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Vol. 34 No. 47

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November 18, 2020

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Details on page 2

How the West Side voted in 2020,

austinweeklynews.com

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Also serving Garfield Park

@AustinWeeklyChi

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Virgill Abl Ablohh helps hl West Siders skate, PAGE 8

$500K state grant to beef up mental health in churches

National Alliance for Mental Illness to provide more resources to West Side faith communities

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

Churches and other faith communities on the West Side looking to connect their members with mental health resources just got some new leverage to help further that effort.

The state of Illinois announced in November that it will allocate a $500,000 grant to two local affiliates of the National Alliance for Mental Illness — NAMI Chicago and Oak Park-based NAMI Metro Suburban — that will allow those organizations to collaborate with faith communities in areas across the state hardest hit by COVID-19, including Austin and West Garfield Park.

Rachel Bhagwat, the director of growth and engagement with NAMI Chicago, said that the organization has long partnered with various faith communities, but the state funding will allow NAMI to scale up its efforts amid a resurgence of COVID-19.

“We’ve been working around this for a couple of months already,” she said. “We’ve been doing phone calls and emails, we did a community discussion on Zoom to connect with folks and bring them in. We’re also providing free education sessions for these congregations virtually, where we See NAMI on page 5

Photo: House of Prayer Church of God in Christ/Tom Harris

HIDDEN GEM: The exterior of the House of Prayer Church, formerly the Central Park Theater. Blanche Killingsworth, the head of the North Lawndale Historical and Cultural Society, is fighting to restore the theater.

Historic Central Park theater being restored to former glory

The century-old Central Park Theater in North Lawndale was preserved by a community church that transformed it into a house of worship.

By PASCAL SABINO Block Club Chicago

When Blanche Killingsworth would come to see a show at the Central Park

Theater in her youth, she picked the same seat every time.

It was a ground-floor seat with extra legroom along the aisle, where Killingsworth could take in the grandeur of the theater

and get a close look at the performers. Before coming to North Lawndale, Killingsworth had spent the 1950s in segregated Mississippi, where Jim Crow laws made See CENTRAL PARK THEATER on page 9

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Austin Weekly News, November 18, 2020

Why these local leaders joined the GCM board Independent, fact-based, local news is the fabric that holds our community together – we cannot take it for granted and we must support it.

Judy Greffin Board chair

AN UPDATE

I’ve called lots of cities home and have always turned to local news publications to help me get to know a new community. I joined the GCM board so our neighbors will always have the news and information they need to live their lives and engage in the community.

Growing Community Media’s Challenge

Sheila Solomon

Now more than ever, I believe independent local journalism is essential to keeping us engaged in our democracy and connected to one another.

We’ve met our first level challenge

Deb Abrahamson

$11,500 from the national NewsMatch foundation

MATCHED BY OUR READERS That’s $23,000 for our independent community newsroom.

And now, our Growing Community Media

board of directors has added its own $10,000 challenge Help us reach the next level.

Every dollar you donate now will be doubled.

To donate,

visit www.austinweeklynews.com/donate

For far too long my West Side community and neighbors have been wrongfully disadvantaged by a narrative told about us and our home without our side being told. News media outlets have a responsibility to reflect resident experiences in the most authentic way possible but how can this be achieved without a way to hear directly from them. GCM’s focus on empowering Austin and other westside residents to take control and ownership of our own narrative by reporting the news and history from our perspective can provide us with a medium and platform to be more justly represented.

Darnell Shields

I believe Growing Community Media is an important asset to the communities we serve.

Gary Collins

Independent community journalism contributes to a vibrant democracy and a civil society, two things that are being threatened on a daily basis. Now more than ever, we need to ensure that GCM is able to produce trusted journalism rooted in facts, promote civic discourse and connect our diverse community.

Eric Weinheimer

With all of the changes in the media environment we must all work to keep journalism alive and thriving to offer accountability and transparency. For me, Growing Community Media represents an experiment to make it succeed at a local level. I want to help ensure the success of this experiment for the communities that I love.

Nile Wendorf

Austin Weekly News, November 18, 2020

Austin to receive artist-in-residence under new program

Austin native Antonia Ruppert selected as part of INVEST South/West initiative

By ZACH CUNNING AustinTalks

ironed out. She’s open to anything from door knocking to connect with residents to engaging with the Chicago Police Department 15th District’s faithbased initiatives and visiting community organizations to show her proposals and get feedback.

In the past, Ruppert has started with massive canvases and invited the community to come and help her “create pieces from imagination based on collaboration.”

People would show up who’ve never painted before, or who haven’t painted since they were kids, and paint with her for a few hours. She’d then take the piece to her studio to finish it.

“Working alongside me, in that short period of time, opens something up for them,” she said.

During the pandemic, Ruppert has used technology to ensure communities are still constituents in her work. “That’s how we managed to create beautiful pieces this

Austin native Antonia “Toni” Ruppert has been selected as the neighborhood’s artist in residence.

The artist in residence program includes four neighborhoods that are part of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s INVEST South/West initiative: Auburn Gresham, Austin, Englewood and New City/Back of the Yards.

The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events was targeting neighborhoods where people were already advocating for the arts and their cultural resources, Deputy Commissioner Erin Harkey said.

Ruppert was chosen because of her deep connection to Austin, Harkey said.

Ruppert, 48, who was born in Austin and attended Christ Lutheran School, 5335 W. Lemoyne St., said she knew early she Photos provided wanted to be an artist.

“My earliest LIVING FOR ART: Austin native Antonia “Toni” Ruppert was recently selected to be the memory is of see- community’s artist-in-residence. Ruppert’s work tells human stories. She said she’ll bring ing my father draw that storytelling ability to her role as artist-in-residence. after work. My dad worked for Brach’s job because of her “passion and love for the year.

Candy Company … I started to pick up on his community.”

“I want to make sure everyone’s voice is focus, and I just thought I could do the same “There’s a beauty there that I find as an heard. We’re not in the business of putting thing when I grew up.” artist,” she said. up work in the community without the comOne of her first pieces was purchased by The city has allocated over $700,000 for the munity’s input,” Ruppert said. the University of Chicago Hospital. “After program.

Harkey said this was the right time for the that one I kind of hung my shingle and said I Harkey said about $180,000 is budgeted for program to start because “the world is still will do this for real.” each of the four communities, $30,000 of it moving. There’s still needs, and there’s still Ruppert’s work can be seen throughout for engagement and participation, the other things to do.” the city, from a mural at the Austin Child $150,000 for the artist’s capstone project.

She said the challenges of the pandemic reCare Providers Network to the Chicago PubThe artist’s engagement in the program emphasize the need for “investment, action lic Library. will be from one to two years, “depending on and participation.

Rupert said when she learned of the proj- the nature of the project, how complicated “We can’t kind of let barriers or obstacles ect, and that Austin was one of the neighbor- the capstone project is to install; it will re- be barriers to progress. We’re going to make hoods included, she “lit up” but felt the proj- ally drive the ultimate timeline,” she said. the most of it.” ect would’ve been too big for her and wasn’t Ruppert said she’s not sure what her projArtists bring tools like community buildgoing to apply. ect is going to look like; she still needs more ing and organizing to the table, and there is “My husband, Michael, he encouraged me input from the community. “joy and satisfaction” that comes from artand he said, ‘No, you can do this,” she said.

One of her ideas is called “Spheres of Life.” ists and communities realizing a project toSo, she submitted the online application.

Ruppert said it would allow people to tell gether Harkey said.

The city reviewed her portfolio, and she was the stories of people who live, or have lived, Rupert said she’s excited to get to work. called to give a presentation before a group in Austin, on large spheres placed along Chi“My goal is to be the hands and feet, creof community stakeholders who made the cago Avenue. atively, of this community.” final decision.

She said the wrinkles in exactly how to Ruppert said she’s the right person for the get the community engaged are still being CONTACT: austintalks.org@gmail.com

AUSTIN WEEKLY

news Editor Michael Romain

Senior Editor Bob Uphues Contributing Reporters Bonni McKeown, Igor Studenkov Reporting Partners Block Club, Austin Talks Columnist Arlene Jones Staff Photographer Alex Rogals Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead Designer Debbie Becker Sales & Marketing Representavies Lourdes Nicholls, Marc Stopeck Sales & Development Mary Ellen Nelligan Circulation Manager Jill Wagner ≈ Publisher Dan Haley Business Manager Joyce Minich ≈ GROWING COMMUNITY MEDIA Board of Directors Chair Judy Greffin Treasurer Nile Wendorf Deb Abrahamson, Gary Collins, Darnell Shields, Sheila Solomon, Eric Weinheimer ≈ HOW TO REACH US 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302 PHONE 773-626-6332 FAX 708-467-9066 CIRCULATION Jill@oakpark.com ONLINE www.AustinWeeklyNews.com TWITTER @AustinWeeklyChi Austin Weekly News is published digitally and in print by Growing Community Media NFP. It is distributed free of charge at locations across Austin and Garfield Park. Our hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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Austin Weekly News, November 18, 2020

“The” Friendship BAPTIST CHURCH Rev. Dr. Reginald E. Bachus, Pastor

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STRONG BOND: Brian Becker, left, and his son Jeff, co-authored the book “Tender Lions: Building the Vital Relationship Between Father and Son.”

West Side Lives

Brian Becker, 63, on fatherhood

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

austintalks.org INTERESTED IN ADVERTISING? Contact Lourdes Nicholls 708.613.3329 Lourdes@oakpark.com

Brian Becker may not live on the West Side, but he has a few deep connections to it. Becker — who with his son, Jeff, co-authored “Tender Lions: Building the Vital Relationship Between Father and Son” — said he attends Trinity Galewood Church, 1701 N. Narragansett Ave., “every once in a while” and Becker said a West Side community leader played a pivotal part in his life.

Back in September, I interviewed Becker about the book and what prompted him and his son to write it.

On his professional background For most of my adult career, I have worked in nonprofits — half of my career on the fundraising side and the second half for a grantmaking foundation that helped nonprofits get started. So, I had a really deep involvement with trying to solve community problems and helping nonprofits try to solve all sorts of societal issues.

What prompted the book on fatherhood?

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One day, I had been at my desk reading proposals all day and when you read many stories about the difficulties in urban America, it’s pretty depressing. I don’t know if it was my intuition or God, but I asked, ‘Where are the dads in this picture?’ So, I started researching the rick factors of fatherlessness.

The big part is that 20 years ago, I was one of the destructive dads. I had a job where I

traveled too much, I partied too much, made too many bad decisions. I know what’s like to look into the eyes of my kids and spouse and know that the reason for their heartbreak was me.

We eventually made it through, had some hard conversations and counseling. It took a long time, but we put it back together. Fast forward 20 years and my son is 33, my daughter is 35 and married.

My son was a very good basketball player in high school and college. He’s self-employed and he coaches leadership. A number of years ago, we told ourselves that maybe our own story might motivate some other families or dads to take a look at their lives and do something that might improve the relationship between the dad and the son.

On Rev. James Brooks (pastor of Harmony Community Church in North Lawndale and chief ministry officer of Lawndale Christian Health Center) My son was about 14, when he became very angry at me and very rightfully so, because of the dishonest things I had done. He was very angry, isolated and afraid. That’s a very common thing that happens and no teenage boy can tell boys they’re afraid.

They have to suck it up. My son ran off the rails, but shortly thereafter discovered that his athletic skills were good, so he started going to gym to work out his frustration.

I credit James, his coach, for getting in my son’s face in a healthy way. Thankfully, my son connected to James and James kept encouraging him and here we are 15 years later and they’re still friends.

CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com

Austin Weekly News, November 18, 2020

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Voter turnout on West Side lower than 2016

West Side voters supported Fair Tax, Biden by overwhelming margins

By MICHAEL ROMAIN Editor

The Chicago Board of Elections recently released preliminary election results for the 2020 Presidential Election and the data shows despite record turnout nationwide, turnout on the West Side was actually lower than 2016.

The data shows that voter turnout in the four wards that Austin Weekly news services was significantly lower than the 72 percent turnout rate citywide.

Turnout in the 24th, 28th, 29th and 37th wards was 59 percent, 64 percent, 67 percent and 62 percent, respectively.

In all but the 24th Ward, turnout was lower in 2020 than it was in 2016, when Hillary Clinton lost narrowly to President Donald Trump. Most notably, turnout in the 37th Ward was down 6 percent from its 2016 level.

As in 2016, the Democratic presidential candidate, this time former Vice President Joe Biden, won the West Side overwhelmingly.

Biden won the citywide vote 83 percent to Trump’s 16 percent.

Biden’s win percentage in the West Side wards ranged from 87 percent in the 29th Ward to 93 percent in the 24th and 37th wards.

The West Side also voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Fair Tax referendum, the ballot measure that would have changed the state’s constitution to allow for the transition from a flat income tax to a graduate income tax.

Although the referendum failed statewide, voters in the city favored the measure 71 percent to 28 percent.

On the West Side, support for the Fair Tax ranged from 79 percent in the 29th Ward to 86 percent in the 24th Ward.

CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com

HOW WEST SIDERS VOTED: Charts showing voter turnout in West Side wards in the last two presidential elections, a breakdown of presidential candidates’ performance on the West Side and a breakdown of how West Side wards voted for the Fair Tax referendum.

NAMI

FAITH WITH WORKS: Ericka Bailey, right, a recovery support specialist with NAMI Metro Suburban and first lady of St. Stephen AME Church in Garfield Park.

Faith-based support from page 1 bring in mental health clinicians and people with mental health experience.”

Bhagwat said that the funding will last through the remainder of 2020. Faith communities that are interested in those resources can submit requests online at namichicago. org/faith or call (833) 626-4244. Individuals looking for support services can visit the website and call that number, as well.

“We are honored for the opportunity to continue providing mental health support and education to individuals focusing on communities disproportionately impacted

by COVID-19,” stated Kimberly Knake, the executive director of NAMI Metro Subur-

Photo provided

ban. “Partnering with faith leaders in these communities is a natural fit, given the impressive work already being done.”

Steve Epting, the senior pastor of Hope Community Church in Austin, had been partnering with NAMI well before the state funding materialized. He said that the addi-

tional resources are critical in communities on the West Side.

“It’s amazing the amount of stress that we find our parishioners under these days,” Epting stated.

Epting said that he’s partnered in the past with Bridges of Hope, NAMI’s initiative to ed-

ucate faith communities about mental illness.

“We brought Bridges of Hope into our church to help leaders get trained in. How to identify those with mental health issues which turned out to be a great asset, and what I learned was that more people needed the information than I realized,” he said.

Alexa James, the CEO of NAMI Chicago, stated that the work of faith leaders in supporting people dealing with mental issues “has been made even more crucial during this difficult year.”

According to a statement, NAMI officials explained that both NAMI Chicago and NAMI Metro Suburban “have seen a sharp uptick in the need for mental health support this year. Since March o this year, NAMI Chicago’s free Helpline has been at more than twice the volume it was before the COVID-19 pandemic began.”

CONTACT: michael@austinweeklynews.com

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Austin Weekly News, November 18, 2020

There are bargains to be found

W

ould you believe that Christmas is just five weeks away? I normally do two types of Christmas shopping. The first is to buy stuff as I find it and put it away for Christmas. The other is to buy stuff at the last minute because I haven’t done any real shopping. This year, COVID-19 has made a drastic change in everything. The notion of going out on Black Friday to be in a crowd of pushing and shoving shoppers is not on my agenda.

I am a bargain shopper. I want to give nice gifts, but I don’t want to spend a lot of money.

That is where Amazon comes in.

When people order from Amazon and they return the item, either because they don’t want it, or it could be defective, or it was never delivered, Amazon does not restock it. Instead their return centers put the stuff on pallets and sell it to resell vendors. Amazon has so many returns worldwide, that in some areas they were simply shredding brand new and usable items.

I know of four stores in the Chicago area that sell Amazon returns. Of the four, I have actually shopped at three. They all work on the same concept pretty much. Once a week, usually Friday or Saturday, they stock their bins with new inventory. Some even add additional items to fill up the bins to replace items that were sold. Everything in the store sells at a set price, starting off around $7 to $8. As their sale week goes on, the prices go down. The day before they do a major refresh of their total inventory, everything in the store is usually selling for a dollar or 50 cents.

These stores work on a “final sale” basis.

They offer electrical outlets for you to test to make sure things work. But if you get it

home and don’t like it, they’re not giving you your money back or offering any exchanges.

Pieces missing or item is broken? It’s on you.

Are there bargains to be found? Absolutely.

After having shopped at these stores both on their opening day for the week with their brand new stock and even on their last day before restocking where everything was 50 cents, I have found great buys. I found a $200 bronze shower set, a $100 bathroom sensor faucet set, remote control helicopter, vacuum food sealer, and brand new battery operated deck lanterns on their restock day. I went to one on their fourth day of being open for the week and still found great buys.

On the 50-cent day, I found expensive cabinet hardware that everybody had overlooked. On average I would say the majority of the stuff probably once sold on Amazon for around 40 bucks.

Each place is a hit-and-miss adventure.

I bought a mini-hair dryer, which I made them test. But I forgot to do the same thing for the flat iron. Thankfully it did work. If a box is closed, they will open it for you. One of my friends picked up a box thinking it was going to be a certain product, and when she opened it up, it was something completely different inside.

I’m listing the stores in order of proximity to Chicago. The last one is the only one I have never shopped at because they just opened and they had a line down the block and around the corner.

Happy Shopping!

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NEED TO REACH US? Call Editor Michael Romain at 773-626-6332 or email michael@austinweeklynews.com

Austin Weekly News, November 18, 2020

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Community considers ‘simplified’ plans for Sears site

During Ald. Taliaferro’s Nov. 10 virtual town hall, Novak Construction rep gave overview of modified plans for the development

By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

Community residents who tuned into 29th Ward Ald. Chris Taliaferro’s Nov. 10 virtual community meeting got a few answers about Novak Construction’s plans for the former North and Harlem Sears site, but many aspects of the project remain unknown.

The property includes the former Sears store at the northeast corner of North and Harlem avenues and its main parking lot, as well as the auxiliary parking lot directly to the east of it.

At the time the Sears closed, the property was owned by Seritage Growth Holdings, Sears’s real estate arm. The company hired Tucker Development to redevelop the property. Tucker eventually came up with a plan for mixed-use development that would incorporate the refurbished store building and apartments on the east parking lot.

But in September, Seritage sold the property to Chicago-based Novak Construction, which decided to demolish the Sears building completely and build a new grocery store, two retail buildings and a drivethrough restaurant, while keeping the plans for the east parking lot the same.

During the Nov. 10 meeting, Jake Paschen, Novak’s executive vice president, explained that the Chicago City Council will have to make some zoning changes before the firm can proceed with its plans for the site. He also indicated that the company won’t commit any retail components until they secure the tenants. Paschen said he expects construction to start in 2021, with the goal of finishing it up sometime in 2022.

Tucker Development has already gutted the original Sears building, as part of the planned renovations. Once Novak took ownership, it began demolishing the building.

Paschen said he thought Tucker’s plan had too much retail and too many residences.

“Our view was that it was too much, that there wasn’t market for that much retail,” he said. “And what we’d like to do is to make a simpler plan.”

Each building would be around one story tall, as opposed to Tucker’s five. The construction schedule will depend on how soon they can secure tenants.

“Our intention is not to build spec buildings, but to try to lease them first,” Paschen said. “And that would dictate what would happen. And if, for example, the lease with grocery gets lined up [first], we’ll build that right away.”

He declined to give any specific on what potential tenants they are talking to, saying only that Novak is open to having either a national or a more regional grocery store chain come in.

He said that the parking lot would have 262 parking spaces for all retailers. And while Tucker’s plan called for using the store’s underground parking for residents, Paschen explained that they would fill it in using the

materials from the demolished building.

There are 10 houses located along Nordica Avenue, their back yards facing the east parking lot. When Tucker unveiled its proposal, several homeowners expressed concerns that residents of taller apartment buildings would be able to peak into their yards, as well as about the visual impact of those buildings looming over their houses.

Homeowners from that block reiterated their concerns at the Nov. 10 meeting, leading Taliaferro to schedule a private zoom meeting between Paschen and Nordica homeowners that’s supposed to take place within two weeks.

Another point of contention with Tucker’s plan was that all residential units would be apartments rather than condos. Paschen said that the company hasn’t decided what kind of housing units those would be, but didn’t rule either one out. If those buildings do become apartments, he said, Novak will manage them.

Resident Neal Wankoff touched on one of the smaller points of contention with Tucker’s proposal — the visual design. Paschen said that, other than aiming for something the city would approve, they don’t have any idea what the design would look like.

“Our intention is to build attractive buildings, buildings we’re proud of, but we don’t a have firm grasp of the design phase yet,” he said.

Other aspects that Novak is still researching is the impact on traffi c, how much green space the development will have and how CTA Route 72/North Avenue would be affected.

Taliaferro asked whether local businesses will be able to participate in construction.

Paschen replied that his firm would be open to considering them.

“Well, the best thing to do is to let us know who they are and what their qualifications are,” he said.

Judith Alexander, chair of The North Avenue District Inc., said she likes many aspects of the plan, including more attractive building designs and the that it wouldn’t add driveways. But she felt that the retail component could be made even more pedestrianfriendly.

“To contribute to North Avenue’s vitality and pedestrian-friendliness, it would be desirable if the commercial buildings have windows and doors facing the street, along with setbacks or colonnades, landscaping between buildings and sidewalks on Harlem, as well as North, and pedestrian-scaled lighting,” Alexander wrote. “It’s important that the project not turn its back on North Avenue (or Harlem) and participates fully in the community where it’s located.”

She also said that she would encourage Novak to add a community room that could sit about 25 to 30 people, arguing that this is something the corridor is lacking. The fact that the Starbucks at the east lot got good crowds before the pandemic, she argued, suggests demand for a space where residents could congregate.

“There are still many unknowns about this project, of course,” Alexander added.

“Though we await more details, we are encouraged that Novak Construction seems open to listening and responding to community concerns. We look forward to working with them.”

CONTACT: igorst3@hotmail.com

City looking to redevelop North Lawndale vacant lot

City’s development commission voted Nov. 10 to jumpstart redevelopment process of land on Ogden Avenue

By IGOR STUDENKOV Contributing Reporter

The Chicago Community Development Commission voted unanimously on Nov. 10 to allow the Chicago Department of Planning and Development to seek redevelopment proposals for a vacant lot on Ogden Avenue in North Lawndale.

The city of Chicago owns the land on

Ogden Avenue, between Homan and Thumbull avenues. The city will purchase the lot at 3410 W. Ogden Ave. The city has been trying to re-develop properties in major corridors throughout the South and West Sides, as part of its Invest South/West initiative. Instead of waiting for the developer to come to the city, city officials are actively seeking out developers through the request for proposal process. The development commission lets developers know what the city’s vision is while developers are welcome to submit something within the city’s broader vision.

So far, most of the requests for proposals have been for South Side properties. In August 2020, the city sent out a request for proposal for the entire block between Laramie and Latrobe avenues, at 5200-5224 W. Chicago Ave., which includes the historic

AUSTIN WEEKLY news

Laramie State Bank building.

For the North Lawndale property, the city is looking to build a mixed-use development, with a potential affordable housing component, as well as to reconfigure parts of Ogden Avenue to make the development more pedestrian-friendly. The city hopes to select a developer by the spring of 2021.

Planner Sonya Eldridge told the commission that the city will send out requests for proposals on Nov. 30, with the goal of selecting a developer within the next four to five months.

“The proposals will be ranked based on alignment with the community development goals,” she said. “Community engagement will be [happening] throughout.”

The property is located on a relatively quiet stretch of Ogden Ave., roughly halfway between the Pink Line’s Kedzie and

Central Park ‘L’ stations. Spanning around 40,300 square feet, it is made up of six lots at 3400-3418 W. Ogden Ave., and one lot at 1819 S. Trumbull Ave. Brian Hacker, a coordinating planner for the development commission, explained that, while most of the property has been a vacant lot “for quite a while,” the building on the privately owned lot was demolished only a few years ago. The most recent owner has died and the city was unable to locate any relatives.

Hacker said that, in order to figure out what should go on that site, the commission consulted previous planning studies for the corridor, conducted retail analysis for the corridor, held monthly Invest South/West community round tables and interviews with corridor stakeholders, and held a “visioning workshop” on Oct. 19.

Letter to the editor Austin Weekly News, 141 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, IL 60302

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Austin Weekly News, November 18, 2020

Virgil Abloh helps bring more skateboarding to West Side The Louis Vuitton artistic director and Off-White CEO launched the skateboarding program to help the Boys & Girls Club that shaped him

By PASCAL SABINO Block Club Chicago

It was daunting for Janaya the first time she stepped onto a skateboard.

Janaya had hardly ever seen anybody skating around her neighborhood on the West Side. But when she learned the Martin Luther King Jr. Boys & Girls Club she goes to after school was starting a skateboarding program, she decided to give it a shot.

“I just wanted to try it to see how it would feel,” she said.

“I’ve seen people do it in movies and stuff like that. But I’ve never actually thought that I was gonna learn how to skateboard.”

The skateboarding program was launched at the MLK club, 2944 W. Washington Blvd., in partnership with Virgil Abloh, artistic director of Louis Vuitton and CEO of the Off-White fashion house.

Abloh is an alumnus of the Boys & Girls Club who earlier this year helped redesign the MLK club’s basketball court.

The children at the MLK club have a great interest in sports, said club director Anita Douglas. But since the kids hardly ever see people on the West Side doing certain activities, like skateboarding, most of them never think it’s something they too could learn.

“The only sport that I ever see people do around here is really basketball,” Janaya said. “People probably don’t think of [skateboarding] as an everyday activity until they try it.”

A focus for the MLK Boys & Girls Club is providing new opportunities for young people, Douglas said, so being able to work with Abloh to create a skating program aligned perfectly with their goals.

“It was for our young people to get exposed to stuff that they would not otherwise be exposed to,” Douglas said.

The young people were skeptical about the program at first since most had never

skated before, and only a few volunteered to join. But seeing other young people from the neighborhood enjoy themselves as they learned to skateboard created a domino effect because it gave the students a chance to see themselves in places they hadn’t previously imagined, Douglas said.

“Whether it’s yoga, skateboarding, even cycling — things that maybe some folks might take for granted, our young people need to be exposed to seeing people who look like them,” Douglas said. “It is very important for us in our culture to see people who look like us do different things that we couldn’t even imagine.”

Twenty-five sets of custom skateboards and protective gear were provided to the MLK club by Abloh and skate brand DGK for the kids to use. The club is also developing a rental system so kids can borrow the skateboards, helmets and pads to practice on the weekends.

“This way, they won’t lose that skill,”

Douglas said.

The club partnered with the Chill Foundation to provide socially distanced outdoor safety and skateboarding lessons to small groups of young people.

But learning to skateboard isn’t just about improving balance and doing tricks. Kids in the program said skateboarding was a good way to exercise their confidence and to learn to get back up when they fall down. Nurturing those values is core to the Chill Foundation’s teaching practice, which also aligned with the MLK club’s mission, said Spencer

Cotton, a Chill Foundation instructor.

“It takes a lot of courage … especially if you’ve never been on a skateboard before.

And also persistence, getting back up from those falls … and then being proud of yourself for being able to accomplish that,” Cotton said.

Pascal Sabino is a Report for America corps member covering Austin, North Lawndale and Garfield Park for Block Club Chicago.

CONTACT: pascal@blockclubchi.org

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT: Participants of the Martin Luther King Jr. Boys & Girls Club practicing their skateboarding skills, thanks to a donation by club alum Virgil Abloh, artistic director of Louis Vuitton and CEO of the OffWhite fashion house.

PASCAL SABINO/ Block Club Chicago

Austin Weekly News, November 18, 2020

CENTRAL PARK THEATER New lease on life from page 1 sitting in such a seat a taboo for a Black child.

“We were never allowed to sit on the lower level. We always had to go upstairs. So being able to sit at this level made you feel real special,” Killingsworth said.

Central Park Theater, 3531 W. Roosevelt Road, was an entertainment hub for the Black and Jewish communities in North Lawndale after being built in 1917. But after closing in the late ’60s, much of the old theater has fallen into disrepair.

Killingsworth, the head of the North Lawndale Historical and Cultural Society, is fighting to restore the theater.

Though the architecture and design of Central Park Theater are stunning, Killingsworth said its real value comes from the people who have enjoyed it throughout its history.

“The North Lawndale community is embedded in that one building,” Killingsworth said.

Theater company Balaban & Katz built the theater, and it honors the Jewish community that once thrived in Lawndale, Killingsworth said. Likewise, the theater’s eventual transformation into House of Prayer parallels the transformation of Lawndale into a Black neighborhood anchored by community churches.

“It’s about retaining the history of all those communities that have been in North Lawndale,” Killingsworth said.

Restoration on the theater began after 1971, when it was bought by the House of Prayer Church of God in Christ to become a place of worship for a neighborhood con-

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gregation. The congregation poured in resources to make it usable for church.

“Everything is almost similar.

The same tile that’s on the floor when you walk into the theater is still on the floor from 1918,” said Robert Marshall who became pastor at House of Prayer in 2016.

Even when the theater was not in full working order, the building was used by the church as a gathering place to worship and for after-school programs.

As the House of Prayer was slowly attempting to restore the theater, the church welcomed world-renowned gospel artists like Shirley Caesar and the Mighty Clouds of Joy. “It was known as the gospel headquarters of Chicago,” Marshall said.

“All of those top groups, that’s where they came, to House of Prayer. Everybody in Chicago knew.”

Progress on the restoration was halted by financial difficulties.

Deterioration of the building led to the church being fined by the city for violating building codes, which caused the theater to be shut down again. Despite those challenges, the church has been able to preserve much of the original details, molding, tilework and light fixtures.

Now, the North Lawndale Historical and Cultural Society and the church have joined with the Jewish Community Relations Council of Chicago, Preservation Chicago, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Office of Engagement, and Future Firm to form the Central Park Theater Restoration Committee to bring the theater back to its full glory.

“If it wasn’t for the House of Prayer Church of God and Christ, I don’t think the theater would still be standing. They’ve done a really great job,” said Mary Lu Seidel,

of Preservation Chicago.

The group is trying to keep the theater up to code so it will not be at risk of being torn down. Organizers brought in preservationists and architects to do assessments of the building to prioritize the projects needed to restore it.

The latest phase of work will focus on getting the roof repaired to prevent further water damage, and getting a furnace to keep the auditorium warm to stop temperature damage.

House of Prayer is accepting donations on GoFundMe to finance the work.

The group is also nominating the Central Park Theater to become a Chicago landmark, which would protect it and build momentum to the restoration efforts. The theater has been recognized by the National Register of Historic Places, but that designation is largely honorary and does not offer the same tax benefits and protections as a city landmark.

The preservation committee shared a virtual tour and a discussion of the history of the partially restored building for Open House Chicago.

Current photos: House of Prayer Church of God in Christ/Tom Harris The nearly-1,800-seat HISTORIC EDIFICE: Top and bottom, interior photos of the theater. Middle, an archive photo of the old Central auditorium is just one Park Theater. section of the historical

Historic photo: Provided

building, Killingsworth said. The groups are working to restore the building not only as a cinema and performing arts theater, but also as a solution to many other needs of the community.

Killingsworth sees possibilities for the units above the theater as affordable housing, a performing arts center for young people or as a small business incubator.

“I used to go to the doctor there. I used to go to the dentist there. There were businesses above the theater,” she said.

The restoration committee put out a survey to Lawndale residents to gather input on what the building could be used for.

“As a history person, history builds your future. So you take that old building and you roll it into what’s new now,” Killingsworth said. “This can be an economic arm for North Lawndale.”

Pascal Sabino is a Report for America corps member covering Austin, North Lawndale and Garfield Park for Block Club Chicago.

CONTACT: pascal@blockclubchi.org

10

Austin Weekly News, November 18, 2020

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River Forest Public Schools District 90 is seeking a Part-time School Social Worker (One Day a Week) Qualifications: a) Valid State of Illinois Professional Educator License b) Licensed Clinical Social Work (LCSW) preferred Job Duties: The School Social Worker provides needs-based behavioral and social-emotional services to the students, parents, and faculty/staff of a school. The role includes, but is not limited to, individual and group counseling with students; direct and indirect consultation with students and teachers; assessment, behavior planning and intervention implementation and monitoring; and universal screening/prevention of behavioral & social-emotional concerns. The individual hired for this position will be required to develop ISP goals, monitor progress towards goals and participate in annual reviews and re-evaluations as needed.

The School Social Worker hired for this position will work with D90’s team and provide services at one of the private and parochial schools located in River Forest. The social worker will collaborate with parents, faculty and administration at the private and parochial school to meet the needs of students. This individual fulfills the requirements of the role as stated in Rules and Regulations for Special Education. Apply online at district90.org ELECTRICIAN’S HELPER PART-TIME Part-time Electrician’s Helper.

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PERSONAL ASSISTANTS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES Progress Center is hosting five personal assistant orientations in November. Personal Assistants earn $13.48 an hour to support people with disabilities so that they may live independently in their own homes, instead of institutions.

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PUBLIC NOTICES PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to “An Act in relation to the use of an Assumed Business Name in the conduct or transaction of Business in the State,” as amended, that a certification was registered by the undersigned with the County Clerk of Cook County.

Registration Number: Y20005073 on November 4, 2020 Under the Assumed Business Name of 9D1 HUSKIES with the business located at: 6468 W. NORTH AVENUE, CHICAGO, IL 60707. The true and real full name(s) and residence address of the owner(s)/partner(s) is: DARNELL SHIELDS, JR 1815 N. LUNA CHICAGO, IL 60639, USA Published in Austin Weekly News 11/18, 25, 12/2/2020

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION NATIONSTAR MORTGAGE LLC D/B/A MR. COOPER Plaintiff, -v.LINDA R. JOSEPH, KWABENA JOSEPH, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MORTGAGE ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION SYSTEMS, INC., TCF NATIONAL BANK, UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NONRECORD CLAIMANTS Defendants 2019CH13923 224 N WALLER AVE 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 September 29, 2020, an agent for The Judicial Sales Corporation, will at 10:30 AM on December 4, 2020, at The Judicial Sales Corporation, One South Wacker Drive, CHICAGO, IL, 60606, sell at a public sale to the highest bidder, as set forth below, the following described real estate: Commonly known as 224 N WALLER AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60644 Property Index No. 16-08-409-0170000 The real estate is improved with a single family residence.

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, including the Judicial Sale fee for the Abandoned Residential Property Municipality Relief Fund, which is calculated on residential

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

real estate at the rate of $1 for each $1,000 or fraction thereof of the amount paid by the purchaser not to exceed $300, in certified funds/ or wire transfer, is due within twenty-four (24) hours. No fee shall be paid by the mortgagee acquiring the residential real estate pursuant to its credit bid at the sale or by any mortgagee, judgment creditor, or other lienor acquiring the residential real estate whose rights in and to the residential real estate arose prior to the sale. 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.

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, 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) 236SALE 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. 14-19-10737 Attorney ARDC No. 00468002 Attorney Code. 21762 Case Number: 2019CH13923 TJSC#: 40-2322 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 # 2019CH13923 I3159045 IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS COUNTY DEPARTMENT CHANCERY DIVISION CITY OF CHICAGO, A MUNICIPAL CORPORATION; Plaintiff, vs.

SSL HOLDINGS, INC.; WORLD BUSINESS LENDERS, LLC; WBL SPE II, LLC; COUNTY OF COOK DBA COOK COUNTY LAND BANK AUTHORITY; UNKNOWN OWNERS AND NON RECORD CLAIMANTS; Defendants, 11 M1 401659 NOTICE OF SALE PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the above entitled cause on March 10, 2020, Intercounty Judicial Sales Corporation will on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at the hour of 11 a.m. in its office at 120 West Madison Street, Suite 718A, Chicago, Illinois, sell to the highest bidder for cash, the following described property: COMMONLY KNOWN AS 532 N. SPRINGFIELD AVE., CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. P.I.N. 16-11-119-0330000.

Commonly known as 532 N. Springfield Ave., Chicago, IL 60624.

The property consists of vacant land.

Sale terms: 10% of the purchase price will be required to bid at the sale. The balance of the purchase price required by 12:00 p.m. the following day. The property will NOT be open for inspection.

Upon payment in full of the amount bid, the purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale which will entitle the purchaser to a Deed to the premises after confirmation of the sale.

For information call City of Chicago Department of Law/COAL, City Hall 121 North LaSalle Street, Suite 400, Chicago, Illinois 60602 (312) 7420007.

INTERCOUNTY JUDICIAL SALES CORPORATION Selling Officer, (312) 444-1122 Dated: October 29, 2020 I3159432

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Austin Weekly News, November 18, 2020