West Side 2023

West Side 2023/24

AUSTIN

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G A R F I E L D PA R K

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N O R T H L AW N D A L E

CONTENTS The Austin Community Food Co-Op’s Love For Their Community . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Jonathan Eig Chronicles Trials And Tribulations Of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. & Fellow Civil Rights Movement Demonstrators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 West Side Activists Look To Change The Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Editor Erika Hobbs Contributing Editor Lacey Sikora Staff Reporters Igor Studenkov, Francia Garcia Hernandez, Amaris Rodriguez Contributing Reporters Lindsay Eanet, Lee Edwards, Erin Kesler, Michelle Meyer, Dana Rettig Photographers Todd Bannor, Shanel Romain Digital Manager Stacy Coleman

A Look At Austin’s Growing Hispanic Population . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Reporting Partners Block Club, Austin Talks

A Lotus Blooms In Austin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Design/Production Manager Andrew Mead

West Side Murals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 A Beloved Community: West Side Arts Culture Nurtures Artists . . . . . . . . . 27

Editorial Design Manager Javier Govea Designer Susan McKelvey Sales & Marketing Representatives Lourdes Nicholls, Ben Stumpe Business & Development Manager Mary Ellen Nelligan

West Side Gardens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Circulation Manager Jill Wagner

Architecture Gems Of The West Side . . . . . . . . . . 36

Special Projects Manager Susan Walker

Publisher Dan Haley 2023 WEST SIDE | 1

We’re celebrating 10 years of serving the Austin community!

Austin Coming Together (ACT) is dedicated to providing backbone support for a network of 50+ non-profit, faith-based, public, and private entities with the shared mission of increasing collective impact to improve the quality of life for residents in Chicago’s Austin community.

UNITY

COMMITMENT

TRANSPARENCY

COLLABORATION

ACTION

CONNECT TO SERVICES

If you are looking to connect to resources in the Austin community, contact hub@austincomingtogether.org

PARTICIPATE IN THE PLAN

Learn all about and get involved with Austin’s own quality-of-life plan, Austin Forward. Together. (AFT), at austincomingtogether.org/qlp

SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY

Contribute to the Austin community today! Visit austincomingtogether.org/donate

Learn more about ACT’s impact in the community at AustinComingTogether.org 2 | 2023 WEST SIDE

IGOR STUDENKOV

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to the West Side. With this West Side Community Guide, we hope to bring you some of the personalities, places and history that make up the richness of Chicago’s West Side.

We take a look back at the people and places who helped form the West Side. We share historic buildings that stand the test of time and offer different populations a space to meet and gather. We talk to community activists like Diana Graham, who have worked for years to make their blocks and their neighborhoods a better

place. We take a look forward with the next generation. Their optimism and vision will shape the future of the West Side, whether it’s through art, activism or community work. We celebrate the beauty of the West Side through its murals and community gardens. We examine the changing population of the West Side with the understanding that through the years, yesterday and today, the people of the West Side make it a vibrant place to call home.

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 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.

Advertising rates are available by calling our office.

Printed entirely on recycled paper. © 2023 Growing Community Media NFP.

— Lacey Sikora

Garfield Park Conservatory & Gardens 2 acres of indoor gardens and 10 acres of outdoor gardens to explore year-round

300 N. Central Park Ave., Chicago, IL 60624 Hours: Wednesday 10am-8pm (last entry 7:30pm) Thursday - Sunday 10am -5pm (last entry 4:30pm)

garfieldconservatory.org 773-638-1766 Reservations are free, but required. If a time slot is full, no worries! We have additional spots for community members if you scan this QR code: 2023 WEST SIDE | 3

WEST COOK YMCA WELLNESS PROGRAMS Offered at no cost and includes a complimentary YMCA membership

ABOUT WEST COOK YMCA WELLNESS PROGRAMS

In communities across the nation, the Y is a leading voice on health and well-being. Since 2007, the Y movement has driven innovation in prevention and control of chronic disease to save lives and reduce healthcare spending. With support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Y delivers tangible results in evidence-based chronic disease prevention and control.

As a community-facing organization, the Y’s mission has long focused on helping people to live their healthiest lives and reach their full potential in spirit, mind, and body, acknowledging that individual “health” is influenced by a range of interconnected environmental, social, and biological factors.

PROVEN PROGRAMS This is what the YMCA does: we invest in proven programs to prevent and control chronic disease by supporting people with physical activity, improved nutrition and peer support. We can improve health outcomes, we can reduce health spending, and we can reduce health disparities among at-risk populations.

REDUCE YOUR RISK FOR CHRONIC DISEASE. COMPLETE A SELF-REFERRAL FORM FOR A FREE WELLNESS PROGRAM. QUESTIONS? cdp@westcookymca.org | 708.434.0235 4 | 2023 WEST SIDE

BLOOD PRESSURE SELF-MONITORING PROGRAM

Personalized one-on-one support for developing a blood pressure self-monitoring routine, tips for maintaining a healthy heart and nutrition education seminars.

PROGRAM GOALS: • Reduction in blood pressure • Better blood pressure management • Increased awareness of triggers that elevate blood pressure • Enhanced knowledge to develop healthier eating habits ELIGIBILITY: • At least 18 years old, and • Diagnosed with hypertension or currently taking antihypertensive medication • Not have experienced a recent cardiac event • Not have atrial fibrillation or other arrhythmias • Not be at risk for lymphedema PROGRAM LENGTH: 4 months LEARN MORE: westcookymca.org/bpsm SELF REFERRAL FORM:

DIABETES PREVENTION PROGRAM

WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM

Help those at high risk adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles and reduce their chances of developing type 2 diabetes. Fully recognized by the CDC and proven to reduce risk of type 2 diabetes by 58%.

Designed to help people seeking a healthier weight achieve their goals by making small, modest changes to their daily behaviors and forming sustainable healthy habits.

PROGRAM GOALS: • Reduce body weight by 7% • Increase physical activity to at least 150 minutes per week

PROGRAM GOALS: • Introduce behaviors that lead to sustained weight loss • Develop personalized plans to incorporate those behaviors into their lifestyle

ELIGIBILITY: • At least 18 years old • Overweight (BMI ≥25) AND • Diagnosed with prediabetes via one of three blood tests or previous diagnosis of gestational diabetes • Not diagnosed with T1 or T2 diabetes • Not pregnant If blood test not available, can qualify based on risk factors.

PROGRAM LENGTH: 12 months LEARN MORE: westcookymca.org/dpp

ELIGIBILITY: • Must be at least 18 years old, and • Desire a healthier weight Not intended for individuals with specialized needs due to chronic disease or onset of a chronic disease.

PROGRAM LENGTH: 3 months LEARN MORE: westcookymca.org/weightloss SELF REFERRAL FORM:

SELF REFERRAL FORM:

2023 WEST SIDE | 5

6 | 2023 WEST SIDE

THE AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOOD CO-OP’S LOVE FOR THEIR

COMMUNITY Contributing Reporter LEE EDWARDS Photos SHANEL ROMAIN

T

he Austin Community Food Co-op’s mission of food justice is steeped in its founders’ love for the Austin community and an unyielding desire for self-determination.

Launched in July 2017 by co-founders Briana Shields, Cassandra Newman, and Vanessa Stokes, the mission of the Austin Community Food Co-op (ACFC) is to empower and uplift the community by opening a member-owned grocery store to provide access to healthy food choices within the neighborhood, develop food literacy resources, and invest in cooperative economics with residents, according to Shields.

Shields, ACFC’s project manager, said although the idea of the co-op has evolved over the years, the mission of bringing a full-service grocery store to address the waning access to health food choices has always remained the same.

At its core, ACFC operates under three pillars: cooperative effort, collective impact, and community wealth building. Shields told Growing Community Media these pillars and the desires of the grocery store’s member-owners are guiding the direction of the co-op instead of the corporate stakeholders who define traditional grocery stores.

Member-owners will own a stake in the grocery store and have equal voting rights in its direction. Details concerning the criteria for who will be a member-owner, how many member-owners the co-op will support, and member-owner rules and bylaws are still to be finalized.

2023 WEST SIDE | 7

be in solidarity. We believe that through those things we will be able to identify and address the main core issues within our community that created this lack of healthy food options and lack of actual access to grocery stores.”

The primary goal of the co-op is to launch a member-owners operated grocery store.

Due to the high profile exits of grocers over the last few years, Austin is in dire need of an influx of full-service grocery stores. The neighborhood has two fullservice grocery stores serving 90,000 residents as of August 2023, according to Austin Eats, an initiative to create synergy among community organizations dedicated to providing healthy food choices and healthy food infrastructure for Austin residents.

BRIANA SHIELDS OF AUSTIN COMMUNITY FOOD CO-OP AT THE AUSTIN TOWN HALL CITY MARKET, AUG 3. | SHANEL ROMAIN

“Our vision is really to strengthen the health, wellness, and local economy of the Austin community through this cooperation,” said Shields, who has been an

Austin resident for more than 20 years.

“We absolutely value access to healthy lifestyles, economic, and democratic education, collaboration, integrity, and to

“Our community members’ number one question is: ‘when is the grocery store going to be open?’ That is how much the community needs it,” said Shields. “We need a solution that is owned by the community. We are the equity investors; we are the ones to create the sustainable solution. We don’t have to worry about this going anywhere.”

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BUILD has been working in these communities for years, supporting 8 | 2023 WEST SIDE families and young people facing challenges.

Plans for opening an ACFC grocery store are underway. Shields said her team has been working with consultants on a feasibility study to determine the best location for a grocery store; however, any further details will not be disclosed at this time.

Decisions about what vegetables will be in stock, which amenities the grocery store will have, cost of membership, and more will be decided by the memberowners and the steering committee.

“Right now, we are currently working out our steering committee,” Shields said. “Part of my role as project manager is to help develop the process for creating the operating structure for the co-op which will focus on us incorporating and then building out the steering committee. Through the steering committee, the owner membership will be developed.”

Opening a grocery store that is both reflective of the community and that provides a wide variety of dietary options is a key objective for the ACFC team. Olivia Klein, ACFC’s community relations associate, said some people she spoke to referenced Oak Park’s Sugar Beet Food Co-op as an example of what to expect, but she explains ACFC’s grocery store will be unique.

“Food Co-ops are rooted in their communities, making each one distinct,” said Klein via email. “We want to build the Austin Community Food Co-op collectively, which means receiving input from

BABATUNDE OLUMUYIWA OF IMISI HOUSE, AN AFRICAN ART STORE PLAYING THE MBIRA AT THE AUSTIN TOWN HALL CITY MARKET. | SHANEL ROMAIN

community members about what they want to buy, cook, and eat.”

Klein said the co-op invites future shoppers to fill out this input form about barriers to healthy food and what they want to see from us in the future.

The ACFC is one of more than 20 Austin Eats partner organizations. Austin Eats operates under the umbrella of Austin Coming Together, a local non-profit

whose goal is to amplify the collective efforts of its member organizations that work toward improving education and economic development outcomes for the Austin community.

Klein explained to Growing Community Media that the co-op participates in the Austin Eats initiative through monthly meetings, canvassing opportunities, community events, and has received funding through Austin Fresh for a food literacy web series that is currently under development.

Grace Cooper, project specialist for Austin Coming Together, described working with ACFC as “great,” adding that Shields is the chair of Austin Coming Together’s community narratives taskforce for its quality-of-life plan.

“Briana is a really passionate community leader, Austin-raised. It’s great to have them in the fold,” said Cooper.

Austin Coming Together received a $250,000 grant from The Austin Fresh Fund in 2020. The grant funds were used over a two-year period to create the foundation for the Austin Eats initiative.

Cooper said Austin Eats was recently awarded an additional $900,000 grant FORTY ACRES FRESH MARKET PROVIDING FRESH PRODUCE. | SHANEL ROMAIN

2023 WEST SIDE | 9

from The Austin Fresh Fund for this year and next year.

The Austin Fresh Fund is a grant program

by The Lumpkin Family Foundation, which in 2020 created a one-million-dollar annual fund to “expand healthy retail options, support community gardens and local food production, grow food enterprises, and protect and strengthen food assistance programs in the Austin neighborhood over a five-year span,” according to its website.

“The process is very grassroots; I think we are very fortunate to have a relationship with Austin Coming Together, which is our fiscal sponsor, that supports our developments and connects us with resources so that way this initiative could move forward and actually grow,” said Shields. “Without the connections and resources, the initiative would have probably ceased by now. We are in a really great place to build relationship with community members as well as community partners.”

Meanwhile, ACFC has been busy this summer tabling at events like the Austin Town Hall City Market sponsored by the city of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs, and Special Events (DCASE). The Austin Town Hall City Market is a farmers market held at the Austin Town Hall Park on Thursday afternoons from noon to 5 p.m. The farmers market opened on June 8 and concludes for the season on November 2.

Klein explained informing the public about the co-op has not been without its difficulties.

Gerald Watson, a frequent visitor of the Austin Town Hall City Market and neighborhood resident, told Growing Community Media while shopping at the market that he is interested in becoming a member of the co-op and signed up for ACFC’s newsletter to learn more about it.

“I’m big into a [food co-op] because things like that give you pride,” said Watson. “It gives you pride and purpose because it gives you more responsibility to make sure it is well taken care of so it won’t go away.”

“It can be challenging to ask for people’s trust in a project that is so new and can take a long time to realize,” said Klein.

“Overall, however, we have received tremendous support around the idea of a food co-op in Austin. This has been really motivating as we continue to work on implementing this vision.”

FORTY ACRES FRESH MARKET PROVIDING FRESH PRODUCE. | SHANEL ROMAIN

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WE’RE PROUD TO BE

NEAR WEST SIDE’S NEIGHBORHOOD BANK

What do we love the most about this neighborhood? The people we share it with! That’s why we support the families here, the local businesses and the charitable organizations, too. Beyond providing banking solutions, we also take pride in giving back to the people who work to make this area so great. Why? Because this isn’t just home to us; it’s home to all of us. And, as a true community bank, we know that when we all do our part, we can help make Chicago better for everyone.

NEAR WEST SIDE’S NEIGHBORHOOD BANK 2 N. Western Ave. | Chicago, IL 60612 312-837-4540 | www.wintrustbank.com

Wintrust Bank - Near West is a member of the

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Wintrust Bank is a mark of Wintrust Bank N.A.

2023 WEST SIDE | 11

Jonathan Eig Chronicles Trials and Tribulations of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. & Fellow Civil Rights Movement Demonstrators Contributing Reporter DANA RETTIG Regarding the societal ills such as racism and prejudice that have been detrimental to humanity before and after the Civil Rights Movement, Maya Angelou said, “Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future, and renders the present inaccessible.”

The 1960s was an era of change from music to fashion to politics. It was also an era of protest of discrimination, police brutality, and other societal ills, a rebellion against the ideas that people of color deserved only the bare minimum.

12 | 2023 WEST SIDE

Jonathan Eig captures that volatile era in his latest book, King: A Life, which has been nominated for a National Book Award. The comprehensive biography chronicles the life of the late Civil Rights leader from his boyhood until his death in Memphis in 1968.

Eig says his life motivated him to show understanding and open-mindedness to different perspectives and backgrounds. “I was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1964, but I grew up in suburban Monsey, New York,” he said.

“My parents taught me how be humble.

They taught me the importance of lis-

tening before speaking, a lesson that has helped me navigate throughout life in a very perceptive manner, so to speak. Moreover, I’ve discovered a love for writing because it allowed me to express only what I really wanted to convey in the manner I wanted to say it,” he recalls.

He credits Leon Forrest and Joseph Epstein for shaping his education at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and says they guided him in the right direction, in both life and in journalism.

Just as Dr. King was inspired to stand and dispute for righteousness, Jonathan Eig was impelled to read, research, and tabulate the life of a man who was motivated to create revolution for the cynical and voiceless.

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was more than a civil right activist.

Among many other influential civil rights protestors, he was not afraid to find solutions to various issues as well as fight for justice for all– he was a man who oftentimes prayed for the best, but expected the worst every time he and his close friends, relatives, and affiliates fought and marched for equal rights around the globe.

The Civil Rights’ Movement sought fair housing, financial, and educational rights that would help people of color to live a better existence for themselves and their families. According to Eig, the Civil Rights Movement was born of both a coincidence and a desire to create change.

“Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not want to become a civil rights leader, because he was aware of the risks that involved fighting for equal rights for all,” he said, adding: “[King] faced constant death threats. His home was blown-up, and he was stabbed in the chest. He woke up every day, knowing that he might be killed, yet he persisted, taking on more challenges and accountabilities. Although Dr. King

was not perfect, he never stopped trying to live up the Bible’s commandments and the example he saw in the life of Jesus.”

During the height of the Civil Rights Movement, King and his family migrated from Atlanta, Georgia to Chicago, Illinois, to an apartment at 1550 South Hamlin in North Lawndale.

The time the King family spent on the West Side of Chicago was not what they’d expected.

Eig says, “King came to Chicago in 1966 to show the world that the South wasn’t the only place where segregation and discrimination persisted. He and Coretta moved into an apartment in North Lawndale and stayed there at least three days a week most weeks.

While in Chicago, King worked with community organizers to lead a series of protests, including marches through

Gage Park and Marquette Park, where King was greeted by white counterprotesters, who shouted racial epithets and threw rocks and bricks at King.”

“After these marches, King said that he was stunned by Chicago’s racism.

Nevertheless, he continued to fight, and to push the city to confront its patterns of segregation and discrimination. He faced bitter opposition not only from rock-throwing racists in places like Gage Park but also from Mayor Daley,” Eig states, describing the suffering that King and his family endured in Chicago.

He adds, “King presented Daley with a list of demands that included a pro-

gram to end housing discrimination.

Some people say King failed in Chicago, winning nothing but empty promises.

Truthfully, I think the city missed an opportunity to change. And I think King’s frustrations in Chicago made him more determined to speak out and fight against inequities in American capitalism. [He] began to say that fighting segregation wasn’t enough. The Chicago protest, he said, would be the “first step in a thousand-mile journey.”

Eig points out that many more people contributed to the cause for which King and others, such as Rosa Parks, Medgar Evans and Malcolm X became famous.

He emphasizes, “There are countless people who have made an impact on humanity and received little credit.

Some of them sacrificed their lives for those who were too frightened to stand against inequality, discrimination, and racism. But since we’re talking about King and those who were involved in the Civil Rights Crusade, I would like to point out that much of the most important grassroots work was done by Black women who worked throughout the South to organize protests and register voters. They were just as brave and vulnerable to violence as King, yet they did their work without public acclamation.

JoAnn Robinson, Ella Baker, Septima Clark, Diane Nash, and Gloria Richardson are just a few of the women who deserve wider recognition for their contribution to crusade and other events which led to the movement and more.”

Racism and other factors may have broken people of color’s hopes of establishing a better life for themselves and their families, but their circumstances never stopped them from fighting for what was rightfully theirs.

“Preserving a rapport with God is what helped the protestors to remain strong during the crusade,” Eig concludes.

“Without God, they wouldn’t have been able to accomplish the things that they were called to do.”

2023 WEST SIDE | 13

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WESTSIDE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS At a glance

BRIGHT LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE Contact Information: Bright Leadership Institute Ms. Renell Perry, Program Director Ph: 773-430-7037 CHICAGO FATHERS FOR CHANGE Contact Information: Mr. Nahaas (Black) White cffc4172019@gmail.com

WESTSIDE

HABILITATIVE SYSTEMS, INC. Contact Information: Mrs. Deborah Williams-Thurmond, Community Outreach Supervisor dwilliams@habilitative.org Ph: 312-576-1085 Mr. Donald J. Dew, President/CEO

COLLABORATIVE P R O J E C T Restore, Reinvest, and Renew.

JEHOVAH JIREH 1 OUTREACH MINISTRY Contact Information: Mr. Jody Ph: 224-421-4286

NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED Contact Information: Mr. Bennie Lee, R3 Program Director, Ph: 773 593-2540 blee.naefi@gmail.com Working Together to Combat Violence on the Westside of Chicago Chicago Westside Branch NAACP

#1STV B OR ATI VE TH E WE STSI DE COLLA

SAVING OUR SONS MINISTRIES Providing Services for Youth ages 12-14 in Economic Development • Reentry • Violence Prevention • Youth Development THE WESTSIDE COLLABORATIVE Contact: Mr. Reginald Berry, President Ph: 773 957-4214

Working Together to

Combat Violence on the WESTSIDE COLLABORATIVE PARTNERS Westside of Chicago

VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS, INC. Contact Information: Violence Interrupters Hotline: 773-391-9072 www.violenceinterrupters.org

At a glance

Providing Services for Youth Ages 12-24

BRIGHT LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

HABILITATIVE SYSTEMS, INC.

WHO WE SERVE IN R3: BLI’s R3 programs serve youth between the ages of 12 and 24 years old who are economically disadvantaged and at risk, low income, in and out of school, unemployed, attending alternative schools, underserved Communities.

Ms. Renell Perry, Program Director 773-430-7037

WHO WE SERVE IN R3: HSI deliver programs that provide opportunities for participants between the ages of 10-24 & ex-offenders to develop skills and interact positively with others in the areas of reasoning and creativity; personal/social conflict management and communication skills; decision making, problem-solving, health/recreation and civic engagement.

Mrs. Deborah WilliamsThurmond, Community Outreach Supervisor dwilliams@habilitative.org 312-576-1085 Mr. Donald J. Dew, President/CEO

CHICAGO FATHERS FOR CHANGE WHO WE SERVE IN R3: CFFC looks to engage the youth and other community goers who can benefit from our services. We target the specific age group of 14-24 years old; however, resources are available for all.

Mr. Nahaas (Black) White cffc4172019@gmail.com

JEHOVAH JIREH 1 OUTREACH MINISTRY

SAVING OUR SONS MINISTRIES

WHO WE SERVE IN R3: We target at-risk teens and young adults, ages 10 to 21, but also provide services for Austin residents in need, outside that age range.

Mr. Jody 224-421-4286

WHO WE SERVE IN R3: Our target group includes the formerly incarcerated and other underserved residents.

Mr. Reginald Berry, President 773-957-4214

NATIONAL ALLIANCE FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF THE FORMERLY INCARCERATED WHO WE SERVE IN R3: We serve youth in the community (ages 12-18), reentry youth (ages 16-24), and reentry adults (18 and older) problemsolving, health/recreation and civic engagement.

Mr. Bennie Lee, R3 Program Director, 773-593-2540 blee.naefi@gmail.com

VIOLENCE INTERRUPTERS, NFP WHO WE SERVE IN R3: Violence Interrupters serves the greater Westside working with high risk youth on many different levels.

Hotline: 773-391-9072 violenceinterrupters.org The Chicago Westside Branch NAACP is committed to ensuring the political, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination. Learn more at cwbnaacp.org.

The Westside Collaborative Project began with a vision of Mr. Karl Brinson, President, Chicago Westside Branch NAACP, and officials from select grass-roots community organizations who were already providing services to people in four of the five idenfied areas. Working together, these groups would be able to reach those most in need using their vast, diverse resources and consolidated commitment to addressing violence and its root causes and devise realistic solutions, keeping the needs of the people at the center. The Westside Collaborative Project consists of the Chicago Westside Branch of the NAACP, which serves as the lead organization, and seven community-based organizations.

Funding provided in whole or in part by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority

14 | 2023 WEST SIDE

e d i S t s e W o t k o o L s t s i v i t c A e r u t u F e h t e g Chan Reporter ContributingLE MEYER EL H IC M

T

he West Side of Chicago has no shortage when it comes to activists. From Martin Luther King, Jr. who lived in North Lawndale and formed the Chicago Freedom Movement in 1966 to Brenetta Howell Barrett who raises awareness for HIV/AIDS with the Pathfinders Prevention Education Fund.

To this day, the West Side is bustling with activists who are all pushing for a better Chicago. Arewa Karen Winters fights for police accountability, Aisha Oliver focuses on the next generation and Deondre’ Rutues pushes for social justice. Their focuses may vary, but there is a common thread to push for the next generation to pick up where they’ll leave off.

‘I MUSTER UP SOME STRENGTH AND GET BACK INTO THE FIGHT’ Arewa Karen Winters grew up in the Austin neighborhood, where she got her first taste of community activism at a young age.

Her mom was a block club present and active in many campaigns including those for Danny K. Davis, Harold Washington and Emma Mitts.

“I’ve always been exposed and engaged working alongside my mother and my grandmother. It was just a part of me,” she said.

After her 16-year-old nephew, Pierre Loury, was shot and killed in 2016, Winters became a police reform activist. Existing organizations started working with her including Black Lives Matter, Chicago Alliance

Against Racial and Poltical Repression and the #LetUsBreathe Collective.

From there, she was a part of the group to file a lawsuit against the city that eventually created the consent decree.

“That is where I got my activism wings from. I immersed myself in the movement,” she said.

Now, as an elected member of the 15th District Police Council, she is focused on increasing community awareness and engagement so true police reform can happen.

Winters is also navigating the new waters of being in an elected position, learning the red tape of politics and figuring out how to make this new council impactful.

“We move. We’re movers,” she said. “It’s a new world for some of us.”

ally, physically and mentally, she said. She encourages other activists to step away and recharge, sometimes even switch up on what to fight for.

“I muster up some strength and get back into the fight,” Winters said.

The murder of her nephew inspired her to start her own non-profit called the 411 Movement, which supports families and communities harmed by systematic violence.

Her next goal for the organization is to create youth programming of African drumming, spoken word, dance and other cultural arts called the Performance Art Collective.

Winters also has plans to create a documentary AREWA KAREN WINTERS about families affected by | TODD BANNOR police violence and wants to write a book to help other families who have experienced the same loss she did.

The infrastructure of the government and the police department make it challenging to make changes, she said. People have told Winters that people in power hope to wear her down and hope she goes away.

“I can’t because I feel like I’m an anomaly,” she said. “I don’t just bring my family’s story but I have to bring other stories into the room, as well.”

Self care is a necessity in Winters’ activism journey because she can get burnt out after giving so much of herself emotion-

On top of that, Winters will be attending Northeastern Illinois University this spring, enrolling in a program called University Without Walls where students create their own curriculum. Winters will be focused on police reform and accountability.

Winters sees activism for police reform as the work of her life.

“I’m always going to be a part of police reform in one way or another,” she said.

2023 WEST SIDE | 15

‘I’M A TABLE SHAKER’ Austin native Aisha Oliver first found her calling in community activism by working with children at Austin Town Hall. From there, she has helped hundreds of kids grow up in safe and positive spaces on the West Side.

She currently is a community engagement specialist for Lurie Children’s Hospital as they start to create a community hub on the West Side, a position she says she earned due to her fourteen years of experience with Root2Fruit.

Root2Fruit is a hyper-local effort in Austin that looks to create a safe community for kids to grow up in. This is the fourth generation of kids that Oliver has guided, some are children of the first group of kids that she mentored.

Last year, 20-year-old Clarence Maxey, Jr. was shot and killed within the area. The biggest hurdle was finding mental health help for the kids present when he was killed, Oliver said.

“Some of them still don’t come outside because of that and it’s been almost a year,” she said.

AISHA OLIVER

“That’s the seed that I’m sowing,” she said. “At the end of the day, it’s on us. There’s no savior. If we don’t do what we need to do in this community, they’re going to wipe us out.”

Oliver admits that being a woman and handling the dynamics on the streets, as well as local gangs, can be tough.

“I’m a table shaker. I’m stepping on toes,” she said. “I’m making everybody uncomfortable until my kids are comfortable.”

Oliver started the Austin Safety Action Plan three years ago when 3-year-old McKai James was shot and killed. She and the kids involved in Root2Fruit created a one-mile safe zone that includes Austin Town Hall, the library and Harambee gardens. She chose the location based on places that reminded them of her childhood.

But the safe-zone isn’t entirely bullet-proof.

16 | 2023 WEST SIDE

When Rutues was marching downtown, he wore a shirt that read “racism exists but there is still Black on Black crime.” That idea ultimately shaped his local activism to create a better West Side.

“We do a lot of damage to ourselves in our own community,” Rutues said.

Oliver’s organization continues to grow, as the first generation of kids she helped is stepping into roles and helping out younger generations. Her goal is to build something that can be passed on. She sees herself handing over the organization to the new leaders in the next five years.

Rutues focuses on improving the West Side socially, economically, politically and civically by working with Black Workers Matter and West Side Rising.

DEONDRE’ RUTUES

“I still think it’s slower than it needs to be,” he said. “This city has changed so much in 10

“Those same kids are the young people with me today,” she said.

She teaches children to raise their voices and advocate for themselves.

time,” he said. “Once I stood up, I didn’t want to take a seat.”

“It was never meant for me to be in charge of Root2Fruit forever,” she said.

As for Oliver, she wants to continue to be a model of what true community engagement looks like and to be able to fund Root2Fruit to provide salaries for the people working in it.

“My legacy when I leave here is that I did everything I could to support the community that I came from,” Oliver said.

‘I HAVE A MORTALITY IN THIS ADVOCACY PIECE OF MY LIFE’ 15th District Police Council member Deondre’ Rutues has been a social justice activist since 2012 when Trayvon Martin was killed.

“I felt compelled to stand up for the first

He notes recent developments in Austin that show improvement, like the new BUILD Campus and the redevelopment of the Laramie State Bank.

But he still sees these developments going at a glacial pace, especially when compared to the “drastic communal change” other neighborhoods like Pilsen and Bucktown have seen.

years.”

Rutues doesn’t see himself being an advocate forever, as he finishes up his PhD in business and wants to focus on his family and raising his daughter, he said.

“I have a mortality in this advocacy piece of my life,” he said.

His dissertation for his doctorate covers “psychological capital,” which is how people experience hope and develop resiliency and optimism, he said. He hopes that programs based on his research can be created to help West Side organizations.

Rutues said he knows the next generation of West Side advocates will build out and pick up from wherever he leaves off.

“They are already up,” he said. “They are already there.”

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forestparkbank.com 2023 WEST SIDE | 17

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18 | 2023 WEST SIDE

THE DELGADO FAMILY -—MARICELA DELGADO, JOSE LUNA, KIARA LUNA AND ADNERIS LUNA — POSE IN FRONT OF THE AUSTIN HOUSE THEY HAVE CALLED HOME FOR THE LAST FIVE YEARS. | IGOR STUDENKOV

It’s more than doubled in the past 13 years

By IGOR STUDENKOV and FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ

F

ifty years after most of Austin completed its shift from a majority-white to a majority-Black community area, another, subtler demographic shift is taking shape.

the loss of resources, and it remains to be seen what sort of economic changes this shift might bring.

During the past 13 years, the number of Latinos in Austin has been slowly but steadily growing, while its Black population declined. The gentrification of the traditionally Hispanic communities drove many of its residents west to communities with good, affordable housing stock. While the new arrivals are struggling to access resources, they are slowly but surely making their mark, opening up businesses and joining local churches.

The last major demographic change saw

THE DEMOGRAPHIC FORCES According to the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s analysis of the U.S Census data, the West Side’s Hispanic population has been increasing in all communities — but it’s especially pronounced in Austin. Its Hispanic population more than doubled in 2020, and it saw the most significant decline in Black population.

The community’s Hispanic population more than doubled to 19.25% from 8.85% of the population. Austin’s Black popula2023 WEST SIDE | 19

“It’s happening now, when you have areas like that, that are being emptied out, and Latino neighborhoods that are gentrifying or already gentrified, places like Austin are going to be attractive for Latino families looking to give a decent house, put some money into it, and fix it up,” Acosta Cordova said.

Between the declining Black population and the increasing gentrification, the trend is expected to continue, he said.

THE NEW ARRIVALS

WHEN THE DELGADO FAMILY MOVED ON THIS BLOCK OF PINE AVENUE, THEY WERE ONE OF ONLY TWO HISPANIC FAMILIES ON THE BLOCK. | IGOR STUDENKOV

tion decreased by almost 10% to 74.58% from 85.1%.

CMAP’s analysis of census’ American Community Survey estimates for 20212022 showed that since then, the number Hispanic residents dropped slightly, while the number of Black residents increased slightly. However, the overall trend persisted.

Even back in 2010, census tract level data suggested an increasing Hispanic population in North Austin. According to a map compiled by the University of Illinois at Chicago, tracts at the northeast section of Austin, north of North Avenue and east of Cicero Avenue, showed that at least 40% of the residents were Hispanic. The percentages for the tracts in other parts of North Austin east of Central Avenue also saw significant numbers. There were two exceptions to this general pattern — tracts that fell within Galewood were at least 20% Hispanic, and the census tract that includes the Island neighborhood was almost 24% Hispanic.

The 2020 data showed northeast Austin’s Hispanic population growth, accounting for as much as 60% of the population in some tracts east of Cicero Avenue. The Hispanic population is seemingly spreading out and growing on the census tracts further out, data showed.

There is no longer any tract north of North Avenue where Hispanics don’t account for at least 20% of the popula20 | 2023 WEST SIDE

tion, and the same is true for most census tracts north of Division Street. In census tracts within Galewood, Hispanics made up an average of 30% of the population, while the Island’s share of Hispanic population dropped to 19%.

In a notable change, there were only three Austin census tracts — all of which fall within South Austin — where Hispanics accounted for less than 10% of the population.

Urban planner José Acosta Córdova, author of the 2017 Latino Neighborhoods Report, said that Austin isn’t the only majority-Black community that has seen an increase in Latino population. North Lawndale and West Englewood, too, have seen such increases.

“Look at gentrification in Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Hermosa, all those areas, but especially Logan Square,” Acosta Cordova said. “People are getting displaced, and they’re looking to stay somewhere close to the areas where they lived for many years. Sometimes, they want to stay close to schools.”

Austin’s solid and affordable housing stock, including multi-flats, attracts new residents. Austin’s loss of long-time Black residents - who either moved out or died without passing on their home to their descendants - means that Hispanic homebuyers have plenty of homes to choose from.

Maricela Delgado moved to Austin with her family about five years ago. The former Logan Square residents looked at several communities, and chose a property in the 500 block of North Long Avenue to call home due to its affordability.

“We do have one of the smallest homes on the block but it was perfect for us,” Delgado said. “We probably were the second Latinos that moved on the block. We did have neighbors come say hi to us, welcome us. We met a neighbor who lived in Austin for generations. It’s been great. It’s a great decision for us.”

Since then, she has seen more Latino families searching for an affordable home move to Austin, including migrants from countries like Guatemala, Ecuador, Colombia and most recently, Venezuela. She has found “great friends” and built relationships with longtime community members.

She also supports new arrivals with language barriers by translating and sharing information and helping them request services offered by local government.

Ald. Emma Mitts has represented the 37th Ward since 2000. While the ward borders shifted somewhat over the years, it consistently included the sections of north and central Austin east of Central Avenue. In a statement sent to this publication, Mitts described the demographic changes as part of “an ongoing reality in 21st century major urban cities like Chicago.”

Ald. Chris Taliaferro, who represented the 29th Ward since 2015, agreed that affordable housing stock contributed to demographic shifts. Austin’s proximity to traditionally Latino neighborhoods like Humboldt Park also contributed.

“When it comes to housing, when it comes

to development and growth, it becomes an attractive neighborhood,” he said. “We have growth and creation of jobs. When you have that in a neighborhood, you’re going to attract more people, and I think it’s great.”

Taliaferro recalled the contentious 2022 ward remap process, when Latino aldermen tried to increase the number of majority-Hispanic wards while Black aldermen tried to preserve as many Black wards as possible — but other than that, he didn’t see much tension. And he said that the only kind of demographic transition he’s concerned about is one that would bring gentrification.

Mitts said that it was important to make sure that all segments of the community benefit from “equitable investment.”

“We must support each other, be hospitable to one another, and prioritize services to all our demographic assemblies: today’s longtime residents, new multi-ethnic arrivals, seniors, youth, current and future homeowners, working families, existing and emerging businesses, and other community groups,” she stated.

A number of businesses catering to immigrants from various Spanish-speaking countries have been popping up in Austin, especially in the 37th Ward portions of North Avenue and Division Street. Mitts said that she welcomes this, because having “a steady growth mix of locally responsible businesses is much better and more civically preferable than the opposite -losing retail and service companies.” She said that her office has been helping them navigate the business licensing and zoning hurdles, with particular emphasis on returning vacant lands and empty storefronts to productive use.

THE ISLAND STORY The Island neighborhood on the southwest edge of Chicago gets its name because it’s separated from the rest of Austin by Eisenhower Expressway in the north and several blocks of industrial buildings in the east. The student body at G.R. Clark Elementary School, the local neighborhood school, is 50% Hispanic, 41.7% Black and 4.2% white.

Kathy Jankun declined to say how long she

lived in the Island, but her mother, Martha, has been living in the same house since 1962. Growing up, the neighborhood was still mostly white, she recalled.

“All of the neighbors knew each other, most of them were policemen or firemen,” Jankun said.

In the 1990s, the number of Hispanic residents increased dramatically, she said.

“When Cicero turned Spanish, the Island turned Spanish, so I think it just followed through what was [happening in Cicero],” Jankun said. “I think that’s a reason why — Cicero changed pretty quickly too. It was all Italian, and that become Spanish, and that trickled over.”

Many older white families either died or moved out, but some, like hers, stayed.

More recently, Jankun has seen Black families arrive from the other side of Eisenhower Expressway.

“When you talked to African Americans who moved in, they said it was quieter, and it’s peaceful,” she said. “It was still Chicago, still affordable.”

The neighborhood remained peaceful and safe for as long as she lived there, but the signs of disinvestment were impossible to miss, she said. She recalled a grocery store and a bakery on Roosevelt Road, and a G.R. Clark playground with “slides that that were probably as tall as skyscrapers.” Today, both Chicago and Cicero sides of Roosevelt Road are dotted with empty storefronts, and the closest grocery store is an Aldi location near the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Central Avenue.

That aside, Jankun said she can see why people continue to move to the Island.

“It’s still a really good neighborhood,” she said. “I recommend anyone to come [and move in]. It’s pretty nice. We like to keep our area clean. Everybody is welcome.”

BETWEEN TWO DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGES Retired judge Amanda Logan moved to Austin when she was “13 going on 14.” She said that her family moved to Austin so that she could enroll in Austin High School. At the time, the school was seen as superior to increasingly Black high schools further east, such as Marshall High School.

“They had yearbook, they had cheerleading -- I was a cheerleader -- they had band and orchestra, they had everything that you would want in a high school,” Logan said. “When I got there, it was mainly white, 90% white. When I [graduated in 1970], it had to be 80% Black.”

She said that while Black and white students occasionally fought, “most of the time, we got along and enjoyed ourselves.” But Logan vividly recalled teachers leaving and clubs shrinking as the population shifted.

After graduating from Illinois Wesleyan University, Logan moved back to Chicago.

In 1979, she and her mother moved to a house on the 1500 block of North Mayfield Avenue, near North Avenue and Austin Boulevard. The disinvestment she saw as a teen continued.

“When I first moved up on Mayfield, we had a Jewel and different grocery stores in North Avenue. They’re gone,” Logan said.

“They started to leave, and I don’t know why -- we do buy groceries.”

Still, she thought that Austin had a lot of things going for it — the housing stock, the proximity to O’Hare and Midway airports and Eisenhower Expressway, the CTA rail lines and bus routes. And she felt that, lately, Austin’s commercial corridors have been moving in a promising direction.

She has noticed more Hispanics — Mexicans, Venezuelans, and Puerto Ricans — moving to North Austin. Her next-door neighbor was Hispanic.

“As far as I can see, everybody is getting along,” Logan said.

In 2021, Logan sold her home to a friend of her neighbor and moved to the South Side’s Bronzeville neighborhood. She wanted to live closer to the Loop, and she didn’t want to have to pay to rehab the building. Yet she has nothing but love for Austin and she wants to see the community thrive.

“You’re going to make it a neighborhood regardless of who’s in there,” Logan said.

“Everyone wants to have the kids educated.

Everyone wants good schools. They want to come home without worrying about being knocked on the head. They want to buy some groceries --that’s a common thing for everybody. That’s what we should be working toward.”

2023 WEST SIDE | 21

Announcing our

2023-2024 CONCERT SEASON! Concerts subject to change.

December 10, 2023

April 7, 2024 Choral Concert

Jay Friedman, conductor

Jay Friedman, conductor

BRAHMS Violin Concerto Baird Dodge, Soloist TCHAIKOVSKY Nutcracker Suite Sleeping Beauty Suite

The Sacred and the Profane LISZT Totentanz Mio Nakamura, pianist LISZT Missa Solemni

February 18, 2024

June 2, 2024

Maurice Boyer, conductor BRAHMS Double Concerto for Violin and Cello, Michelle Wynton, violin; William Cernota, cello COPLAND Lincoln Portrait STILL Symphony No. 2

Jay Friedman, conductor

JAY FRIEDMAN

A Czech Musical Family SUK Fairy Tale (Pohadka) Concerto Competition Winner TBA DVOŘÁK Slavonic Dances

Ticket prices $35 at the door/$30 ahead of time.

Four-Concert Subscriptions $130 at the door/$115 ahead of time. Students through college admitted free of charge.

All concerts are held at 4 pm at Concordia University Chapel in River Forest.

Learn more at SymphonyOPRF.org or scan our QR code.

DECEMBER 2

Music Festival + Pitch Competition from YourPassion1st feat. Korporate

DECEMBER 11

Community Musical + Dinner from Westside Cultural Arts feat. Divine Purpose

FOR FULL EVENT CALENDAR

Come visit Austin’s very own Kehrein Center for the Arts, a home for storytelling through music, theater, dance, spoken word, and creative expression that animates and engages the human spirit.

KEHREIN CENTER FOR THE ARTS 5628 W WASHINGTON BLVD. CHICAGO, IL 60644 22 | 2023 WEST SIDE

SCAN HERE

Contributing Reporter LINDSAY EANET

W

hen we spoke with Diana Gra Graham, she had just come m a community c from meeting. A resiA dent off Austin since 1969, she is still a regular at meetings on local issues—that day’s was with is FEMA about recent floodFEM that had impacted the ing g tha neighborhood. neigh hborhoo “At 80 years old, still here,” she says.

I’m stil ll out here more in the neighAfter mo ore than 50 years ye borhood,, Graham is sstill making an says the neighimpact, a although she sa quite a bit since borhood has changed quit she first arrived. When the th City of Chicago began closing the CabriniGreen homes, many former forme residents dents were placed in Austin Au and an nd nearby Garfield Park, causca populaing tthe neighborhood’s popul skyrocket. tion to sk kyrocket.

Graham’s began with Graham’ ’s organizing path b mayors, volunteering working with mayor register and attending to re egister voters v local lo ocal meetings. From there, she sh says the impetus to get involved was the extent of the inv problem in Austin. “That’s what drug prob made a llot of us get involved, so our kids don’t get harmed,” she says. “I wanted to get connected with a movement to come up with a solution to save our city because drugs come in from everywhere.”

As more young people became involved in gangs and drug activity in the neighborhood, Graham wanted to be part of a movement to make the community better.

She says neighbors will be resistant to coming together to combat the issue because they are afraid of the gangs, “and they know you’re afraid of them. I’m not afraid of them, never have been.”

Graham became the president of her block club, Lotus Neighbors for Action, 20 years ago. She says her goal was to make her block “completely drug free,” and that she has achieved that goal. To keep local youth engaged and away from high-risk activities, she applies for grants and comes up with activities every summer. In June, she organized a trip for neighborhood

youth to the Wisconsin Dells, and has chartered a bus down to Navy Pier. “I wanted to come up with activities to get them off the block and see there’s another world out there,” she says.

Graham says she regularly attends CAPS meetings and works with the 15th district police department to come up with solutions. She volunteers at the station’s “Hip Hop Tuesday” event, where local youth can come after school to do homework, play basketball, play on the computers and generally stay connected.

She also works to provide seminars to offer training for after-school or summer jobs, and on her block, hosts resource fairs for youth. She will hand out snacks, water and brochures for different community organizations and job opportunities, and will answer anything the teenagers want to ask about.

She also works with My Block, My Hood, My City, a nonprofit that works to build cross-city connections and mentor youth from under-resourced neighborhoods through educational programs and field trips.

“I want the young generation to be able to learn who your neighbors are,” she says. “Conversate with your neighbors. Get together more than once a month so you’re aware of what’s going on in your neighborhood. You’ve got to keep block clubs going.” Graham says her dream for the neighborhood is “100 Churches, 100 Block Clubs,” where faith and community leaders work with youth to build more connections across Austin.

“If every community had 200 strong organizations like that, imagine what we could be,” she says.

Graham encourages young people to show up at meetings and be more involved. Her message for Austin as a whole? Be persistent and stay engaged.

“I just want to tell my community, the whole community, don’t stop fighting, don’t give up,” she says. “Never say never. Whoever would have thought my block would be drug free?”

2023 WEST SIDE | 23

4244 W. LAKE ST.

5628 W. WASHINGTON BLVD.

1841 N. LARAMIE AVE.

24 | 2023 WEST SIDE

735 S. PULASKI ROAD

ART 3357 W. HARRISON ST.

from the

4207 W. CARROLL AVE.

5100 W. HARRISON ST.

5142 W. CHICAGO AVENUE

WEST WALLS Photos by IGOR STUDENKOV and FRANCIA GARCIA HERNANDEZ

111 N. KEDZIE AVE.

2902 W. LAKE ST.

2023 WEST SIDE | 25

26 | 2023 WEST SIDE

a beloved community: W E S T S I D E A RT S C U LT U R E N U RT U R E S A RT I S T S Contributing Reporter ERIN KESLER Photos by TODD BANNOR

The West Side of Chicago is home to a thriving and growing arts culture. From actors to musicians, fine artists to industrial designers, the scene is growing and a part of the fabric of the neighborhood. It’s a culture where people support and push each other. It holds space for accountability and growth. It pulses with the beat of Chicago.

Here are a few of the key players.

2023 WEST SIDE | 27

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North Lawndale native Terron Collins is attuned to little things.

As an actor, he has to be. A subtle gesture can turn a serious scene into a darkly humorous one. A turn of phrase can skewer a lifetime of microaggressions and educate an audience. For the 22-year-old theatrical newcomer his life on the stage has translated to noticing more about his neighborhood as well.

After his inaugural show at North Lawndale’s Theatre Y this past spring, “We Are Proud to Present…,” an old building that he always passed by warranted a second look. Inside, the old and stately structure housed an artistic center. For Terron, North Lawndale is like that. You look below the surface and you find creativity and a welcoming spirit - driven by and for the community. His mentor, the artist, muralist and activist Haman Cross introduced Terron to the arts through his work at the Firehouse Community Arts Center when Terron was a sophomore in high school. Now, Terron is a mentor himself. He worked with Theatre Y’s youth programming to organize a walking interpretation of,” The Wiz,” by 12–24-year-olds in North Lawndale. It was exciting and challenging - the young actors had to be quick on their toes to improvise and adapt to the moving set. What’s next for the young thespian? He appreciates ‘80’s horror films and their ability to be both real and clumsy, while using absurdity to interpret events. A fan of “Candyman,” Terron values its critique of gentrification in the Black community. He’s driven by themes that are out of the box and surprising, much like the West Side itself.

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Tye Moores “The West Side means everything to me,” says photographer Tye Moores. As a black, queer woman she says it shapes how she sees the world and approaches her work.

From exhibits and editorials for the Obama Foundation, to the Chicago Defender and Vogue, she brings black culture to the fore.

The editor, public relations pro, and podcaster brings her sharp photographer skills to each project she touches. She sees art in creating community and bringing people together. She finds inspiration in “moments that are fleeting,” from the everyday rhythm of her neighborhood. She is passionate about capturing the stories of the older generation of black people, archiving how they speak, what stories they have to tell; how she can carry on their wisdom and lessons learned. Her engaging wit will draw you in and before you know it, she’s captured that perfect fleeting moment on film.

Marcus Alleyne Chicago native Marcus Alleyne found art in the seemingly unlikeliest of places: business school.

While studying in Washington, DC he found an art class that drew him back to his graffiti artist roots and decided to pursue a creative life. He notes that artists are also small business owners and many of the lessons learned studying the fine arts of administration apply to the art world. The painter is also drawn to, “salvage.”

He shares studio space on the West Side at Altspace. “I was always collecting, hoarding, taking various found items like fabric, wood and paint.” At Altspace, Marcus participated in “Redemptive Plastics,” a collective project to remake discarded laundry bottles into objects for the community like park benches, chairs and garbage bins. He notes that this project speaks to the artistic community in Chicago’s culture of passion for not just making a living but moving towards social justice. From consumption towards a more balanced approach. Marcus is passionate about helping traditionally under- resourced communities find pathways towards art. He notes that people without resources are often the most creative, with the most to offer.

Marvin Tate “Here’s the deal. I’m in the process of shooting a movie, I’m in it.” If you want to catch legendary Chicago-based artist Marvin Tate, you have to move quickly. If he’s not filming a horror movie based on a storefront church cult in North Lawndale, he’s touring a spoken word jazz record in Europe. He could be working on his found objects installations or teaching young theater students at the West Side’s Theatre Y as an artist-in-residence. Prolific and generous with his time, Marvin is especially well-known for his driving, genre-defying music. And it all started on the West Side of Chicago. Shy and a stutterer, Marvin turned to poetry and music as a child. At his grandmother’s funeral, he remembers feeling transfixed by the raw, bluesy music coming from his grandfather’s front room. He wanted to illustrate the images coming into his mind’s eye and found art and poetry gave him that outlet. Growing up poor, he remembers putting on plays with his siblings and pretending to be a celebrity. While his own celebrity has grown, that does not concern Marvin now. He sees art as his religion and his mission as planting the seeds of community to help youth in North Lawndale experience art. He advises young artists to be diligent and focus on their craft. He believes art should be universal and humble and that the

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2023 WEST SIDE | 29

best art has no boundaries or identities. A jam session, a brainstorm, a world of possibilities - that’s Marvin’s reality. Choosing a creative life can be difficult but Marvin advises aspiring creatives to “tell your story, be patient and build a community.”

Alexie Young When artist Alexie Young first began to dedicate herself to painting, she didn’t understand why she was drawn to the same pastel colors. It wasn’t until the young mother traveled to Belize, that she understood her inherent impulse. The first-generation American’s family was originally from the Central American republic and nearly every building or street was painted in a pastel hue. She felt connected to her heritage and learned to feel comfortable with what she gravitated towards artistically. That includes her impulses to work collectively, teach and “commune with,” her fellow artists on the West Side of Chicago. She started the now shuttered Art West Gallery, (closed due to a licensing issue) but aims to revamp it and re-open soon. As a child, she always knew she wanted to be an artist and was drawn to Georgia O’Keefe. Now, she wants kids in her own neighborhood to have artists they can see and hear who look like them. She is well on her way to achieving her goal. Noting a “season of redevelopment,” on the West Side, Alexie facilitates a series of grants that include artistic installations or projects in real estate developments. She aims to build out an ecosystem of artists that support and uplift each other.

You can find her planning a mural or coordinating a storytelling project. Bringing people together and building community. “Every part of the world is here,” she says of the West Side, as she plans to bring the West Side to the world.

“The appreciation of the community inspires me.”

— Corry Williams

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Corry Williams Gallery owner and art collector Corry Williams is committed to serving the West Side. He notes that growing up he never saw art and that people would always have to leave the neighborhood to experience art and culture. He decided to change that by opening up the non-profit gallery 345 Art Gallery. The space serves as a community hub, organizing art field trips for Chicago Public School students and hosting art classes and events. Williams has collected art for over 20 years and travels frequently to places like Cuba to bring parts of the world for the West Side to experience. He’s drawn to “serious” artists who focus on their craft and find them close to home. One elderly woman he met in the neighborhood never thought of herself as an artist until Williams curated a show of her pieces. “The appreciation of the community inspires me,” Williams said. The community continues to excite and surprise his artistic sensibilities.

Alexandria Eregbu For Chicago native Alexandria Eregbu, the world is in blue.

The artist, who focuses on installations and fabric arts, is passionate about indigo.

She is based in Austin and teaches a sold-out course on the origins of indigo at the Art Institute. At a recent show in nearby Oak Park at Compound Yellow, she built denim quilts embossed with family photos with fellow artist Amanda Hearth for the exhibit, “Beyond Blue.”

For Alexandria, her work is deeply connected to family, environmentalism and the rhythm of Chicago’s West Side. The history of indigo is connected to her father’s family in Nigeria and their use of the dye in fabric arts but she also examines the darker side of indigo: its use as a cash crop during the slave trade. Through denim, the implications of synthetic dyes, environmental racism and consumerism are all themes she is unafraid to confront.

Indigo as a throughline to examine the history of a people and community is just one way the DJ and film director connects her Chicago neighborhood to the wider world.

Like denim, the workingman’s fabric, Chicago means grit, hard work and transformation.

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Athena Wil Executive D OPRHC

Promoting Housing Opportunity

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Fair Housing: Its Impact

Athena Williams, Executive Director, OPRHC

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or over four decades, the Oak Park Regional Housing Center has been committed to its mission of promoting and sustaining residential integration in Oak Park and the region. Our Fair Housing programming has been recognized as a model and a best practice within the community and across the nation.

Through our rental referral program, OPRHC helps individuals expand their housing options by providing them with the ability and encouragement they may need to rent or purchase a home in any area regardless of their race or ethnicity. Oak Park Regional Housing Center works to continue to maintain residential integration in Oak Park and the region, block by block, building by building.

Many people say, “Oak Park has achieved integration, why do we need the Housing Center”? Obviously I am going to tell you. OPRHC is needed now more than ever. With the growing

developments, increase in market rate rents, there are segments of our population that we must target to help Oak Park remain true to its core values and its brand, the market of “excellence” that has been built into the Oak Park Housing stock.

Excellence that arrived from the high market demands, not because of the location to the City of Chicago; not because of the good schools; not because of the beautiful community characteristics, but the racially and ethnically integrated fabric of which the Village of Oak Park has become.

individual’s identity and how they interact with others. These actions require on going intention, and that is what Oak Park Regional Housing Center is here to continue to do.

Without this intention, these great benefits and impacts would diminish.

This is why investments in the Oak Park Regional Housing Center is critical. OPRHC’s efforts to continue to promote and maintain integration positively affects property values, social and communal relations.

Oak Park Regional Housing Center is celebrating 50 years of service to the Greater Westside Region of Chicago. As we turn the page and enter the next 50 years of service, we will continue to collectively impact the communities we serve. For more information about Oak Park Regional Housing Center, visit oprhc.org.

708-848-7150 oprhc.org info@oprhc.org

Even though the Oak Park Regional Housing Center has established this national model for integration, our work and our impact is not fully recognized.

What is the impact of integration?

Research has shown that a diverse workforce can improve financial performance. Racially diverse schools and classrooms create cognitive, social, and emotional benefits.

In addition, living in a racially integrated community can positively impact an 2023 WEST SIDE | 35

GEMS OF THE WEST SIDE Contributing Reporter LACEY SIKORA Photos by TODD BANNOR

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he West Side of Chicago has a rich architectural history that is a reflection of the city’s growth from a welcoming enclave to immigrants to a thriving community for African Americans.

Architect Christopher Payne is an Oak Park resident and architectural researcher who is working on a book about architect Joseph Silsbee. We called upon his in-depth knowledge of Chicago architectural history for help identifying ten buildings on Chicago’s West Side that are examples of the area’s rich history.

Some of the buildings are well-preserved, some are in the midst of restoration, and others are crying out for preservation. According to Payne, all are important parts of the city’s past. He says of the following examples, “What I think is so fascinating about most of these buildings is that they have these rich, layered histories that reflect the neighborhoods around them.”

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Humboldt Park Boathouse: 1301 N Humboldt Dr. Humboldt Park was named after Alexander von Humboldt, a German naturalist and geographer, known as the “Father of Environmentalism.” An early observer of human-induced climate change, Humboldt never visited Chicago. William Jenney began the development of the park in 1870, and landscape architect Jens Jensen finished the job, creating a park that spans over 200 acres. The boathouse was designed in 1907 by architect Richard E. Schmidt, a friend of Jensen. The boathouse exemplifies the Prairie Style of architecture that was popular in Chicago in the early 1900’s.

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Frederick Schock House: 5804 W. Midway Park Noted Chicago architect Schock built the Queen Anne Style home for himself in 1886. In 1999, the City of Chicago designated the house a Chicago Landmark. Payne states of the Schock’s design, “The way he played with scale and massing, and some of the details like the curving shingles around the corners are so interesting. He was definitely doing things that were not the norm at the time.” Three other Schock houses survive in Austin, and Payne says that although Schock was a well-known architect of the time, he is less well-known today. He adds, “So many of his buildings survive. You can see how talented he was.”

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Garfield Park Bandstand Designed by architect Jospeh L. Silsbee in 1897, the foursided structure is faced with white marble supplied by the Georgia Marble Company. Its mosaics were completed by John Carretti and Company, a tile and terrazzo company still based in Chicago. Garfield Park was developed from 1869-1874, and is the oldest of the original Chicago West Side parks. Situated on 185 acres, it sits at the center of the park and marks the division between East and West Garfield Park. When the bandstand was completed, it was called the first large-scale glass mosaic in the city. Payne says of the bandstand, “It really showcases our rich architectural history. It’s so unique. There’s nothing like it in any other park. Please somebody restore it.”

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Chicago architectural firm Rapp and Rapp designed the Spanish Revival building, which was built in 1917.

The design features two prominent towers on the front facade and decorative red brick and terra cotta. The theater was the first in the world to include mechanical air conditioning. Seating 1,800 people, the theater provided entertainment to Lawndale’s Jewish community and the African-American community that replaced it. It is one of the few remaining Lawndale businesses from the early twentieth century. The theater closed in 1971, and became the home of the House of Prayer Church of God in Christ. Current owners are working with the Central Park Theater Restoration Committee to restore the theater and reopen it as an event and programming space for the community.

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Douglas Park Auditorium: 3200 W. Ogden Ave. Built in 1910-1911, and designed by architect Alexander L. Levy, the building includes marble wainscotting, mosaic tile floors and large ballrooms. Around 1915, large numbers of Jewish people began moving into North Lawndale, and the auditorium became a hub for the city’s Jewish social, political, and cultural life. The building that once served as a meeting space for Jewish labor unions today houses the congregation of the Church of The Lord Jesus Christ of the Apostolic Faith.

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August W. Klaproth Flat Building: 3216 W. North Ave. The name A.W. Klaproth and the date of 1892 are carved into the front of this West Side building, but little is known about its architectural heritage. From 1896-97, Census records show a William Klaproth operated a bakery in the building. In 1911, John Roeser founded his family’s eponymous bakery in the building, and Roeser’s bakery has been operating there ever since.

Payne notes, “There’s a layered history to this building. It was built as one thing: a beautiful, Victorian building, but then it has that beautiful neon sign from another era for the bakery.”

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Garfield Park Gold Dome Field House: 100 N Central Park Ave. The Spanish Baroque Style building was built in 1928 at the height of an ambitious building campaign. Related projects included the fieldhouses for Humboldt Park and Douglas Park.

Designed by Norse architects Christian Michaelsen and Sigurd Rognstad, the building cost approximately $650,000. Originally, it was built as the West Park Administration building, but was designated a field house in 1934.

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Laramie State Bank: 5200 W Chicago Ave

Stone Temple Baptist Church: 3622 W Douglas Blvd.

The Laramie State Bank building is an Art Deco bank building that was designed by architects Meyer & Cook and built in 1928. The Northwestern Terra Cotta Company created the terracotta ornamentation. It is a Chicago Landmark, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2023. Deferred maintenance led to Preservation Chicago listing it as one of the most endangered buildings in Chicago. Its roof collapsed in 2018. Austin United, a development team, is currently working to redevelop the building into an office and retail building with a bank branch, and to build a new 78-unit, six-story apartment building with a public plaza on vacant land adjacent to the building.

In 1925-26, architects Joseph W. Cohen & Co. designed a monumental brick and limestone synagogue with seating for 1,500 as a synagogue for Jewish immigrants who had come to Chicago to escape anti-Semitism and pogroms in their native Romania. According to the City of Chicago’s Landmark designation report, the building was originally called the First Roumanian Congregation. From 1926 to 1954 the building served as a house of worship and an anchor for Chicago’s Romanian Jewish community. In 1954 the congregation sold the synagogue to a Baptist congregation led by Rev. James Marcellus Stone. Stone rededicated the building, calling it the Stone Temple Baptist Church, and led his congregation to support the civil rights movement. When Martin Luther King, Jr. brought his crusade for civil rights to Chicago, Stone Temple Church hosted him. The church is still in operation today.

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Humboldt Park Receptory Building and Stables: 3015 W. Division Built in 1895 and designed by Chicago architects Frommann and Jebsen, the Humboldt Park Stable and Receptory is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a Chicago Landmark. The building’s design highlights the Germanic character of the neighborhood in the 1890s and includes a variety of decorative elements in the roofs, finials, brick, and half-timbering. The Receptory and Stable originally housed horses, wagons and landscaping tools as well as the office of the Humboldt Park superintendent, landscape architect Jens Jensen. Today, the building houses the National Puerto Rican Museum of Arts & Culture.

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