Spotlighting the many West Side community news and happenings
West Side FEMA flood aid will continue amid government shutdown
Federal efforts to help Austinites affected by July 2 flooding will continue if the federal government shuts down – at least at first. If the shutdown does happen, the Federal Emergency Management Agency will shift the funding it does have to respond to any new disasters and continue to work in the active disaster areas.…
Garfield Park’s Shalom Parker selected for city arts & health program
A Garfield Park-based artist started playing with clay when she was three or four years old in her native Nebraska. Now a professional ceramics artist, Shalom Parker recalls making clay storyboards for the county fair. Twelve years ago, her interest in arts brought her to the city of Chicago to pursue a career in studio…
Activists demand West Side Amazon increase hiring, wages
Residents living east of the West Humboldt Park Amazon distribution facility near the intersection of Division Street and Kostner Avenue renewed their push for a Community Benefits Agreement, marching right up to the building’s front door this Tuesday. Ever since the facility was announced in August 2021, people living in the residential blocks east of…
Kehrein celebrates Black youth with Barrett Keithley mural
Chicago artist Barrett Keithley stood with open arms before young elementary and middle school students from Austin-based Catalyst Circle Rock Wednesday morning. Behind him, glimpses of colorful patterns and musical notes caught the students’ eyes, awaiting to see Keithley’s work. To the side, a team of co-artists, arts leaders, supporters and elected officials waited to…
With dolphin research, Brookfield Zoo brings science to local teens
The Midwest is probably the last place one might think of for studying wild dolphin populations, but two local teenage girls spent eight months doing just that. River Forest’s Daaniyah Mirza and Natalia Diaz, of Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, were two of eight students to work alongside scientists as a part of the Marine Mammal Research…
Austin clinic treats asylum-seekers as demand, costs rise
When Austin’s Thresholds Health clinic, 5801 W. Corcoran Pl., had a soft opening in early March, Dr. Alaina Fields, one of the facility’s family health providers, was out talking to the curious neighbors. “One of the neighbors came by, and she said – do you see people who don’t have insurance, doesn’t matter the legal…
No end in sight to West Side’s opioid crisis, but one drug can help
Correction: This story has been updated to clarify the name of the University of Illinois Chicago, previously identified as the University of Chicago. We apologize for the error. Vincent Lee saved a person’s life a few months ago. He was at the intersection of West Van Buren Street and South Pulaski Road when he saw…
Scenes from Galewoodstock 2023
Thousands of people came out to this year’s Galewoodstock, Galewood’s own annual neighborhood music festival. Held in front of Sayre Language Academy, 1850 N. Newland Ave., the event featured six Chicago area musical acts, including Austin R&B singer Alicia Ya Yah Townsend and Edward Carpio y Su Ensamble Latino salsa band. Galewoodstock expanded its food…
FEMA sets up resource centers to help flood victims apply for aid
Federal Emergency Management Agency has set up three disaster recovery centers in Austin and one in East Garfield Park to help the victims of the July 2 floods apply for federal assistance. According to FEMA, the centers have been set up to help flood victims, whether they are residents or business owners, who are struggling…
Austin Coming Together: August 2023
It takes a village: The Aspire Center Celebration A look inside the Emmet School: A fixture of the community Meet the key players responsible for the Aspire Center construction
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