on Sept. 18 walked by a memorial made of candles and balloons marking the site where a driver hit and killed one of their classmates, 9-yearold Anakin Perez, earlier that morning.
Perez’s family and fellow McNair families are calling on Chicago Public Schools to add more crossing guards and staff outside the school — which has just one crossing guard — to prevent further tragedies.
Around 7:40 a.m. Sept. 18, Anakin was crossing Walton Street near Lamon Avenue, just outside McNair Elementary, 4820 W. Walton St., when a woman driving westbound struck him, police and family said. He was crossing away from any intersection. Anakin was taken to Stroger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The driver was taken into custody and cited for failure to exercise due care to a pedestrian in the roadway, police said. She has since been released, and the investigation was ongoing as of Sept. 19, police said.
The school’s only crossing guard, Lagina Scott, was stationed one block north of the scene of the fatal collision, at Lamon Avenue and Augusta Boulevard.
Scott said Perez’s death “most definitely” could have been prevented if a crossing guard or Safe Passage staff member had been at the closest intersection to the collision.
“You would’ve had somebody. That means I would have asked [Anakin] to cross right here and cross by me,” said Scott, who has worked as a crossing guard at McNair for three years.
Anakin’s family gathered with neighbors to mourn him at a vigil near school dismissal time Sept. 18. The fourth-grader was remembered as a friendly, athletic, lovable and very energetic child, said Yesenia Fernandez, Anakin’s aunt and a mother of a first- and fifth-grader at McNair.
Community members at the vigil recalled Anakin as a joyful kid who loved coming to
their homes to play. Classmates tearfully embraced as they remembered him.
Parents picking up their children and community leaders said the death could have been prevented with adequate crossing guard and CPS Safe Passage staffing.
“The family [of Anakin Perez] feels like more
during arrival and dismissal. McNair is not included in the Safe Passage program, according to the program’s website.
Parents, family members and Mitts said McNair only has one crossing guard — far from the staffing level needed to keep students safe.
Safe Passage would be good for the community, and I can agree with them on that,” Ald.
Emma Mitts (37th) said.
“We always can use more Safe Passage workers out here, or crossing guards, something to help look out for the kids as they’re moving in the neighborhood. Every parent can’t be there to walk them home or take them to school. … You want to know that the child gets home safe and is going to school safe.”
CPS’s Safe Passage program is offered at select schools, providing adults stationed along popular walking routes to monitor students
“This should have never happened to him because this is a child,” Fernandez said. “This would have been prevented if we had more security guards, crossing guards here to take care of the kids. This is something that should have been done before tragedy.”
This summer, CPS laid off 161 employees, including many crossing guards, due to budget cuts, Chalkbeat Chicago reported. District leaders also said they would not fill 24 vacant crossing guard positions.
Those cutbacks did not impact McNair, according to CPS.
“We are devastated to confirm a student’s
tragic death in front of their school,” a district spokesperson said in a statement. “Our hearts are heavy with grief for this child as well as concern and deep sympathy for his family and loved ones.”
McNair’s principal, Benetrice Whitfield, wrote in a letter to the school community that grief counseling staff have been brought to the school to help students deal with the loss.
“This tragic loss is sure to raise many emotions, concerns, and questions for the entire school, especially our students,” Whitfield wrote. “We also encourage everyone to drive slowly and carefully while in the vicinity of the school, and please remind your child of the importance of being aware of their surroundings as they walk to and from school and around their neighborhood.”
Parents said safety resources are badly needed near the school.
“It’s a major problem. … We only have a crossing guard,” said Foentana Bobo, a McNair parent of a second-grader. “Why is [there] not a crossing guard right down Cicero and Augusta? They’re main streets that kids walk to school every day. … We definitely need to protect these kids.”
Larra Mattix, a McNair parent of a firstand second-grader, said she has raised concerns over the lack of crossing guards with the school “on multiple occasions.” School staff directed her to Mitts’ office. Mattix has a meeting scheduled with Mitts’ office next week, she said.
“Nothing has been done,” Mattix said. “Most of the kids come from Cicero [Avenue] and most of them come from [Lamon Avenue], so they really need them on both ends.”
Organizer Malcolm Crawford reflected on how the Sept. 20 event and Soul City have evolved over a decade
By MICHAEL ROMAIN The Culture
Hundreds of runners and walkers came together on Sept. 20 for the annual Austin P.O.W.E.R. 5K, which promotes local engagement and development along Austin’s Soul City Corridor on Chicago Avenue.
The race kicked off at Chicago and Mayfield, and looped through the neighborhood before stretching for three miles east and then west along Chicago Avenue. The annual event coincided with Soul City’s designation as a state cultural district and a $9 million streetscape overhaul on Chicago Avenue.
Race organizer Malcolm Crawford said the 5K, which celebrated its 10th anniversary this year, is about more than running and more than one person.
“This isn’t just about me, it’s about the community,” said Crawford, who owns the Sankofa Cultural Arts Center, 5820 W. Chicago Ave., and is executive director of the Austin African American Business Networking Association (AAABNA). The group established the Soul City corridor in 2019 and administers the state cultural district.
“One thing we always wanted was for Soul City to be everybody’s and not just a dream or thought,” he said. “Soul City has now become ingrained in the Austin community.”
The P.O.W.E.R. 5K traces its roots to a crime prevention initiative led by the Chicago Police Department, designed to bring residents together. The event highlights the corridor’s growing prominence as a hub for Blackowned businesses like T&C Fitness Club, 5910 W. Chicago Ave., and Forty Acres Fresh Market, 5713 W. Chicago Ave.
The state cultural district designation, unveiled in May, expands the corridor’s northsouth boundaries from Madison to Division streets and opens the area to state funding and economic development opportunities. The corridor extends east from Austin Boulev ard to Cicero Avenue.
The streetscape project, completed in the
spring, added pedestrian-friendly improvements, signage, and other features designed to make Chicago Avenue more inviting for community members.
Crawford acknowledged that while he and his fellow AAABNA race organizers weren’t the originators of the 5K, the group has taken the lead over the years.
“We keep pushing,” he said. “A steady drink of water breaks a brick. Because we keep pushing, keep pushing, it keeps breaking and breaking, and this keeps getting better and better.”
Crawford said the organizers hope to grow the race into one of the city’s signature events, similar to the Chicago Marathon.
“We want thousands of people on Chicago Avenue to see all the beauty of Soul City. So, more place-making, more development, more everything,” he said.
The 15th District Police Commander
with
| SHANEL ROMAIN
Marshawn Feltus, owner of A.C.T. Yoga, has made the beautification of Madison
By MICHAEL ROMAIN The Culture
“I’ve seen the sidewalk on Ida B. Wells and other areas redone at least a few times,” Marshawn Feltus, the owner of A.C.T. Yoga, 5457 W. Madison St. in Austin, lamented during a Sept. 1 Facebook Live.
“But here, on a major street like Madison, which has so much historical value and history, how does the city collectively allow for certain business corridors to look any kind of way? This should be an extension of what Downtown looks like. It should not be that this is unkempt like this.”
The next day, Feltus hosted a “Finishing Touches Day” for a new mural painted on the side of the Madison Street building that houses his yoga studio. The mural was the result of a collaboration between a coalition of Austin community leaders.
According to a Sept. 9 Austin Weekly News article, “Courtney Gipson of Antidote Inc., Ruby Taylor of Taproots Inc., Alexandra Auguste and Jermaine Harris of the Community
Leadership Fellows, Chris Thomas of YourPassion1st and Mercedes Pickett of Earth’s Remedies, who together bring expertise in restorative justice, intergenerational storytelling, youth leadership, mentorship, and holistic community wellness.”
But the mural is just one aspect of Feltus’ exercise in placemaking and beautification. Feltus also put up some signage, relocated flower pots, and even installed what he’s called a reading zone, which is a newspaper box regularly filled with copies of The Culture.
“I think of the seniors on my block,” Feltus said on his Live. “A couple have been over there for more than 50 years. I love looking out for them because they’ve put in the work and done what they needed to do. Now, it’s my turn to pick up the banner and carry on.”
BY MOLLY DEVORE Block Club Chicago
President Donald Trump has not sent National Guard troops to Chicago — and doesn’t appear to be planning on doing so anytime soon. But that hasn’t stopped him from spending weeks inaccurately painting the city as crime-infested as justification.
Declarations by the president that Chicago is the “murder capital of the world” do not hold up to fact-checks showing dozens of other cities with far higher murder rates or law enforcement data that charted an ongoing drop in violent crime in the city.
Yet Trump’s repeated insinuations have ignited fresh discord over how often crimes are happening in Chicago and how they are being counted.
Mayor Brandon Johnson tried to rebut the president’s claims in August via a fact sheet emphasizing dips this year in homicides and overall violent crime, while also noting that the city’s homicide clearance rate of more than 77 percent is the highest it’s been in more than a decade.
So, what does the data really say about crime in Chicago, and how should we interpret it?
Chicago has seen 288 homicides this year, down 30 percent from this time last year, according to the Police Department’s citywide crime statistics document, which is updated weekly.
Data included in the department’s annual report showed 580 homicides in Chicago in 2024, down 7 percent from 2023 and down about 27 percent from 2021, a year cities across the country saw major spikes in violent crime.
The Trump administration has touted that, based on raw numbers, Chicago had more homicides last year than any other U.S. city. However, John Roman, a senior fellow who studies crime policies with the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center, said criminologists “almost never report raw counts” and instead use crime rates to account for city’s different population sizes.
“Comparisons across cities of different sizes are not meaningful without accounting for the different population sizes. As populations grow, counts will increase mechanically,” he wrote in an email to Block Club. “The key question for policymakers and the public is how safe residents are compared to people in other places and how safe people are compared
to the city at other times. Without knowing the crime rate, it is impossible to say anything about the relative risk of victimization by activity, place or time.”
With a population of about 2.72 million, Chicago recorded about 21 homicides per 100,000 people in 2024. Birmingham, Alabama, whose population is 195,418, recorded about 58 homicides per 100,000 residents in 2024 — more than double Chicago’s homicide rate, according to FBI crime data.
In fact, there were 22 major cities with higher homicide rates than Chicago’s, according to FBI data.
Earlier this summer, the Council on Criminal Justice — a Washington, D.C.-based think tank — looked at mid-year crime rates for 42 large American cities that consistently report monthly crime data. The council’s study found that while Chicago’s violent crime rate was above average, the city’s crime rate is also dropping more than that of other cities.
According to the study, during the first half of 2025, Chicago’s homicide rate was 33 percent
110 undetermined deaths in 2021.
The Medical Examiner’s Office has recorded 298 homicides and 28 undetermined deaths in Chicago this year.
Police data shows sexual assault, robbery, aggravated battery, burglary and car thefts are also down this year. In 2024, the Office of Emergency Management and Communications recorded about 2.7 million calls for service, down from 2.8 million in 2023 and 3.3 million in 2022.
Despite data showing drops in most categories of crime, many Chicagoans still feel like crime is higher than what the numbers tell them.
A study completed last spring by the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Center found that almost half of Chicagoans feel somewhat or very unsafe walking around their neighborhood at night.
Lance Williams, a Northeastern Illinois University professor who works with violence intervention groups across the city, said part of the reason public perceptions of crime trends may not align with data is that Chicagoans have very different experiences with crime depending on where they live.
lower than it was during the same time period in 2024. That drop in homicides is about double the average decrease of 17 percent seen in the other cities studied. Similarly, Chicago’s drop in aggravated assaults, robberies, carjackings, and motor vehicle thefts were all higher than the study’s average.
However, Ernesto Lopez, a senior research specialist with the Council on Criminal Justice, said Chicago also had a larger increase in homicides between 2019 and 2021. While the other cities studies saw an average increase of 35% between 2019 and 2021, Chicago saw an increase of 59%.
“The data’s not saying Chicago doesn’t have a homicide problem, the evidence is saying that it does, but the data shows that it is improving and it is improving more than most other big cities,” he said.
Chicago had 613 homicides and 104 “undetermined” deaths in 2024, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. That’s down from 668 homicides and 108 undetermined deaths in 2023, and 841 homicides and
“The data represents city averages, but what happens with averages is they mask concentrated hot spots in the city where the crime, in some areas, is at epidemic levels,” Williams said. “If you live in those hot spots, although crime may even be down slightly, it has not decreased enough to make a difference in your life.”
The University of Chicago survey found 62 percent of white residents feel safe walking around their neighborhood at night compared to 36 percent of Black residents. Meanwhile, 64 percent of residents living in the city’s North Central region feel safe walking around their neighborhood at night compared to 34 percent of South Side residents, 44 percent of Southwest Side residents, and 46 percent of West Side residents.
Police data shows that in 2024, about 46 percent of the city’s homicides occurred in just five of Chicago’s 25 police districts: Grand Crossing, Gresham, Ogden, Harrison, and Englewood.
Additionally, the vast majority, about 71 percent, of Chicago murder victims in 2024 were Black men.
“The population that was the most vulnerable was young African-American males whose family members were in public housing, who are now displaced, and now their neighborhood school is closed,” Williams said.
If you're looking for caffeine with a side of community on the West Side, you've got options
By COMMUNITY EDITOR
The Culture
Bee Love Cafe | 1111 S. Homan Ave., North Lawndale
Mon–Fri: 7 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sat: 8 a.m. –
2 p.m.; Sun: Closed
This cafe is part of the Sweet Beginnings social enterprise, which employs and supports returning citizens. The drinks are solid, but it’s the mission — creating pathways to success after incarceration — that makes every latte feel a little more meaningful.
Monday Coffee | 3243 W. 16th St., North Lawndale
Mon–Tue: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Wed–Fri: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sat: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Sun: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
What started as a coffee pop-up has grown into a community hub near Douglass Park. Monday Coffee often collaborates with local artists and organizers, creating a space where caffeine fuels creativity and conversation.
Urban Essentials (Spill The Beans) | 5300 W. Chicago Ave., Austin
Mon–Fri: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sat: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Sun: Closed
Part retail shop, part café, Urban Essentials is a West Side gem where you can sip your coffee and shop for Black-owned products. The vibe is friendly, and the coffee menu is straightforward and satisfying.
Momentum Coffee @ BUILD Chicago | 5100 W. Harrison St., Austin Mon–Fri: 8 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.; Sat & Sun: Closed
Momentum Coffee has been popping up across the city — and
its location inside BUILD Chicago offers a bright space to work, meet neighbors, or just take a pause. The staff often partner with BUILD youth programs, so your coffee dollars help support local leadership development.
Momentum Coffee @ Garfield Park Conservatory | 300 N. Central Park Ave., West Garfield Park
Wed–Sun: 10 AM – 3 PM; Closed Mon & Tue
Pair your coffee run with a stroll through one of Chicago’s most beautiful green spaces. Momentum’s kiosk inside the Garfield Park Conservatory is perfect for grabbing a latte before wandering among the palms and orchids.
La Catedral Cafe & Restaurant | 1407 S. Washtenaw Ave., North Lawndale
Daily: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.
This is more than a coffee stop — it’s a full sit-down restaurant known for hearty Mexican breakfasts and a warm, family-run atmosphere. Bring a friend and stay awhile.
The Roasted Leaf Coffee & Cigar Cafe | 5925 W. Chicago Ave., Austin Tue: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Wed–Thu: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.; Fri–Sat: 11 a.m. –10 p.m.; Sun: noon – 5 p.m.; Mon: Closed
Part cigar lounge, part coffeehouse, The Roasted Leaf offers a laid-back, adults-only atmosphere where you can enjoy a latte or cappuccino alongside premium cigars. The business is carving out a niche as both a social and coffee destination.
The 37-minute documentary celebrates progress, calls for more community involvement
BY MICHAEL ROMAIN The Culture
After premiering last month at the Kehrein Center for the Arts, 5628 W. Washington Blvd. in Austin, a new documentary about Chicago’s Austin neighborhood is now available for community groups to screen on their own.
The Good News debuted Aug. 21 before a crowd of residents, organizers and leaders at the West Side arts venue. Produced by Emmy Award-winning production company PRIME 312, the 37-minute film highlights the progress of the Austin Forward. Together. quality-of-life plan, a community-driven roadmap launched in 2018 to address challenges and build on neighborhood strengths
The film showcases initiatives in food justice, affordable housing, public safety and storytelling while tracing Austin’s history of segregation and disinvestment. Its central theme is resilience: neighbors working collectively to reclaim their future.
Following the Aug. 21 screening, Kehrein Center executive director Reesheda Nicole Berry facilitated a panel discussion with community leaders. Berry, who chairs the quality-of-life plan’s Authentic Storytelling Campaign, said the film captured Austin’s struggles and triumphs.
“The film represents decades of work, dedication, commitment, laughter, joy, pain, tears, relationships, communities, problems, challenges, solutions — all of it cannot be captured in the 37 minutes I watched,” Berry said. “I watched the faces of people I have laughed with, cried with, fought with — messy messiness! We are here to tell the story, and you hold those stories, and this is why authentic storytelling is so important.”
Austin Coming Together (ACT), which leads the quality-of-life plan, is encouraging residents and organizations to keep the conversation going by hosting screenings of The Good News in their own spaces.
Groups interested in hosting are asked to provide a location with audio-visual equipment, refreshments if desired, and an audience of at least 15 people. ACT will supply a copy of the film, promotional support and a staff member to introduce the documentary, share
Community members and organizations are invited to host screenings of The Good News, a new documentary highlighting the Austin Forward. Together. quality-of-life plan.
Hosts are asked to provide:
• A space with audio-visual equipment
• Refreshments if desired
• At least 15 guests
Austin Coming Together (ACT) will provide:
• A laptop with the film
• A custom promotional flier
• A staff member to introduce the film and answer questions
• A sign-in sheet to connect attendees with the quality-of-life plan
For details or to schedule a screening, contact Grace Cooper at gcooper@austincomingtogether. org. Learn more about the Austin Forward. Together. plan at austincomingtogether.org/qlp.
ways to get involved with the plan, and answer questions afterward.
Organizers say the screenings are an opportunity for neighbors to learn more about Austin Forward. Together., which lays out goals in seven areas: community narrative, education, housing, youth empowerment, economic development, public safety and civic engagement.
The plan has helped support projects such as Austin Eats, a food justice initiative; the Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Chicago program; and affordable housing and workforce development efforts, including the new Aspire Center for Workforce Innovation.
Berry said she hopes the film will inspire residents to reflect on their own role in telling Austin’s story.
