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AUSTINWEEKLY news ■
Vol. 33 No. 40
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October 2, 2019
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Meet Rev. Walter McCray, ‘Gospelizer,’
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Also serving Garfield Park
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A hhouse iin A Austin, ti raises funds, page 11
Cook County seeks to expand restorative justice court Chief Judge Tim Evans met with faith leaders to discuss the court’s West Side expansion during Sept. 26 meeting By La RISA LYNCH Contributing Reporter
Devell Hill knew exactly what to do when a childhood friend stabbed him during a 2014 attempted robbery. Hill forgave him. “I knew he really wasn’t a bad guy. He was just influenced by the wrong guys to harm me,” Hill said. “He already spent two years in jail fighting the case; that was punishment enough for me. I didn’t want to see him do any more time after he apologized for it.” That act of kindness would help Hill years later when he found himself in front of a judge fighting a drug possession charge. Impressed by his actions, the judge referred Hill’s case to the state’s only Restorative Justice Community Court. The unconventional court uses peace circles to help defendants take responsibility for their actions, understand how their crimes impact victims and establish a plan for restitution, called a “repair of harm” agreement. For Hill, he wanted to improve his relationship with his son who was born while he was in jail. He also wanted to create a tribute for his younger brother, killed in 2018 by gun violence, and enter See RESTORATIVE JUSTICE on page 11
AustinTalks
CANDID CAMERA: Anthony Mitchell and his dog pose for a portrait earlier this month at Hubbard Park.
Austin, say cheese!
The nonprofit Alt Space Chicago takes professional portraits of everyday people in Austin By MATEUSZ JANIK AustinTalks
Shane Eubank was walking past Hubbard Park earlier this month when some people caught her attention. They had set up at the park, at 4942 W. Hubbard St., to take photos of local residents as part of a project to show a different side of Austin.
“I’m happy to see that someone’s shedding light [on] our community, especially this area right here,” said the 23-year-old Austin resident. The photo project, undertaken by the local non-profit Alt Space Chicago offers everyday people the opportunity to have professional photographs taken that will later be displayed across Austin.
Over the course of three days in midSeptember, the Project Stamp campaign took more than 100 portraits at Hubbard Park; GlennArt Farm, 443 N. Waller Ave.; and Columbus Park Refectory, 5701 W. Jackson Blvd. Along with a free photo to take home,
State Farm Mutual Automobile • Insurance Company State Farm Indemnity Company • Bloomington, IL • statefarm.com® Larry and his staff are licensed and together have over 75 years of State Farm experience.
See ALT SPACE on page 8
Larry Williams,Agent 5932 W. Lake Street Chicago, 60644 (773) 379-9010 larry.williams.b0bk@statefarm.com