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This past Friday, students at Michele Clark Magnet High School saw their old weight room transform into a new state-of-the-art fitness center. Students got their first glimpse after two months-plus of work; the center was built and funded by Optimum Nutrition, a sports nutrition company, and Lift Life Foundation, a nonprofit that helps underfunded schools by awarding them new athletic facilities.
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Stephanie Hart, owner of Brown Sugar Bakery, spent last Saturday in tears. She opened her third store recently at 4800 W. Chicago Ave.
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There's a longstanding stigma against seeking help when dealing with trauma or other issues related to mental health, especially in the African-American community. Community member Tanya Ford has experienced this stigma firsthand.
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Plans for a community court in Austin are progressing as a second working meeting was held last week. Organized by the office of Cook County Commissioner Richard Boykin, the meetings are meant to gauge community support of the court and begin planning for such a court in Austin.
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Ald. Chris Taliaferro (29th) rallied Austin businesses to push for success despite economic challenges during this month's meeting of the Austin African American Business Network Association.
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Rep. La Shawn Ford brought together about a dozen religious, non-profit and civic groups from the South and West sides last week as part of his "Operation Save Lives" at the James R. Thompson Center. “What we have today is a group of organizations and people that are saying that we can help our communities, and we are demanding that the state, the city, the county and the federal government support us,” Ford said.
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Once it was a hot spot for gun violence and drug trafficking, but now Hubbard Park is teeming with drum circles, barbecues and community bonding. What's happening at Hubbard Park is happening elsewhere in Austin - which has seen a drop in homicides so far this year compared to 2017.
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Leaders from all levels of government gathered Tuesday to lament last weekend's deadly killings - 12 people were killed across the city, including three in Austin - and demand more resources. More than a dozen African-American officials - joined by Cook County Commissioner Tim Schneider, co-chair of the Illinois Republican Party - put the spotlight on longstanding problems that contribute to violence, including poor access to education, and jobs.
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The 3rd annual Poetry Block Party came to Austin Town Hall Park late last month, bringing with it a variety of performances and offering local residents a number of educational resources and activities. Hosted by the Poetry Foundation, Crescendo Literary and Austin Town Hall, the party featured performances from poets, dancers and musicians, including Tasha, Brandon Markell Holmes, avery r. young and Danez Smith.
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Soft soul music wafted through South Austin last Saturday afternoon. Residents sat in lawn chairs under the shade of towering trees, sipping lemonade and eating hotdogs, while children played in the blocked-off streets that.
