AustinWeeklyNews_061825 by Wednesday Journal

Danny Davis to those waiting to replace him:

‘People get ready’

Rep.

La Shawn Ford and others explore running if

Davis retires from Congress

By BILL DWYER Contributing Reporter

As speculation swirls around the intentions of long-time incumbent. Rep. Danny K. Davis to run or not for a 16th term in Congress, Davis has a suggestion for those hoping to re place him.

“There’s a song by the Impressions,” Davis said, “People Get Ready.” Get ready, Davis said, not just to re place him, but to show a clear track record of working for those who would elect them.

Davis is expected to announce a decision “probably in the new few weeks,” he said.

When Davis spoke with Austin Weekly News Friday morning, he was asked about one of

See DANNY DAVIS on page 8

Farmers market: ursdays at Austin Town Hall, page 7 k

Ahkeem Henderson, mortgage o cer of Huntington Bank, talks to residents about how to re nance their home.

Buying in to Austin

By LACEY SIKORA Contributing Reporter

T he barriers to homeownership on the West Side was the focus of a day-long event last month sponsored by the Oak Park Regional Housing Center. The annual Austin Community Housing Forum and Fair at Michele Clark High School drew about 250 people

June is National Homeownership Month, which makes it an ideal time to discuss the bar riers facing Chicago families, OPRHC Executive Director Athena Willams said. These barriers include rising rents and housing costs – especially in underserved communities – that are making it more challenging for people to achieve the dream of owning a home, she said.

“There’s a lot of misinformation out there about homeownership,” Williams said. “People want to learn how to become homeowners. They’re not shy about what’s happening in the government or what is happening economically. They want to live in a home.”

See HOUSING FORUM on page 10

Austin resident Deric Whaley writes about ‘ e Ride’ inside

Book shares his story of incarceration, aims to reach West Side teens

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

Austin resident Deric Whaley published his first book, The Ride , last year. The story outlines his journey to and inside the Illinois penal system, highlighting his daily victories and losses, emotions and f antasies of freedom.

Now, Whaley is trying to g et more traction with his book, especially among young people on the West Side.

“If I can motivate some teenagers that are possibly on the road to have the same circumstances … my book might be a deter rent or motivating factor for them to avoid those trap s,” Whaley said. “I hope that the teenagers read the book and get the harsh realities of prison life.”

Whaley added that one of the main purposes of The Ride is to encourage young people to prioritize their education.

“It’s a tool to help incorporate education in a child’s mind and place that seed to want to learn, to read more and develop more,” he said.

But the book could also teach colle ge students “the experience of somebody that was in captivity and address some social psychological issues in society,” Whaley said, teaching adults the same Whaley is networking with West Siders to see how he can g et copies of The Ride into schools and local progr ams, possibly leading to speaking eng agements where he can share his experience first-hand. He said he’s met with people who work with violence-prevention organizations and is hoping they’ll help him g et a grant that will allow him to give away more free copies of The Ride

Growing up on the West Side

In addition to exploring Whaley’s emotional response to the prison system, The Ride details what it was like for him growing up in North Lawndale, in a single-

“If I can motivate some teenagers that are possibly on the road to have the same circumstances … my book might be a deterrent or motivating factor for them to avoid those traps.”

DERIC WHALE Y

family home with a single mother.

“She told me about the struggles that she had growing up, and I also had a chance to experience the struggle that she went through as being a single parent.”

Whaley said he found himself wanting to be an overachiever. In high school, he took a scholastic test that allowed him to transfer to Westinghouse College Prep in Humboldt Park, which Whaley said was prestigious But he missed his friends and transferred again to Harrison High School in South Lawndale, where he was exposed to drinking and drugs, then dropped out.

Recognizing his level of intelligence

and the talent that he wanted to cultivate in himself, in 1978 Whaley enrolled in Job Corp trade school in Chicago to get his high school diploma, which he achieved in the 89th percentile of his class. But he was dismissed from Job Corp “as a result of me continuing to gravitate towards people that were engaged in negativity,” Whaley said.

“I realized my life was at a standstill,” he added. So, Whaley enrolled in Columbia Colle ge for radio broadcasting. There, he learned about television production, journalism and creative writing. “Those things excited me. They were intoxicating.”

See ‘THE RIDE’ on page 6

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PROVIDED

Deric Whaley and the book cover for “ e Ride”

St. Angela School welcomes new leadership team

Goal is to grow enrollment 25% over coming school years

By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter

St. Angela Catholic School will have a new leadership team this fall.

Whitney McIntosh will become St. Angela’s new principal, while Christine MolinaRebecca will serve as executive director at the Austin neighborhood school at 1332 N. Massasoit Ave. They will also oversee St. Sylvester in Palmer Square and St. Agnes of Bohemia in Little Village McIntosh most recently served as the founding principal and CEO of Young Women’s Leadership Academy in Las Vegas. She has Chicago ties, having been a Ryan Fellow through the Accelerate Institute, which partners with Northwester n to help develop transfor mational school leaders.

A Florida native, McIntosh is stoked about returning to the area, where she coached the leadership team at Great Lakes Academy as campus director during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her educational philosophy is nuanced, focusing on “making an investment in the classroom teacher and really developing them and giving them what they need to lead the scholars in the classroom,” she said. “One of my strengths is instructional

leadership … how the teacher is instructing, looking at data with them, and then developing strategies.”

According to a press release from Big Shoulders Fund, a nonprofit wholly separate from the Archdiocese of Chicago that operates Big Shoulders Plus, the branch that financially assists 38 Catholic schools in the area that might have closed, McIntosh will serve as the day-to-day leader of K-8 St. Angela, manage building operations and work with Molina-Rebecca to meet the school’s goals.

“We have implemented this model in other Big Shoulders Fund schools, and schools have experienced success with this plan,” the release said.

McIntosh said her personal goals for St. Angela for the 2025-26 school year are several.

“I think with it being Year One, I think it’s lear ning about the campus and doing a campus assessment,” she said, “so doing a listening tour where I speak with families and current staff, and all stakeholders.

“What’s different about this campus (is) its succession work. It’s learning about the people, what they love about the campus and highlighting whatever is coming.”

Molina-Rebecca said she is one of two ex-

ecutive directors in the archdiocese and her main role is one of coaching. Each day, she will be at one of her three schools, so she is immersed in those schools’ community and needs.

“The wonderful thing about this position is it could be two to three years, so there is a gradual release of responsibility,” she said. “My main goal the first year is to make sure the principal learns the community and helps the school grow

“I am most successful when they don’t need me anymore.”

Her goals include growing enrollment by at least 25% in the next two to three years. At its peak in the early 2000s, she said, St. Angela had 400 students; enrollment is just under 200 now. Ninety percent of students, the vast majority of which are from the Austin area,

receive financial aid.

“Getting to 250 in two to three years would be ideal,” Molina-Rebecca said. “We really do want to bring back family engagement. We want to see an increase in the presence of families, and our third goal is to increase some high school matriculation.

“We want to prepare our students for postgraduation. That’s a huge goal.”

The dual leadership model is relatively new, she added, even through the Big Shoulders Plus network. It works because the executive director aids the principal with all aspects of their new role.

“Any new leader in a school, it’s just a very daunting role, because there are so many holes you have to fill,” Molina-Rebecca said.

“When you talk about schools with such potential, it’s overwhelming. It’s a lot and there is only so much one can do.”

Prior to her role as executive director, Molina-Rebecca served as principal of Maternity BVM School. She is also a Big Shoulders Fund Sullivan Fellow and Polk Bros. Leadership Award recipient, honors that are given to top leaders in Big Shoulders Fund Schools

Previously as an executive director, she oversaw both Maternity BVM and Our Lady of Grace schools, and though she no longer works with either, both saw increased test scores, lowered financial deficits and increased parent engagement.

That’s why the model works, she said.

“I’m a coach and a cheerleader and I take things off your to-do list,” she said.

PROVIDED

Whitney McIntosh

PROVIDED Christine Molina-Rebecca

Final Mass Sunda St. Catherine-St. Lu

Rising costs, dwindling attendance leads to chur

By GREGG VOSS Contributing Reporter

The date was nebulous when the announcement came March 2 that St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Catholic church would be closing, though it would be happening sometime in June.

There is now a final mass date – 10 a.m. Sunday at the venerable church at 27 Washington Blvd. in Oak Park

That’s going to be a tough day for the mass celebrant, the Rev. Carl Morello, pastor of St. Catherine-St. Lucy and St. Giles, who made that March 2 announcement from the pulpit.

“I do not look forward to it,” Morello said of the final mass in the original Tudor Gothic-style St. Catherine’s building that was completed in 1931.

“In the short time I’ve been here the last three years, I’ve come to love the community,” he said. “There is an intimacy there and what’s really sad to me, it’s one of the best inte grated communities of these four Oak Park parishes,” which includes Ascension Catholic Church, 808 S. East Ave., and St. Edmund, 188 S. Oak Park Ave. St. Giles is located at 1045 Columbian Ave., Oak Park

Lower mass attendance and costly upkeep resulted in the fate of St. CatherineSt. Lucy, which was not targeted for closure by the Archdiocese of Chicago. Instead, following a townhall in October 2024, the parish determined that the cost of maintaining the church wasn’t sustainable.

Parishioner memories abound

It will also be a hard day for lifetime parishioner Christine Wedekind, but in some ways a beautiful day. She said she’s aware of for mer parishioners from around the country, including one man from San Francisco, who will be at Sunday’s service. Oh, the memories Wedekind has of the parish. She grew up in the Austin neighborhood and was essentially raised there. Her grandmother and parents were buried from St. Catherine. She received her sacraments there, went to school there, and got

married there.

“Years ago, when Monsignor Maguire was the pastor of St. Catherin were standing in the during mass, he would find a place to sit, if he was back 1950s and pastor Right Maguire. “You had to sit down. crowded it would be.”

She’ll also be a lector mass.

Valerie Jenning has been a parishioner Lucy since the 1980s, and said some of her best memories are “just the wonderful liturgical ceremonies.

“There is something to be said gathering of people who are joined to each other and singing and saying pra said. “It’s still exciting.”

That’s why she said that won’t be an easy da ebration. Recently, from the church

“I was looking around, (and thinking), ‘I am going to miss this,’” she said. “I had a moment to take it all in and release ever kind of heaviness I had, and I know that things will be okay.”

As far as her next spiritual home, Wedekind said she is likely to find herself at St. Edmund, though she said the praise choir sings at St. Giles, so she will be there from time to time.

As for Jennings, “We have a tri-parish, so I can float between any of them.”

Ministr y to evolve

But the end is nigh, and there is work to be done to relegate the church. That will fall in large part on Morello’s shoulders. He’s already written the letter to Cardinal Blaise Cupich that keeping St. CatherineSt. Lucy open was no longer sustainable. A decree was written to indicate the church will be relegated to a non-sacred space, which will occur the day after the final mass

Then the archdiocese real estate office advises the church is available, and will attempt to find a suitable renter or buyer. Morello said that while the archdiocese could

St. Catherine of Siena-St. Lucy Catholic Church

elect to sell the building, it may be more inclined to rent the space, considering that other facets of St. Catherine-St. Lucy’s ministry will continue on.

St. Catherine-St. Lucy Catholic School will remain open, while SisterHouse, which offers a temporary home to women seeking recovery from substance abuse, will remain in the church’s for mer convent building. The Neighborhood Bridge and the Faith and Fellowship Ministry will continue to operate out of the repurposed rectory, along with Housing Forward, an emergency overnight shelter

Libby Foster, director of communications for Housing Forward, said that the St. Catherine-St. Lucy campus will remain a beacon of hope for many. For example, Housing Forward is partnering with The Neighbor-

hood Bridge to convert the for mer rectory into a community resource hub, where both organizations will offer outreach to the surrounding communities

“It’s not going to impact us operationally, but it’s impactful from the standpoint of the deep legacy St. Catherine-St. Lucy has in the community,” added Prentice Butler, executive director of The Neighborhood Bridge. “Basically, our organization and the legacy of this building has been community outreach.”

As far as Sunday’s final mass, Butler said, “I think it will be sad. It will be more people wrestling with the memories of everything that has gone on.”

That includes Wedekind, and many of out-of-towners who will return to pay their respects.

COURTESY OF ST CATHERINE-ST LU CY CATHOLIC CHURCH

“The focus of the writing was to make readers see, feel, touch and taste what they’re reading, and that’s what comes across in the book,” Whaley said. “I wanted readers to see, feel, taste and be able to emotionally touch” the prison experience.

But Whaley says, at that time, he was still engaged in negative activities and was arrested as a result.

“I became a victim of the crack epidemic, and I struggled with addiction,” Whaley said. He was sentenced to nine months at an Illinois Department of Corrections facility

In The Ride, Whaley describes his experience getting on the bus to the penitentiary, where new adults joined him.

“I saw 18-year-old boys that had committed heinous crimes, and the sentences they got were life. The opportunity of returning to the city was obsolete. I could see the emotions that they were going through as they were making that transition away from a

life that they would never see or experience again,” Whaley said. “They looked out the bus and tears rose to their eyes because, in their heart and in their mind, they’re experiencing the loss of something that can never be re gained, which is freedom.”

“At that particular moment, what I was focused on was the sense of being incarcerated against your will, being forced to serve a sentence,” Whaley added of the bus ride to prison. “I was experiencing the same emotions that those individuals were experiencing, but theirs were more intense because I knew that someday down the road I would retur n to society.”

Whaley got out in less than a year

In The Ride, Whaley writes: “My time was a piece of cake. It was cake, but it’s still hard to swallow. You’re disconnected from family, friends, and associates. The greatest gift in life is to be connected to the sources of family and friends you’ve developed during your existence on earth. And before you know it, it could be gone.”

Though much of The Ride centers on Whaley’s personal experience, he also covers bigger picture topics, like the role of the federal gover nment in the 1980s crack epidemic throughout the country.

“In order to achieve their agenda, they did some scrupulous things to society at large,” Whaley said. “It’s been overlooked. I don’t know what needs to be done. It’s still happening across society with these drugs.”

But he says it’s not just drugs that young people should be wary of

“Substance abuse and drug addiction is a major problem, but none of those addictions compare to the catastrophe that’s caused by alcoholism,” Whaley said. “Those are some of the issues that I discussed in my book too.”

Writing ‘The Ride’

Whaley started writing The Ride while he was in the penal system.

“It’s not a past-tense story. It’s a story that’s actually happening, it’s unfolding,” Whaley said.

When he got out of prison, Whaley moved to Austin.

According to 2019 research from the Safer Foundation, over 30% of people who go to an Illinois prison return to Chicago after completing their sentences. Nearly all of them live in six neighborhoods, including Austin, East Garfield Park and North Lawndale.

After serving time and with a disability, Whaley applied for Social Security benefits, which he’s been on since. He started networking with others who suf fered from addiction “who are trying to put the pieces of their life back to gether,” Whaley said.

Whaley collected his musings from his time in prison and gave them to his sister to type up and put together. But she lost them. Five years later, Whaley’s sister found his copy, and Newman Springs Publishing of New Jersey published The Ride.

“That’s God,” Whaley said of his rediscovered story. “I got to stick with this and put it out there.” Whaley decided to share his story now because “This is a great story that needs to be told.”

Though Whaley said he hopes The Ride keeps young people out of the penal system, he also has advice for those who might want to publish their writing someday.

“Put pen to paper, stay connected and make time to write,” Whaley said. “My suggestion is to hold on to your dream and believe in love, and let love be the light to show the way.”

‘The Ride’ is available in paperback and digital version from Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

Austin Town Hall Farmers Market is in season

By JESSICA MORDACQ Staff Reporter

The Austin Town Hall Far mers Market has opened for the year. From now through October, the market takes place every Thursday at Austin Town Hall from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. – offering the likes of produce, meat and dairy, baked goods and hot food

To kick off the season June 12, over a dozen vendors and community organizations set up tents at 5610 W. Lake St

The number of those selling goods and providing other resources has been up since 2023, when Market Manager Veah Larde, who was raised in Austin, took the reins. That year, attendance at the market drew up to165 people in one day – a record for the market, which launched in 2012. Last season, Larde said, was also a success

Larde has high hopes for this year’s market. Though maybe a dozen people milled about the first hour of the market on opening day, Larde expects this year’s attendance to pick up at the end of the month, once schools are out and summer is in full swing. Then, the market will have a dedicated tent for children’s activities.

Larde said she’s excited to keep building the market up, envisioning it growing to “a mini Taste of Chicago,” providing diverse offerings that appeal to locals even outside of Austin.

“We want the community to know this is their market,” Larde said. “It’s not just for Austin, it’s for everyone.” She added, “It’s about people understanding the community and loving on the community of Austin.”

This year’s vendors

Throughout the 2025 season, the Austin Town Hall Market expects to host 24 vendors, ranging from those who sell jewelry to hot sauce and olive oil.

Though the market saw several hair and body care vendors last year, 2025 is the first year Keena Renee has sold her wares from Spread the Love Body Butters and Scrubs with Essential Oils at the market. With nearly a decade of experience selling at other farmers markets, Renee wanted to join a new market close to her Oak Park home “My favorite part is networking with the vendors and creatives,” Renee said. Her bestselling products are body butter and body oil.

Mark hursdays

join the Austin Town Hall market to reach a new crowd.

McHenry’s favorite part of farmers markets is interacting with customers and getting feedback about her baking, “meeting new customers who try my stuff.”

Every vendor takes LINK and SNAP payment, which Larde said is a unique feature at farmers markets. And for every $1 attendees spend with either, they get $1 back from the market, up to $25.

“This helps you trust your dollar,” Larde said.

Additional o erings

The Austin Town Hall far mers market is more than just vendors. There are also organizations offering resources to the community. Last year, Larde said Thresholds helped seniors sign up for health care plans and take blood pressure at the market. Larde said the feedback she heard from that alone makes the market all worth it.

Larde said she had a recent phone call with a woman who sells plants and succulents, who asked to join future markets.

“We haven’t had that,” Larde said. “We’re slowly bringing things into Austin that make sense.”

When Larde started as market manager, she attended community meetings and events, hearing from Austin locals that they desired more access to staples like produce and meat. So that’s what she prioritized

Though Forty Acres Fresh Market is opening in Austin later this year, it will be the only sizable grocery store for nearly 100,000 Austin residents. And with many parts of Austin experiencing food insecurity, without easy access to fresh fruit and vegetables, the market serves as a mid-week shopping opportunity between grocery store trips

Fresh produce also infor ms market attendees about what’s in season and when, “bringing yourself back to health through food,” Larde said.

Larde has intentionally increased the number of vegan vendors since 2023. That year, she previously told Austin Weekly News that some people were scared to try it. Attendee perception, she said, improved last year, Bot Bakery’s first season with the market.

“I enjoyed it enough last year that I’m com-

ing back,” said Betty Alper, owner of Bot Bakery, which sells vegan and gluten free baked goods.

Based on Chicago’s Southeast Side, Alper said the Thursday afternoon market fits in with the schedule of delivering Bot Bakery’s goods across Chicago. Alper’s partner’s mother also lives in Austin, and Alper is excited to get more in touch with the neighbo rhood through another season at the market.

Alper said the best part of the Austin Town Hall market is the regular community members who show up weekly, especially children and seniors. Though Bot Bakery has been at other farmers markets for 14 years, Alper is with the Austin Town Hall market for the long haul and excited to see how it grows.

“What’s the market going to be like in 10 years?” Alper asked rhetorically.

The question offers a sense of future hope that benefits both vendors and the market as a whole.

“With growth, we’re investing in them, and they’re investing in us,” Larde said.

This year is Sweetly Vegan, Cakes & Co’s first at the market. Founder Sonseeahray McHenry said she started selling her vegan desserts at other Chicago markets two years before this, but when her family moved, she expanded her reach, applying to various markets in the area. She said she wanted to

Larde said seniors told her, “‘Thank you because I never understood my blood sugar.’” She added, “We did a service that’s beyond the market.”

On the market’s opening day, there was a cooking demonstration by Beyond Hunger. Throughout the season, five local chefs who won $9,000 grants from Austin Eats will also put on food demonstrations at the market.

Though the market put on cooking demonstrations last year, too, such presentations allow market attendees to learn something new about ingredients and cooking, “educating the next generation of chefs,” Larde said.

As in previous seasons, the market also offers yoga and massage therapy with SkyLight Body Therapy, live music and entertainment, and grow kits from Chicago Grows Food that help attendees start their own garden.

With returning and new participants, Larde has high hopes that the Austin Town Hall far mers market will continue on its upward trajectory. She said she’s gotten more phone calls than last year about the market schedule, and two people showed up to shoot footage for documentaries on its opening day.

“I want bumper-to-bumper tents,” Larde said of her goals.

JESSICA MOR DACQ

Market Manager Veah Larde, right, with Bettina Slaughter, founder of Boozy Treats, which sells alcohol-infused snacks, at the Austin Town Hall Farmers Market on June 12.

DANNY DAVIS

Getting ready to retire?

from page 1

those people, Illinois State Rep. LaShawn K. Ford (D-8), who has for mally re gistered as a candidate for the 7th District seat.

The Illinois congressional district covers parks of Cook County including Oak Park, Forest Park, River Forest and much of the West Side.

Ford, who has served in the Illinois House since 2007, filed a statement of organization with the Federal Elections Commission on May 21. He’s retained the election compliance firm of Acuity Politics, LLC, in Washington D.C.

Ford described his re gistration as the initial part of an exploratory ef fort. He made it clear that he will only proceed with his plans if Davis is not running.

“I haven’t made an official announcement,” Ford said last Tuesday. “This is all in case the cong ressman retires.”

He added: “I’m excited about the possibility of running. But if Congressman Davis decides to run, I’ll support him.”

Ford said he is also gathering commitments of financial support and endorsements

“I’m talking to supporters and I’m doing my best to put together a team,” said Ford, who added that his first focus remained

constituent services.

“Building coalitions with politicians is secondary. My goal is to make the case that I’ll always be there for the people. You have to stay focused on the constituents in the district.”

“Re-entry (into society), criminal records expungement, healthcare, safety net hospitals, these are the heart beat of our district,” he said.

Others currently listed by the FEC as candidates for the 7th Congressional seat are Jason Friedman, a Chicago attorney who filed in April, and John McCombs, a for mer Marine and aspiring comedian, also of Chicago, who filed in early May.

Jerico J. Brown of Chicago, a church pastor, has filed as an independent.

Davis mulls pros and cons

Davis is clear about the reasons why he should retire. He is also clear about the reasons he should run for re-election. Those dueling realities flavor his speech with caveats.

He says he is talking to a number of people, including those who have supported him through the years, to his doctors, and to many everyday people who he insists are and have always been his reason for serving, as a Chicago alderman, as a county commissioner, and as a congressman.

“I will make a decision probably in the next few weeks,” he said Friday, following a busy and particularly eventful week in Washington. “There are a number of things I’m looking at.”

Among those are his age. He is in his 15th term in Congress and will be 85 when the new Congress is seated. He said he feels fortunate to have remained healthy enough to do the work.

“I’m no spring chicken,” he acknowledged. “Most people my age retired years ago.”

“I’m talking to people who have supported me,” he said. “I’m also talking to my physicians. And I’m talking to people.”

The work he’s doing, he said, is more important than ever

“These are real critical times for America. There are people urging me to run again for (numerous) reasons,” he said.”

Davis pointed to his position on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, where he spent much of his day on Wednesday. It deals with all legislation before the House, and members of Congress wait years to be appointed to the committee, let alone gain seniority on it.

While another candidate can replace Davis and take his seat in Congress, what they cannot do is replace his seniority. And that issue appears to be playing a major role in Davis’s thinking as he moves toward a decision on whether to seek another ter m.

“I’m a senior member of Congress, not just a member,” he said.

“If I don’t run, people like LaShawn Ford will. I think they’d do well to establish an exploratory committee.”

Reiterating his “get ready” counsel, Davis said anyone looking to replace him should earn it. “They should be talking to the people, listening to the people, serving the peo-

Davis and Ford take on Trump

During interviews with Cong. Danny K. Davis and State Rep. La Shawn Ford about their plans to seek the 7th District congressional seat in 2026, they each offered their takes on recent actions by President Donald Trump

“This is heavy-handedness,” Davis said of Trump’s response to peaceful protest demonstrations against his polices and actions. “People in this country believe in the right to protest. Our country was founded on protest.”

Davis said he was deeply concerned at the Trump administration’s demonstrated unwillingness to use established gover nment mechanisms to respond to differences of opinion.

“You work cooperatively with others to change the law,” he said. “That’s not what I see the president doing, not what I see ICE doing, not what I see DHS doing.”

Ford said, “I definitely believe in protecting democracy. I don’t believe the current president respects democracy and the Constitution.”

Addressing last Saturday’s No Kings protests, Ford said, “The only way we’ll protect democracy is to stand up against (what Trump is doing).”

ple,” he said. “That’s how you get elected. If they do that, they’ll get elected.”

Davis acknowledged Ford’s 17 years in the Illinois General Assembly. Since the 2020 redistricting, Ford has re presented South Austin, southern sections of Oak Park and Forest Park, southern Broadview and part of La Grange.

Davis invited Ford to appear for an extended period of time on his last Zoom townhall on June 1, where Ford gave his overview of the recently concluded state legislative session.

“He’s certainly got the experience. He’s done good work,” Davis said.

Ford speaks like a man looking to carry on a tradition and continue a legacy. Davis, he said, “is an example of a representative for the people. Danny Davis has his finger on the pulse of the community.”

“I feel I have that same philosophy. I’m trying to earn his support,” Ford said. “We have a lot of relationship in doing community work. I hope our relationship carries over into an endorsement.”

JESSICA MOR DACQ

Rep. La Shaw n Ford and Congressman Danny Davis at Billy Goat Tavern & Grill’s near West Side location on Aug. 20, 2024.

Saint Leonard’s Ministries to add housing, community spaces

$15M expansion of the West Side campus for the formerly incarcerated

By MICHAEL LIPTROT Block Club Chicago

A West Side nonprofit that provides housing and other services to for merly incarcerated people is renovating and expanding its campus to help more people reenter society.

Saint Leonard’s Ministries announced last week an expansion and renaming of its Near West Side campus at 2120 W. Warren Blvd. The project includes adding rooms to both its men’s and women’s housing buildings as well as new community spaces, a library and the opening of a new facility

The renovation and expansion of Saint Leonard’s will transform its men’s and women’s living complexes from dorm-style

rooms with multiple residents to entirely single-bedroom residences.

The $15 million project also includes the conversion of a two-flat at 2124 W. Warren Blvd. into additional housing for its re-entry program.

“We have an ambitious overall plan to bring new life to this building, adding privacy [with] single bedrooms and single bathrooms, dignity with air conditioning and new finishes, accessibility and more,”

Zack Schrantz, Saint Leonard’s executive director, said at the announcement. “Respect and dignity are baked into our culture and our programs, and we need to express that further in our buildings.”

Saint Leonard’s was established in 1954 by a chaplain at what is now the Cook County Jail. The ministry began as a place for for merly incarcerated people who were facing homelessness to have somewhere to sleep. Housing can be hard to come by for those leaving prison, contributing to high rates of homelessness and recidivism, or a return to jail or prison.

An

Austin Weekly News partner

Today, the organization reports success in its mission of decreasing recidivism.

The organization re ports a recidivism rate of 14 percent for male residents and 2 percent for female residents, a stark dif ference from statewide rates of 38 percent for men and 23 percent for women.

Saint Leonard’s has grown over the years to include health care, social services, education and job opportunities for residents through local partnerships.

Rush Medical Center operates a clinic on-site, serving both Saint Leonard’s and Grace House residents. Workforce development training courses are of fered for free, including courses in culinary skills and construction skills. The courses include support for job referral, placement and retention through specialists, according to organization staff.

The to-be-renovated campus has been renamed in honor of Bob Dougherty, the former executive director of Saint Leonard’s who led the organization’s growth to serve women, open additional living spaces and start workforce development programs.

Dougherty served as executive director of Saint Leonard’s from 1988 to 2013.

Under his leadership, the organization opened the Grace House women’s residence in 1994 and added 42 men’s housing units with an additional building in 1995. Educational and workforce development programs were introduced under Dougherty with the opening of the Michael Barlow Center in 2005 at 2120 W. Warren Blvd.

“I have to tell you in utter sincerity that I could not have succeeded at Saint Leonard’s if it weren’ t for all the varied ways that so many of you here today helped me in addressing the challenges at the corner of Hoyne [Avenue] and Warren Boulevard,” Dougherty said. “This is due in great part to the men and women who called this space home.”

Ald. Walter Burnett (27th) praised Dougherty’s work to expand the program. He said such resources are crucial to helping men and women as they get out of prison, mentioning his own release from prison before entering politics.

“When Saint Leonard’s wants something, you know I’m there. I want to be there for them because someone gave me an opportunity to advance myself in life and gave me another chance, and that’s exactly what Saint Leonard’s House does,” Burnett said. “Under your leadership, Saint Leonard’s House became a model of reentry not just for Chicago, but for the country.”

Construction at Saint Leonard’s Ministries is expected to begin next year. For more infor mation, visit slministries.org.

MICHAEL LIPTROT/BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO

A ceremony honoring Bob Doughe rty, former Saint Leonard’s executive director, at 2120 W. Warren Blvd. on June 5.

Housing Center sta and partners layout the steps in the homebuying process

PROVIDED rah Williams, associate director of Oak Park Regional Housing Center, explains the organization’s West Cook Homeownership program

PROVIDED

HOUSING FORUM

Options o ered

from page 1

Specifically, barriers to homeownership include personal financial obstacles, such as meeting income requirement levels or expectations for credit scores

She said that Austin itself is also creating some barriers: “The market trend in Austin has dramatically increased,” she said, noting that in the past five to ten years many properties in the area have seen price increases of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

With an average area income of $40,000, Williams said that making sure people from Austin can continue to live in and enjoy the community they are from is an issue of equity.

In partnership with local groups, the May 3 event covered various paths to homeownership. Habitat for Humanity was on hand to discuss pathways to ownership of a Habitat Home.

Re presentatives of the Austin C ommunity L and Trust, Austin C oming To g ether and the West Side Health Authorit y, discussed the use of land trusts, wh ich

c an take vacant or blighted land or properties and enter them i nto a c ommunity land trust to provide more af fordable housing

The City of Chicago and BMO Harris (banks) addressed the availability of grants in the homebuying process. A representative of the Cook County Tax Assessor’s office talked about receiving exemptions on property taxes and also covered the tax implications of land trusts.

Staf f from the DePaul University Institute for Housing Studies spoke about market trends in housing, and Coldwell Banker staf f discussed the changing rules in the real estate industry and how they impact the process of buying a home

The OPRHC holds the Housing Forum and Fair annually in Austin and will hold a second edition the first Saturday in November in Maywood. Williams noted that while the Oak Park Re gional Housing Center is located in Oak Park it has offices in Austin and Maywood as well.”

As a HUD agency, Williams said part of the scope of the OPRHC is to meet with clients one on one. Anyone who attended the May event and wants more information or anyone who missed the event but would like to learn more about homeownership may call the Austin office at (773) 887-5187 to lear n more.

Don Meadows of Wintrust Bank and Danny Morgan of GC Morgan explain how to utilize 203K loans for renovations.

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION LOANDEPOT.COM, LLC

Plaintiff, -v.-

THOMAS QUINN, SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE OF TYRONE M CARR, DECEASED, ILLINOIS HEALTHCARE AND FAMILY SERVICES, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON-RECORD CLAIMANTS, LATASHA D SCOTT, TYRONE M CARR, JR., UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF TYRONE M CARR Defendants

23 CH 09804

744 NORTH PARKSIDE AVENUE

CHICAGO, IL 60644

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 2, 2025, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on July 7, 2025, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 744 NORTH PARKSIDE AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60644

Property Index No. 16-08-206-0140000

The real estate is improved with a three unit apartment building.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale. The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/18.5(g-1).

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION

PHH MORTGAGE CORPORATION Plaintiff, -v.-

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

FORECLOSURE LAW.

You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200, Chicago, IL, 60602. Tel No. (312) 346-9088. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

MCCALLA RAYMER LEIBERT PIERCE, LLC

One North Dearborn Street, Suite 1200 Chicago IL, 60602 312-346-9088

E-Mail: pleadings@mccalla.com

Attorney File No. 23-16985IL_1006515

Attorney Code. 61256

Case Number: 23 CH 09804

TJSC#: 45-960

NOTE: Pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you are advised that Plaintiff’s attorney is deemed to be a debt collector attempting to collect a debt and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Case # 23 CH 09804 I3267177

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENTCHANCERY DIVISION

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCAF ACQUISITION TRUST Plaintiff, -v.5501 W QUINCY LLC, AN ILLINOIS LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, YISSOCHER ROTENBERG, AN INDIVIDUAL, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS, CITY OF CHICAGO Defendants 2024 CH 06527 5501 WEST QUINCY STREET CHICAGO, IL 60644

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on May 12, 2025, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on June 30, 2025, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 5501 WEST QUINCY STREET, CHICAGO, IL 60644

Property Index No. 16-16-109-0200000

The real estate is improved with a commercial property.

Sale terms: 25% down of the highest bid by certified funds at the close of the sale payable to The Judicial Sales Corporation. No third party checks will be accepted. The

balance, in certified funds/or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. The subject property is subject to general real estate taxes, special assessments, or special taxes levied against said real estate and is offered for sale without any representation as to quality or quantity of title and without recourse to Plaintiff and in “AS IS” condition. The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW.

For information, examine the court file, CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100, BURR RIDGE, IL, 60527 (630) 794-9876

THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales.

CODILIS & ASSOCIATES, P.C. 15W030 NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD, SUITE 100 BURR RIDGE IL, 60527 630-794-5300

E-Mail: pleadings@il.cslegal.com

Attorney File No. 14-24-07208

Attorney ARDC No. 00468002

Attorney Code. 21762

Case Number: 2024 CH 06527

TJSC#: 45-1329

Case # 2024 CH 06527

I3267340

UNKNOWN HEIRS AND LEGATEES OF FELICITA GERENA, DECEASED, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ACTING BY AND THROUGH ITS AGENCY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, THOMAS P. QUINN, AS SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR FELICITA GERENA, DECEASED, LUZ RIVERA, EDWARD RIVERA, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS

Defendants 2023 CH 07473

1441 N. KOLIN AVE

CHICAGO, IL 60651

NOTICE OF SALE

PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered in the above cause on April 15, 2025, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on July 17, 2025, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker, 1st Floor Suite 35R, Chicago, IL, 60606, sell at public in-person sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 1441 N. KOLIN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60651

Property Index No. 16-03-214-0030000

The real estate is improved with a single family residence. The judgment amount was $322,623.35.

The sale is further subject to confirmation by the court.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale that will entitle the purchaser to a deed to the real estate after confirmation of the sale.

Where a sale of real estate is made to satisfy a lien prior to that of the United States, the United States shall have one year from the date of sale within which to redeem, except that with respect to a lien arising under the internal revenue laws the period shall be 120 days or the period allowable for redemption under State law, whichever is longer, and in any case in which, under the provisions of section 505 of the Housing Act of 1950, as amended (12 U.S.C. 1701k), and subsection (d) of section 3720 of title 38 of the United States Code, the right to redeem does not arise, there shall be no right of redemption.

The property will NOT be open for inspection and plaintiff makes no representation as to the condition of the property. Prospective bidders are admonished to check the court file to verify all information.

If this property is a condominium unit, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale, other than a mortgagee, shall pay the assessments and the legal fees required by The Condominium Property Act, 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1) and (g)(4). If this property is a condominium unit which is part of a common interest community, the purchaser of the unit at the foreclosure sale other than a mortgagee shall pay the assessments required by The Condominium Property Act, 765

ILCS 605/18.5(g-1). IF YOU ARE THE MORTGAGOR (HOMEOWNER), YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO REMAIN IN POSSESSION FOR 30 DAYS AFTER ENTRY OF AN ORDER OF POSSESSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 15-1701(C) OF THE ILLINOIS MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE LAW. You will need a photo identification issued by a government agency (driver’s license, passport, etc.) in order to gain entry into our building and the foreclosure sale room in Cook County and the same identification for sales held at other county venues where The Judicial Sales Corporation conducts foreclosure sales.

For information, contact CHAD LEWIS, ROBERTSON ANSCHUTZ SCHNEID CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC Plaintiff’s Attorneys, 6400 SHAFER CT, STE 325, ROSEMONT, IL, 60018 (561) 2416901. Please refer to file number 23-131605. THE JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION

One South Wacker Drive, 24th Floor, Chicago, IL 60606-4650 (312) 236-SALE

You can also visit The Judicial Sales Corporation at www.tjsc.com for a 7 day status report of pending sales. CHAD LEWIS ROBERTSON ANSCHUTZ SCHNEID CRANE & PARTNERS, PLLC 6400 SHAFER CT, STE 325 ROSEMONT IL, 60018 561-241-6901

E-Mail: ILMAIL@RASLG.COM Attorney File No. 23-131605

Attorney ARDC No. 6306439 Attorney Code. 65582 Case Number: 2023 CH 07473

TJSC#: 45-1097

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY

All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on age, race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitations or discrimination.

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental or advertising of real estate based on factors in addition to those protected under federal law. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.

Restrictions or prohibitions of pets do not apply to service animals.

To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll free at: 1-800-669-9777.

GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA