Block Club Chicago
Learn How Chicago Became The Midwest’s Hub For Filipino Culture At Block Club Event
CHICAGO — Growing up in Chicago’s western suburbs, Michi Trota was your typical second-generation Filipino American kid. Trota had “absolutely no idea” that Chicago was a Midwestern hub for Filipino immigrants, she said. She wasn’t aware of the challenges of assimilation her parents and previous generations faced, nor did she understand the role Filipino Chicagoans had in shaping labor, commerce and culture in the city.
Illinois Ended Cash Bail. Now Reformers Want More Support for People on Pretrial Release.
CHICAGO — After Chicago police arrested Luis Gonzalez on an illegal gun possession charge in 2022, getting out of jail was his immediate concern. He didn’t have $200 to post bail, but being stuck in jail threatened to cost him his job at a West Side gas station and his ability to care for his four children.
Albany Park Theater Project’s ‘Port Of Entry’ Celebrates Neighborhood And Its Immigrant Families
ALBANY PARK — An Albany Park youth theater ensemble has some of Chicago’s hardest-to-get tickets this spring with “Port of Entry,” an immersive play that dives into the lives of immigrant families in the neighborhood. The show, produced by Albany Park Theater Project and set inside...
Dom’s Kitchen & Market’s Sudden Closure Leaves North Side Food Pantry ‘Scrambling’ For Donations
EDGEWATER — A Far North Side food pantry is in need of more volunteers, financial support and new retail partners after the sudden closure of Dom’s Kitchen & Market left it with a “massive deficit” in food offerings. Care for Real, the food pantry with locations...
Millennium Park’s Free Summer Movies, Music And Workout Schedule Announced
MILLENNIUM PARK — Millennium Park will host free concerts, movie screenings, workouts and more this summer. The Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events on Thursday released its summer lineup for Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St., which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. The park’s popular summer film...
Aurora Man Charged With Murder In Killing Of Officer Luis Huesca
CHICAGO — The man wanted in the fatal shooting of Officer Luis Huesca has been charged with first-degree murder after being arrested Wednesday, according to the Chicago Police Department. Xavier L. Tate Jr. was arrested Wednesday night in Glendale Heights, ending the manhunt for the person accused of killing...
Chicago Considers Lowering Default Speed Limit To 25 MPH
CHICAGO — Should city drivers be told to slow down?. A City Council committee revved up discussions Wednesday over dropping Chicago’s default speed limit from 30 to 25 mph. Transit experts and leaders with the Chicago Department of Transportation testified at a Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety...
North Center Art Show To Benefit Common Pantry Friday
NORTH CENTER — A North Center bar is hosting an art show fundraiser to benefit Common Pantry and help the nonprofit keep up with increased demand for its services. Local artists will have their work for sale 7-10 p.m. Friday at The Reveler, 3403 N. Damen Ave. A portion of the proceeds from the $5 suggested entry fee and art sold will benefit Common Pantry, said Executive Director Margaret O’Conor.
Neighbors Demand Top Cop Suspend Officers Who Shot Dexter Reed During Heated Town Hall
JEFFERSON PARK — Tensions were high at a Tuesday night town hall with Police Supt. Larry Snelling as some Northwest Side neighbors demanded the suspension of the officers who shot Dexter Reed and others called for more cops on the streets. About 100 people attended the town hall at...
Do Division Lineup Features Horsegirl, Avey Tare, Sybris, Divino Niño And More
WEST TOWN — Do Division Street Fest returns to West Town at the end of the month with more than 30 bands across two stages, shopping, food and entertainment. The three-day fest brings dozens of local vendors and live tunes to Division Street between Damen Avenue and Leavitt Street. It runs 5-10 p.m. May 31 and noon-10 p.m. June 1-2.
‘A Historically Bad Time To Buy’: House-Hunting Millennials Face High Prices, Steep Competition
AVONDALE — Bradley and Natalie Ryba started looking for a house in May 2023, hoping to find a home before they married in January. Going to open houses, scheduling tours and scrolling through real estate listings, the couple found several homes that would have needed thousands of dollars of repairs — or were sold before they could make an offer.
Chicago’s Longtime Undocumented Immigrants Push Feds For Work Permits: ‘Why Not Us?’
Estela Gamino watched over her children as they bounced around their gray couches inside their apartment on Chicago’s North Side. “He just joined sports. My other daughter, she stays for … band,” Gamino said, not long after picking them up from after-school programs. Gamino remembers not being...
After Decades Of Disinvestment, Black And Latino Leaders Want ‘Profound Transformation’ Amid Migrant Crisis
This story was originally published by Borderless Magazine. Sign up for its newsletter to learn the latest about Chicago’s immigrant communities. SOUTH SHORE — Just the mere mention of migrants ignited a fall town hall meeting hosted by Congressman Jonathan Jackson (D-IL) at South Shore Cultural Center. Agitated murmurs filled a packed room as residents took turns expressing a wide range of heated frustrations: They included perceptions of a Black community being passed over in favor of assistance for noncitizens; feelings that Black migrants are not getting as much help as migrants of other ethnic groups; and suspicions that a welcoming mat now will lead to diluted Black political power down the road.
Amundsen High School Gardening Club Springs Into Action, Bringing Native Plants Back To Campus
LINCOLN SQUARE — This time of year, most teenagers are eagerly waiting for summer break. But a group of students from Amundsen High School, 5110 N. Damen Ave., are looking forward to tending their campus garden once school lets out. About 25 students created the Seeds of Change group...
Logan Square, Avondale Could Get Special Tax District As Talks Revived
AVONDALE — A local chamber of commerce is reviving talks around creating a special taxing district in Logan Square and Avondale after previous efforts fizzled due to the pandemic. The Logan Square Chamber of Commerce is again gauging interest in establishing a “special service area” on Milwaukee Avenue between...
A North Side Mental Health Crisis Team Has Assisted 94% Of Callers Without Police Help
ROGERS PARK — A Rogers Park-based mobile crisis team is resolving the majority of mental health emergency calls it receives without police intervention. Trilogy’s First-Response Alternative Crisis Team was founded in 2022 through a state pilot program aimed at providing alternatives to calling 911 for people experiencing mental health issues. The group, also known as FACT, was recently approved for state funding for the next fiscal year, and providers hope to continue expanding the program, leaders said.
Chicago School Board Candidates Gather Virtually For First Debate
CHICAGO — Thirteen people running in Chicago’s first school board elections participated in a virtual debate late Sunday night and answered questions about equity, community voice, and bus transportation for students. The Zoom session — organized by the group CPS Parents for Buses — marked the first time...
14 Things To Do Outside In Chicago This May
CHICAGO — Spring has sprung! Celebrate National Bike Month with a community ride in the city, climb outdoors at Steelworkers Park or volunteer for Chicago River Day. Check out these 14 outdoor events in and near Chicago this May:. Femmes + Thems Bike Chicago: 1 Year Anniversary Ride. 11...
We’re Hiring: West Side Reporter
Block Club Chicago, a nonprofit news organization focused on Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods, is looking for a full-time reporter to cover the Garfield Park, North Lawndale and Austin neighborhoods on Chicago’s West Side. As a beat reporter for this group of neighborhoods, you’ll be expected to cover everything from...
We’re Hiring: Pilsen, Little Village And Back Of The Yards Reporter
We’re looking for a full-time reporter to cover Pilsen, Little Village and Back of the Yards. Block Club Chicago, a nonprofit news organization focused on Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods, is looking for a full-time bilingual reporter to cover Pilsen, Little Village and Back of the Yards. As a beat...
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Block Club Chicago is a nonprofit, digital-first news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, nonpartisan and essential coverage of Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods.
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